Kristin's Bookshelf

The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris
By Mark Pryor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release Date: March 31, 2026

This one ended up being such a nice surprise. Going in, I wasn’t totally sold. The description didn’t really pull me in, but I’m trying to stay on top of my NetGalley percentage, so I committed.

This was also my first time listening to a male narrator. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a fan of how every woman sounded like a raspy chain smoker, but I really did enjoy the voice of Todd McLaren. His voice for Hugo especially just worked.

The storyline felt a little all over the place at times, almost like five mysteries happening at once. Some threads didn’t fully wrap up, which normally would bother me, but everything that really mattered came together in a satisfying way. For the rest, I’m hoping that means we’ll get another book.

Also, audiobook problems … I could not tell you how to spell a single character’s name. Not one. Except Hugo. Everyone else, no chance. (Unless they were mentioned in the book description)

What I did appreciate was how straightforward the storytelling felt. You’re not being dragged down a bunch of confusing rabbit holes. You follow Hugo and Detective Lerens step by step, and it always makes sense how they get from one conclusion to the next. I read a lot of amateur sleuth stories, so it was refreshing to follow someone who actually knows what they’re doing and plays by the rules.

I’d definitely recommend giving this one a read. Or a listen, if that’s more your thing … it is mine.