The Dark Edge of Night

by Mark Pryor

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Dark Edge of Night is the second procedural historical mystery featuring Detective Henri Laforte by Mark Pryor. Released 15th Aug 2023 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in Aug 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a deeply researched, wonderfully immersive police procedural mystery set in WW2 occupied Paris. The story is written around a framework of actual historical events so skillfully that it's not always possible to tell where fact shades into fiction. The characters (even secondary characters) are very well rendered and believable.

There's a fair amount of casual brutality and a sense of creeping dread throughout the story. It's quite sad in a lot of places. For all that, it's beautifully well written and the mystery is satisfyingly complex. 

It's not remotely derivative, but readers who enjoyed Kerr's Bernie Gunther and Foyle's War will find a lot to enjoy in this series. 

There are currently two books extant, with a third due out in third quarter 2024 from Macmillan Minotaur. 

Four stars. It would be an excellent choice for library acquisition, for lovers of procedural mysteries, mystery book club selection, and would make a good binge/buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.