The Blood Promise: A Hugo Marston Novel

Written by Mark Pryor

Narrated by Todd McLaren

In post-revolution Paris, an old man signs a letter in blood, then hides it in a secret compartment in a sailor's chest. A messenger arrives to transport the chest and its hidden contents, but then the plague strikes and an untimely death changes history.

Two hundred years later, Hugo Marston is safeguarding an unpredictable but popular senator who is in Paris negotiating a France/U.S. dispute. The talks, held at a country chateau, collapse when the senator accuses someone of breaking into his room. Theft becomes the least of Hugo's concerns when someone discovers a sailor's chest and the secrets hidden within, and decides that the power and money they promise are worth killing for.

But when the darkness of history is unleashed, even the most ruthless and cunning are powerless to control it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781515987413

Reviews for The Blood Promise

[judy schwab · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Big disappointment. Completely unbelievable plot line. Cartoon-like character development (or lack thereof)

[hanneri_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The best one yet. Concentrated more on characters this time around, and not so much background on Paris. But what a great setting, and always interesting glimpses into Embassy life and protocol. Hugo is a very likable character, though Tom gets all the best lines. I thought the plot and suspense flowed better in this story than in the previous ones, probably because there was less need to set up the characters and situation. A really enjoyable read.

[circlestonesbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“History will judge these days, monsieur, it is not for us to do so. We must only live them the best we can.” (Quotation page 3)ContentAn old man in Paris writes a letter and puts it together with something special, he calls “le cadeau”, in a small box, hidden in a wooden chest, a kind of sailor’s chest, but solid, made from walnut, and more ornate. More than two hundred years later, this long forgotten chest is somehow connected to to an American senator’s visit a Paris. A visit at very short notice from Charles Lake, senator and presidential candidate. Hugo Marston has to be a kind of personal bodyguard, he calls it “babysitter”, of the senator, who will attend negotiations and talks about the Guadeloupe Islands, held for two days at Chateau Tourville near Paris. The morning after the first night at the Chateau, Senator Lake declares that he woke up during the night because somebody was in his room and even leaned over him, touching his face. An intruder in his room means clearly a security breach and Senator Lake asks Hugo Marston to begin immediately with his investigations. As this has to be done with discretion, Hugo calls his friend Capitaine Raul Garcia. Everything changes, when one of the prints found is connected o an unsolved murder, a burglary in the old country house of the Bassin family.Theme and genreThis crime novel is about secrets, hidden deep in the past. There is somebody, who finds out and tries to reveal it and somebody, who just wants to avoid this, at any price.CharactersTime again to investigate and try to solve a case like a tricky puzzle for Hugo Marston and Paul Greene. Plot and writingThis book three of the Hugo Marston series begins with a letter in the past, but passes immediately into the present time and develops around Hugo Marston. The investigations and events are told chronologically, without giving to many details too early. Therefore, and together with unforeseeable twists, the guessing of the readers remains interesting and gripping.ConclusionAn interesting story with some unforeseeable twists, gripping and entertaining to read.

[mm_jones · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Third book in the Hugo Marston series. Entertaining read. Provides insiders glimpses of Paris and working of American spy agencies. Credit to the author for maintaining suspense for the entire story. Unfortunately, the outcome was rather far-fetched and not all that interesting.