A Vintage Murder in Paris

Danger creeps close to home when former FBI profiler-turned-Paris bookshop owner Hugo Marston must investigate the death of his friend–a French sommelier–in this stylish and suspenseful mystery for readers of Charles Finch, Ann Cleeves, and Martin Walker.

When police Lieutenant Camille Lerens shows up at Hugo’s Mystery and Antiquarian Bookshop, it’s clear she hasn’t come for a book recommendation. She needs his help. An attempted carjacking in Montmartre was foiled by a passerby. In the scuffle, the masked culprit was shot and killed with his own gun. However, the driver, the victim, refuses to reveal his identity, insisting he will speak only to Hugo Marston.

There’s good reason for this—the driver is in witness protection. Hugo knows, because he put him there. The question is, was this a random carjacking—or a calculated attack on the former mob accountant?

As Hugo is drawn into the case, another mystery presents itself while he dines with sommelier Christina Valdez. The appearance of a man lurking across the street from the restaurant prompts her to reveal that she’s being followed. Who stalks a sommelier? Hugo plans to find out.

But there’s more. Hugo soon uncovers a mystery in his very own mystery bookshop. Beneath loose floorboards lies a wooden box containing a gun, a bloody towel, and an encrypted diary. His former FBI colleague, Tom Green, helps crack the code, revealing a link to a cold case from over 30 years ago.

When bodies start turning up, Hugo must untangle the labyrinthine connections—before he, too, ends up on the wrong end of a gun . . .

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs