Dom is a DA in Austin He is excellent at his job. He is also a psychopath (or as he prefers to describe himself, a sociopath). He does his best to hide his condition--trying to fit in with others, who he calls "empaths." Of course, there was that incident when he was a teenager when he killed someone in a hunting "accident." But mostly he has taught himself to fit in, that is until one day circumstances lead him to fall in with a group planning to commit the perfect crime.
I (mostly) enjoyed this book, but I have one big problem with it. It is narrated in the first person by Dom, which could have been fine, and I found his voice authentic. But as the plot evolves, there are events that are presented as mysterious (and unexplained to Dom our narrator), but as the novel advances we come to learn that Dom really knew about these things all along, perhaps even did these things. I like novels with unreliable narrators, but this goes beyond that. Dom is telling the story, and it doesn't make sense and isn't realistic for him to describe events he knows all about as if he is just discovering them for the first time.

2 1/2 stars. ( )

Review of Advance Reading Copy

In Austin, Texas, British émigré Dominic works for the district attorney’s office. His outlet, if you will, is playing his guitar in the local clubs.

On this day, Fate has conspired against Dominic: first, an unexpected and unwanted transfer to a position that will earn him a lower salary; then, an accusation of stealing someone else’s music bars him from playing in any of the local clubs.
He meets an enigmatic woman, and becomes involved in a robbery plot with the possibility of a very large payday. But, as always, Dominic is constantly keeping his true nature under wraps.

Dominic is a sociopath.

Even though readers will find it particularly difficult to empathize with Dominic, the characters peopling this tale are well-developed and interesting; Dominic will dare readers to commiserate with him. The plot, centered on what Dominic will choose to do when things go awry, offers some unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers off-balance and setting the stage for the final Machiavellian dénouement.

Although some readers will find the coarse language off-putting, this is, nonetheless, a dark, gritty, and cunning tale that many will find difficult to set aside before turning the final page.

Recommended. ( )

Protagonist, Dominic is an assistant district attorney in Austin TX and a part-time musician. The book doesn't mention last names, and the girl at the center (with the lime green dress) has no ame at all - something to ponder. Dominic unfolds the details of his boyhood in England while relating details of a theft and double murder in which he, 2 friends and his roommate are involved. He cleverly has planned the crime so there is no actual evidence of his own participation, and it looks as though he is being framed for it. Cleverly plotted and well writte. Stand alone from the author of The Bookseller series. ( )

I picked up the debut novel by Mark Pryor a year ago, based on the title The Bookseller, and was instantly hooked with his protagonist Hugo Marston. Obviously, I’m not the only person enjoying his series as there is already a fifth book in publication. So I was a little hesitant when I was handed a standalone book titled Hollow Man, even with the Lee Child blurb on the front cover, I was worried it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. Rather it pushed the bar higher on the talent-o-meter of this author.

From the start we are immersed in Dominic’s world; a British native practicing law in Texas with a passion for songwriting. It doesn’t take long for the author to pull at one little thread, and slowly Dominic’s world begins to unravel. He experiences a demotion at work, cut in pay, accusations of stealing someone’s song, all of which leads to disillusionment with doing what is right. Hearing from his closest friend about a ‘fool-proof’ heist, who can blame him for reflecting on it as a solution to his current troubles?

Involving his roommate, an unhappy security officer at the end of his tarnished career, and a mysterious woman that has recently entered his life, a meticulously planned operation is devised. As in life, the unexpected occurs and suddenly Dominic is immersed in a cat and mouse chase as the carefully planned heist turns into a deadly shootout with plenty of unexpected consequences.

With solid characters, and a slight hint of Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter reflecting off of Dominic, this isn’t for anyone expecting a cozy or Disney ending. Rather I found the subject and main character just flawed enough to grab hold of my interest and never let it go.

The author stepped outside of the box on this novel and it is well worth investing a few hours of your time into. Now I’m off to purchase the rest of his series. ( )

I loved this author's book, The Bookseller, but this book was just too dry. Dominic, the main character is a very dark man, a sociopath, but instead of writing this character as sinister, or slightly humorous, the author just walks you through the story and the crime. The writing is fine but the book was boring. ( )