Title:	Hollow Man
	Author:	Mark Pryor
	Published:	2015, Seventh Street Books
	No. of Pages:	271
	Cover Price:	$15.95 Paperback, $9.49 Kindle

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Mark Pryor’s standalone novel, Hollow Man is the story of Dominic, who is a prosecutor, as well as a musician, playing clubs in Austin, usually with his best friend, Gus. Unfortunately, Dominic is also a sociopath. He grew up in England, and was banished to the US after shooting someone in the face; his parents’ lawyer calls one morning to inform him that they are both dead. Later at work, he learns that he has been demoted, and then learns that a fellow musician has accused him of stealing a song – he is banished from the Austin music scene until the problem can be resolved.

Although most of us know someone who we suspect is a sociopath, it's quite unique for a protagonist, one that we like, to be one. As the story moves on, it's fascinating to see how Dominic handles situations. Since he needs money, it doesn’t bother him to devise a plan to steal close to a hundred thousand dollars from someone who is getting his money illegally (which makes it okay). At first Gus is in on the deal, then when he backs out, Dominic lets his roommate in on it, and a security guard whom he has been acquainted with in the past. When they get caught and end up shooting two men at the scene, Dominic is able to place the blame on everyone but himself, and having no conscience, even take a lie detector test successfully. The twists and turns of the story are quite surprising, and since Dominic is a very skilled and practiced liar, the story moves in a different direction than expected.

As is Mark Pryor’s style, the writing is clear and concise. Pryor is meticulous in his writing, and, like in his prior novels, the story flows in such a way that it is difficult to put down. Dominic is a very interesting character, to say the least, and Pryor’s characterization is obviously well-researched and true-to-form for a sociopath, making Dominic a fascinating character.

Readers who have enjoyed Pryor’s Hugo Marston series will like this book, as well as new readers who want to read something different. Hollow Man is definitely recommended.

Special thanks to Jake Bonar at Seventh Street Books for supplying a review copy of this book.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
Hollow Man, Paperback
Hollow Man, Kindle