It’s here! The cover for Sylvain Reynard’s upcoming stand alone story, The Man in the Black Suit has arrived and it’s worth all the excitement.
The details have been kept under lock and key, but now we are happy to reveal both the cover and the description for The Man in the Black Suit, the upcoming stand alone, romantic suspense novel from Sylvain Reynard. It will hit shelves and e-readers everywhere this December, so keep an eye out for pre-order links in the months to come.
Until then, check out all the goodies related to The Man in the Black Suit and a quick Q&A with Sylvain Reynard, getting to know the author behind the books we love.
About ‘The Man in the Black Suit’
Acacia Santos excels at her job as concierge at the prestigious Hotel Victoire in Paris. When her superior, Marcel, is attacked in a supposed random mugging, she is tasked with serving one of the hotel’s most mysterious and attractive guests.
Nicholas Cassirer checks into the hotel under an assumed name every three months. Usually, he stays in the penthouse suite with a beautiful female companion but on this occasion, he arrives alone and is displeased in having to deal with someone new. A match of wits ensues as he tests Acacia’s expertise with a series of almost impossible demands. Her intelligence and creativity rise to the challenge, earning his respect.
They strike a tenuous accord until Acacia discovers a famous stolen painting in his suite, she contacts a former boyfriend who works for the elite BRB, a unit of French law enforcement that deals with art thefts.
Nicholas is questioned by police and released when it is revealed the painting is a reproduction. Irked with her behavior, Acacia’s supervisor demotes her threatening dismissal and the cancellation of her work permit.
But Acacia has already attracted Nicholas’s attention. Remorseful that she may lose her job on his account, he offers her a choice – she can wait until her supervisor dismisses her, or she can leave the city of lights behind and become his personal assistant.
Acacia initially refuses his offer, but Nicholas is persistent. He reveals himself as a man who quietly acquires stolen art in order to restore it to its rightful owners. Faced with mounting familial debts and the possibility of dismissal and deportation, she agrees to work for him.
Nicholas opens up a whole new world of beauty and intrigue to Acacia as they travel the globe. Soon the line between employer and assistant is blurred, and the two lonely people embark on a passionate relationship.
And, finally, the cover you’ve been waiting for…
Q&A with Sylvain Reynard
The Man In The Black Suit is your first true stand alone novel after two great series, Gabriel’s Inferno and The Florentine. Did you find it a challenge to keep the story to one novel?
Thank you. In this case, the story of The Man in the Black Suit came to me as a single book. But yes, it has been a little bit of a challenge since I’m used to exploring a character’s development over the course of multiple books. Not every reader wants to invest in reading a multi-volume series, however, so I’m hoping those readers will pick up this novel.
What attracted you to the contemporary suspense sub-genre for this story?
I enjoy a good mystery. In both The Shadow and The Roman, I was able to delve into mystery and suspense and I was eager to devote a whole novel to that sub-genre. The Man in the Black Suit has as its backdrop an unsolved art heist, which was inspired by a recent theft at Musée d’Art Moderne. The stolen masterpieces have never been recovered, which allowed me freedom to imagine what really happened to them.
Where do you most often find inspiration for the stories you write?
I’m inspired by art, literature, and music. For The Man in the Black Suit, I traveled to Paris and spent some time walking around the city and getting a feel for it. The sights, the architecture, the River Seine – all of these components found their way into the novel, along with the famous art heist I mentioned.
What are you reading (or what was the last book you read)?
Right now, I’m reading Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley. It’s a cross between Harry Potter, X-Men, and The X-Files and I’m really enjoying it.
Are there any genres you haven’t written in yet that you’d like to explore someday?
I’d like to write a murder mystery. I’d also like to try my hand at historical fiction.
What are your favorite genres (or romance sub-genres) to read?
I enjoy mysteries, biographies and non-fiction. When I’m writing, I don’t read in the same genre. I had to delay reading A Discovery of Witches by Deb Harkness while I was writing The Florentine Series. Now that my series is complete, her book is my next read. Deb is incredibly learned and I admire her a great deal. She also has a great sense of humor.
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