Dick Rosano’s The Paris Connection plunges readers into a thrilling chase through the shadows of European history, centering around the elusive Paletti Notebook—a treasure trove of Renaissance art and secrets. The story follows Darren Priest as he navigates a web of international intrigue, where governments and powerful figures are willing to do anything to obtain this ancient collection. With a young girl’s life hanging in the balance and the potential to alter the course of nations, the stakes couldn’t be higher. From the bustling streets of Paris to the historic corners of Florence, Rosano takes you on a wild ride, seamlessly blending historical mystery with modern-day espionage. The twists and turns in this story will keep you hooked, making it impossible to put the book down.

Dick Rosano’s writing pulls you in, effortlessly weaving a complex plot without ever overwhelming you. The story moves at a great pace, packed with enough twists and turns to keep even the most seasoned mystery fans guessing. There’s a perfect balance of heart-pounding action and quieter moments that let the characters shine. Darren Priest is such a great protagonist—smart, resourceful, and just vulnerable enough to feel real. The way Rosano blends themes of history, art, and power adds so much depth to the story, making it not just a thriller, but a rich exploration of European culture. And the vivid descriptions? They make you feel like you’re right there in the heart of Europe, soaking up the atmosphere. If you’re into mysteries with a historical twist and love a fast-paced plot, The Paris Connection is an absolute must-read!

The Paris Connection is the fourth installment in the Darren Priest Mysteries series by Dick Rosano. After handing over the Paletti Notebook, which contains sketches of Renaissance art and letters, to Matthew Broderick, a science advisor to the US President, Darren Priest made sure he kept a copy of it. But when his girlfriend Alana Weber's daughter, Kia, is kidnapped in Vienna, the abductors demand the translation of an encrypted text that was in the Paletti Notebook. Priest teams up with his old friend Aggie Darwin in search of the abductors, following the trail of clues from Vienna to Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris. However, the abductors are not the only ones looking for the encrypted text, as the Chinese, Iranians, and Americans are also in the mix. Can Priest and his friends uncover the truth and save Kia?

Fast-paced and packed with suspense, mystery, and action, The Paris Connection is an absolute pageturner. If you're a fan of spy thriller movies like the Jason Bourne series, you will love this book. Each turn of the page brings up new reveals and questions that keep your eyes glued to the pages. Author Dick Rosano provides background information and lore about the key mystery in the first few pages, and it helps ease the reader into the narrative. The story is very immersive, made all the more enjoyable by the well-developed characters and the witty dialogue. I was hooked from start to finish, and I think other readers will feel the same. Readers looking for a well-written and tightly-plotted mystery thriller should definitely grab a copy and give this novel a go!

Dick Rosano's The Paris Connection is book four of the Darren Priest Mysteries Series. Priest is searching for the invaluable Paletti Notebook, which contains astonishing works of art and letters from Renaissance masterminds. The artifact also contains secrets dating back 500 years as well as encrypted text of WWII nuclear weapons and is causing a stir among major governments striving for their acquisition. Priest is assigned by the US government to locate the Paletti Notebook. With the help of his friend Aggie, he finds and returns it to the government after making copies. His love interest, Alana, works for the Vienna police. When her 8-year-old daughter is kidnapped, the captors demand that the text be encrypted in exchange for her safe return. In a tight race against time, Priest holds the fate of nations and the life of a young girl in his hands.

The Paris Connection is a riveting action thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Dick Rosano's masterful and detailed narrative demonstrates his writing talent and expertise with historical facts while also challenging the reader's perception of such tumultuous events. You will be captivated by the vivid settings and intriguing characters. There is a sense of urgency after traveling on a whirlwind journey across major capitals, which makes the adventure even more compelling. The strong protagonist, Darren Priest, is intelligent, responsible, calm, and modest. An interesting cast of characters enhances the mystery plot to bring an exciting conclusion. Intrigue, mystery, murder, and good overcoming evil all play a prominent part in this taut, fast-paced novel. Fans of espionage thrillers, historical mystery plots, and crime stories will love this book!

The Paris Connection (Darren Priest Mysteries Book 4) is a continuation of author Dick Rosano’s excellent espionage and spy series centered around Darren Priest, a man who works in the highest echelons of U.S. Intelligence. Darren has recovered the invaluable Paletti Notebook, a lost collection of sketches and writings from the greatest Renaissance authors and painters. What he and his girlfriend Alana didn’t expect to find in the notebook was a strangely encrypted message that appeared to be of a more recent vintage than the other contents. Suspicious, Darren and Alana made copies of everything, including the mysterious message, before handing it over to Washington. Now, Alana’s eight-year-old daughter has been kidnapped and the ransom demand is a decoded copy of the message. Darren, his sidekick Arnold (Aggie) Darwin, and Alana race against time to figure out the key to the message’s code plus rescue Alana’s daughter Kia. Things are complicated by the number of different organizations that desperately want to get their hands on this mysterious cipher. 

The Paris Connection is a fast-paced, well-plotted, twisting adventure that will have readers glued to the story. Author Dick Rosano has created an interesting team in Darren and Aggie who complement each other wonderfully well. I have read an earlier episode in this series but it is not necessary to have read anything first. The author expertly explains the salient facts regarding the Paletti Notebook and its importance at the beginning. I particularly enjoyed all the competing factions wanting the encoded message. This led to numerous unexpected confrontations that kept the duo and me on edge throughout the journey. I also enjoyed the tension generated between Darren and Alana when her daughter Kia was being held hostage. Alana blamed Darren for the situation and often felt they were not focused enough on Kia’s recovery. This whole series is gritty, action-packed, and well-written to make the events seem believable. I enjoy this talented author and look forward to more of his books in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it.