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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I love this series! It's one of my favorites. However this one was the weakest book so far. Still enjoyed it but herds to up his game for the next one. I love Charlie Parker and his bizarre family of friends.
This was not my favorite Charlie Parker story. This story seemed disjointed in places and skipped around a lot. I also wish he would come to some resolution about his daughter(s). That said, I will still anxiously await the next book - Conn0lly is just that good.
Mini-Review:
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars for Narration by Jeff Harding
4 Stars for Overall Plot Development
3.5 Stars for Case
Eep! I have only one more book to go and I will be caught up on the series. It's going to suck to have to wait until October to get to the latest book. I love all the historical ties that are wrapped into each case and location. Connolly manages to spotlight unusual situations in bland normality. He hits on hard topics and sucks you in to see how it will all come about. I'm not as happy with the slow development about Parker and his family. I hope there's a leap or better focus on that in the next book or two.
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars for Narration by Jeff Harding
4 Stars for Overall Plot Development
3.5 Stars for Case
Eep! I have only one more book to go and I will be caught up on the series. It's going to suck to have to wait until October to get to the latest book. I love all the historical ties that are wrapped into each case and location. Connolly manages to spotlight unusual situations in bland normality. He hits on hard topics and sucks you in to see how it will all come about. I'm not as happy with the slow development about Parker and his family. I hope there's a leap or better focus on that in the next book or two.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
How Connolly still manages to captivate me after 15 Charlie Parker books is testament to the man's skill at storytelling, pacing, and character development. In a lot of ways this is a quieter book than A Time of Torment, and much more personal, both for Parker and his friends, Louis and Angel, as well as the other characters converging on each other as the story progresses. It's got a fantastic pace, though, the smaller chapters urging you to just read one more, one more, just one more...
With Connolly's crime novels, there's always a lovely sense of familiarity, like catching up with an old friend, but one who consistently has new and interesting - and chilling - stories to tell. It feels like the Parker series is building to an eventual climax at this point, with all the scraps laid out across the previous books, and especially the elements concerning Parker's daughter, Sam. I love the way Connolly ekes these details out so slowly, but with enough flesh each time to satisfy the reader until the next book. There's a great balance between the stand-alone narrative of each book, and the overarching mythos building over the course of the series.
One of the most consistently captivating and original series (in crime or any other genre) that I've read, and one I'll eagerly continue to read.
With Connolly's crime novels, there's always a lovely sense of familiarity, like catching up with an old friend, but one who consistently has new and interesting - and chilling - stories to tell. It feels like the Parker series is building to an eventual climax at this point, with all the scraps laid out across the previous books, and especially the elements concerning Parker's daughter, Sam. I love the way Connolly ekes these details out so slowly, but with enough flesh each time to satisfy the reader until the next book. There's a great balance between the stand-alone narrative of each book, and the overarching mythos building over the course of the series.
One of the most consistently captivating and original series (in crime or any other genre) that I've read, and one I'll eagerly continue to read.
I can always rely on a Charlie Parker book to deliver a fab reading experience but this one is sadly a little disappointing. It is the most overt in its paranormal descriptions out of all the books in the series which I feel was not really necessary. There is no need to show . I also feel that one of the best parts of the series have always been the villains but the adversaries were not intriguing or fearsome enough this time. The story itself felt a little stale as I didn't care for another cult.
That said, there were enough twists to keep me entertained including. It was also great to meet Angel and Louis again as usual and we even got a lovely section from their POV (will we ever see an on-page kiss? I can only hope!). The mystery of Parker's daughter continues and I'm looking forward to the next installment - hopefully with less ghosts next time around.
Spoiler
"the other side" with lost souls and a winged demon making an appearanceThat said, there were enough twists to keep me entertained including
Spoiler
a death that took me by surprise
While I picked up A Game of Ghosts without ever having read another Charlie Parker novel, it didn't take long to discover why this series by John Connolly remains a fan favorite. Parker is fully developed as is his family, especially his daughter, and it's apparent their story arch is much bigger than a single book but no less enjoyable.
Like many authors who spin long series, Connolly does an exceptional job of giving new readers just enough without boring those who have joined him since the beginning. Doing so is very much a skill set on its own.
In this story, Parker is hired by the FBI to track down private investigator who has gone missing while piecing together a case against a cult-like family with ties to the supernatural side. He, in turn, brings in two additional players, Angel and Louis, to cover more ground and provide extra muscle — which contributes to being fruitful against this group called "The Brethren."
Along with this primary plot thread, there are plenty of subplots, and series plots spun in at the same time, including a fight Parker is having with his ex-wife over the custody of his daughter Sam. Sam, by the way, also has unique abilities. This thread worked reasonably well in the novel, even if Connelly didn't make it a crucial element to moving the story to its climax.
Some of the other subplots, however, didn't always play as well. While they help make the novel feel complex, some of them weigh down the more dramatic elements of the story, specifically those that feel confined to this one book (as conversely, the thread with "The Collector" was interesting.)
All in all, if you are looking for a New England PI story with a supernatural twist, John Connolly seems to serve up an excellent series with Charlie Parker. Even though it gets weighed down with some subplot blot )or perhaps just too many points of view), I found myself landing somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but ultimately sticking with 4 for the writing style.
Like many authors who spin long series, Connolly does an exceptional job of giving new readers just enough without boring those who have joined him since the beginning. Doing so is very much a skill set on its own.
In this story, Parker is hired by the FBI to track down private investigator who has gone missing while piecing together a case against a cult-like family with ties to the supernatural side. He, in turn, brings in two additional players, Angel and Louis, to cover more ground and provide extra muscle — which contributes to being fruitful against this group called "The Brethren."
Along with this primary plot thread, there are plenty of subplots, and series plots spun in at the same time, including a fight Parker is having with his ex-wife over the custody of his daughter Sam. Sam, by the way, also has unique abilities. This thread worked reasonably well in the novel, even if Connelly didn't make it a crucial element to moving the story to its climax.
Some of the other subplots, however, didn't always play as well. While they help make the novel feel complex, some of them weigh down the more dramatic elements of the story, specifically those that feel confined to this one book (as conversely, the thread with "The Collector" was interesting.)
All in all, if you are looking for a New England PI story with a supernatural twist, John Connolly seems to serve up an excellent series with Charlie Parker. Even though it gets weighed down with some subplot blot )or perhaps just too many points of view), I found myself landing somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but ultimately sticking with 4 for the writing style.
this is my 1st charlie parker book. yes i may be late into the game BUT better late than never i say.
first i'm proud to say that the very talented john connolly is a dear friend of mine.
second, thank god he's a brilliant author. haha :D
i didn't feel like i lost out too much because i haven't read the earlier series. in fact, reading this... it made me feel like, if i stop, i'll miss out.
thoroughly enjoyed it and i'm pleased to say it won't be my last :D
first i'm proud to say that the very talented john connolly is a dear friend of mine.
second, thank god he's a brilliant author. haha :D
i didn't feel like i lost out too much because i haven't read the earlier series. in fact, reading this... it made me feel like, if i stop, i'll miss out.
thoroughly enjoyed it and i'm pleased to say it won't be my last :D
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're a fan of this series and you've made it all the way to Book 15 then there isn't much more praise I can give this book because you already know.
John Connolly has yet again brought Charlie Parker, Angel, and Louis into a heart-pounding, dark, eerie, violent world where Parker is forced to make hard choices to defend the innocent and those he loves.
The character of Mother in this book is almost as creepy as the Collector, who also makes an appearance again in this book. Both of those characters make my skin crawl, and that's all because of Connolly's great writing.
This book takes us deeper into the supernatural world that is always on the outer edges of Parker's life, and I feel like it is setting up for an even bigger event.
John Connolly has yet again brought Charlie Parker, Angel, and Louis into a heart-pounding, dark, eerie, violent world where Parker is forced to make hard choices to defend the innocent and those he loves.
The character of Mother in this book is almost as creepy as the Collector, who also makes an appearance again in this book. Both of those characters make my skin crawl, and that's all because of Connolly's great writing.
This book takes us deeper into the supernatural world that is always on the outer edges of Parker's life, and I feel like it is setting up for an even bigger event.