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posies23's review against another edition
4.0
Let's just get things out of the way early here: This is a very DARK book. It follows the journey of former cop Charlie Parker (or "Bird") as he seeks the killer of his wife and child, and it goes into some VERY nasty places. (That's not really a spoiler, since it happens in the first few pages.)
With that said, it's a very good book. Connolly has a way with words, and his writing really pulled me into Parker's world. There are many interesting characters, and some plot twists I didn't see coming.
My only real complaint with the book is that I called one of the major plot points quite early in the book, which ruined a bit of the "fun" when it happened.
I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series.
(By the way, I met the author at ONCE UPON A CRIME in Minneapolis, MN, and he was a very friendly and funny guy! If you get the chance to meet him, you should definitely do it.)
With that said, it's a very good book. Connolly has a way with words, and his writing really pulled me into Parker's world. There are many interesting characters, and some plot twists I didn't see coming.
My only real complaint with the book is that I called one of the major plot points quite early in the book, which ruined a bit of the "fun" when it happened.
I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series.
(By the way, I met the author at ONCE UPON A CRIME in Minneapolis, MN, and he was a very friendly and funny guy! If you get the chance to meet him, you should definitely do it.)
tenekecik's review against another edition
3.0
It’s a fun PI book. Perhaps a bit longer than it should be. It dragged a little through the middle part. I’m not sure yet if I liked it enough to check the other books in the series, but I enjoyed the small amount of horror and supernatural themes it had without going Urban Fantasy.
steadycollie's review against another edition
1.0
I like some of John Connolly's work. I like it very much.
So I truly wanted this book to be good, if not Amazing.
Imho, It is not.
One quarter through the book and I can't be bothered to go back.
Countless firearms/ammo descriptions and characters picked straight from any bland, anonymous tv cop show, makes this book such a predictable (if not in plot, then in dialogue) experience.
I also had a hard time Reading this as a thriller as it blatantly reveals itself being a repetitive mobster parody, saturated with platitudes.
There can only be one Raymond Chandler...
So I truly wanted this book to be good, if not Amazing.
Imho, It is not.
One quarter through the book and I can't be bothered to go back.
Countless firearms/ammo descriptions and characters picked straight from any bland, anonymous tv cop show, makes this book such a predictable (if not in plot, then in dialogue) experience.
I also had a hard time Reading this as a thriller as it blatantly reveals itself being a repetitive mobster parody, saturated with platitudes.
There can only be one Raymond Chandler...
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
This really hurts. My mother bought me this for my birthday, on a recommendation from a local bookstore here. I know she's going to feel badly if she reads this but I must maintain the integrity of my reviews by sticking with the Brutally Honest program. So here goes.
I have to rip Every Dead Thing. Ready? Sorry Mom. It's not your fault; you didn't write it, and I likely would have bought it myself.
On to the review: Those who read my review for Messiah know how I feel about blurbs that compare novels to Silence of the Lambs. This novel comes nowhere close, and the comparison to it by a San Francisco Examiner reviewer is an insult to Thomas Harris. It's also false advertising.
Can I sue for this???
Anyway....As I read through the first quarter of the novel it did have
promise of being a good serial killer novel, but there were just too many plots going on to be interesting. The novel is more of an organized crime novel than anything else, lots of thinly developed characters and A-Team shoot-em-ups (I hate shootouts and chases in novels. I read novels to get into the heads of the characters. If I want brainless action, I'll rent it at the video store).
And Connolly had a very annoying habit of describing the pants, top and shoes of every character in every scene they appeared. This alone drove me nuts. Hey, if you like organized crime plots, lots of action and cheap romance, pants, tops and shoes, Every Dead Thing is definitely for you. Now, I have to admit I did stick with it to the end so it did manage to hold some interest for me, regardless of the tone of this review.
I have to rip Every Dead Thing. Ready? Sorry Mom. It's not your fault; you didn't write it, and I likely would have bought it myself.
On to the review: Those who read my review for Messiah know how I feel about blurbs that compare novels to Silence of the Lambs. This novel comes nowhere close, and the comparison to it by a San Francisco Examiner reviewer is an insult to Thomas Harris. It's also false advertising.
Can I sue for this???
Anyway....As I read through the first quarter of the novel it did have
promise of being a good serial killer novel, but there were just too many plots going on to be interesting. The novel is more of an organized crime novel than anything else, lots of thinly developed characters and A-Team shoot-em-ups (I hate shootouts and chases in novels. I read novels to get into the heads of the characters. If I want brainless action, I'll rent it at the video store).
And Connolly had a very annoying habit of describing the pants, top and shoes of every character in every scene they appeared. This alone drove me nuts. Hey, if you like organized crime plots, lots of action and cheap romance, pants, tops and shoes, Every Dead Thing is definitely for you. Now, I have to admit I did stick with it to the end so it did manage to hold some interest for me, regardless of the tone of this review.
woody1881's review against another edition
5.0
An extremely intelligent librarian I know gave me this as a gift.
The story goes that Charlie Parker is a cop who experiences the very worst kind of personal tragedy. There is an intricate story within this book that is like none I have ever read. I have found a new Author to read and a new series to follow. If you like John Sanford or Michael Connelly, this is them, far darker.
The story goes that Charlie Parker is a cop who experiences the very worst kind of personal tragedy. There is an intricate story within this book that is like none I have ever read. I have found a new Author to read and a new series to follow. If you like John Sanford or Michael Connelly, this is them, far darker.
belanna2's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
The one glaring issue with Conelly's character, Charlie Parker, was his need to over-explain and the overtly, over-descriptives for the most trivial things; it got to the point where I dreaded new information, things, or observations the character would make because I knew a long-ass info drop would come next. Second, this book should have been split in two; there were two different stories going, which in the second half of the book, weighed it down. The second half on the book should've been book two; when the "second act" started, I was surprised Parker didn't get clued in when the NOLA PD's in-your-face hint to a certain character's persona. The "red herrings the author threw in to drag the story out were completely transparent and unnecessary.
jb171's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
0oohboy's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
dreynoldsbook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s grim, but bloody good!
I did guess the twist.
I did guess the twist.
p0rchcollapse's review against another edition
5.0
read this on recommendation from my mum.
many plots and characters wind together to form one of the most satisfying detective thrillers ive ever read. occasionally difficult to remember every mentioned character or name, but thats likely more the fault of my bad memory than the book itself. the main character, charlie parker, is a man plagued by the brutal murder of his wife and young daughter - and while he may seem a generic thriller protagonist at first, i believe connollys writing sets him apart as uniquely compelling. brilliant writing, all enjoyable side characters (especially angel and louis), i greatly enjoyed this book.
many plots and characters wind together to form one of the most satisfying detective thrillers ive ever read. occasionally difficult to remember every mentioned character or name, but thats likely more the fault of my bad memory than the book itself. the main character, charlie parker, is a man plagued by the brutal murder of his wife and young daughter - and while he may seem a generic thriller protagonist at first, i believe connollys writing sets him apart as uniquely compelling. brilliant writing, all enjoyable side characters (especially angel and louis), i greatly enjoyed this book.