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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
Wow what an amazing book! I have to admit there was the odd chapter that I questioned... but the whole book had me gripped, the ending was remarkable. Can’t wait to read the next one!
If time is an inverse indicator of how enjoyable a book is, then y0u might think the month I spent slowly pushing through Every Dead Thing is an indictment on its quality.
But that's not the case. This is a fine debut novel which is quite ambitious in it scope, melding dark psychological thriller with some slight supernatural undertones. Essentially, it involves author John Connelly painting a convincing picture of a broken protagonist desperately trying to atone for the loss of his wife and daughter after they are viciously murdered.
A definite criticism is that this felt like two books smashed together into one. Perhaps publishers at the time weren't as willing to publish something that was 250 pages long, because I can't help but think Every Dead Thing would have been far stronger if the mystery which Bird finds himself drawn into during the book's first half would have been reserved for its own separate book.
So though it was initially very slow going, I eventually got into Bird's quest to find his family's murderer and exact vengeance. I was an especially a big fan of his sidekicks, Angel and Louis, and hope that they feature prominently in future books in the series.
Because one day I'll return to Connelly's world and see just what hell he's going to put Bird through next.
3.5 Barely Glimpsed Dead People for Every Dead Thing.
But that's not the case. This is a fine debut novel which is quite ambitious in it scope, melding dark psychological thriller with some slight supernatural undertones. Essentially, it involves author John Connelly painting a convincing picture of a broken protagonist desperately trying to atone for the loss of his wife and daughter after they are viciously murdered.
A definite criticism is that this felt like two books smashed together into one. Perhaps publishers at the time weren't as willing to publish something that was 250 pages long, because I can't help but think Every Dead Thing would have been far stronger if the mystery which Bird finds himself drawn into during the book's first half would have been reserved for its own separate book.
So though it was initially very slow going, I eventually got into Bird's quest to find his family's murderer and exact vengeance. I was an especially a big fan of his sidekicks, Angel and Louis, and hope that they feature prominently in future books in the series.
Because one day I'll return to Connelly's world and see just what hell he's going to put Bird through next.
3.5 Barely Glimpsed Dead People for Every Dead Thing.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book spends about 75% of the time focusing on backstory and filler material for very minor characters that barely factor into the plot. Lots of plot holes too; far too often the main character just stumbles into the answer, with no prior knowledge, and things are just left unexplained.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Decent book with some of the best characters I've come across in recent times. While it’s light on the supernatural elements (which was the main reason I started the series), I still enjoyed the story. However, at one point I had to stop reading to double-check if I had accidentally picked up a "two-in-one" edition, as it felt like the story completely shifts halfway through and a new one begins. Despite this, I can only give the book two stars overall because it falls into two of my most hated pitfalls for a detective story: first, when the mystery is solved by a ridiculously improbable stroke of luck, and second, when the method of murder is never explained. Unfortunately, this book is guilty of both.
I finished it, but only because I hate to give up on a book. But the writing was awful - the author didn’t trust the reader to make any of their own conclusions and so describes every small useless detail that doesn’t contribute to the plot. Every single outfit, every bout of canker sores, ever “oriental laughter” which, besides being a ridiculous thing to say, is also racist and outdated. I would read parts of this book aloud to my partner and we would laugh and laugh at the obnoxious use of metaphors and similes. If it had been written by an adolescent who was
just discovering their style, it may have passed as a clever attempt at detective crime. But I honestly don’t understand all the good reviews - I couldn’t go a paragraph without cringing. That, and the big reveal in the end was always going to be a surprise - there were no hints or clues dropped throughout the rest of the book, and I think a good crime book should provide clues to pick up on.
just discovering their style, it may have passed as a clever attempt at detective crime. But I honestly don’t understand all the good reviews - I couldn’t go a paragraph without cringing. That, and the big reveal in the end was always going to be a surprise - there were no hints or clues dropped throughout the rest of the book, and I think a good crime book should provide clues to pick up on.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
I've read this novel for the first time about a decade ago, and I bought a copy recently, because I saw it on a shelf in a local bookshop. As it turns out, I was captivated by it just as much as I had been the first time I've read it.
The story was grim, tense, twisted, bloody and dark, which is something every person who wants to read this novel should be aware of. Each character introduced throughout the story had something to add to the plot, even if it didn't seem like it in the beginning, which I like in my mystery and thrillers. The style of writing really worked for me, too, and the plot twists, didn't matter how bloody and gruesome, kept me intrigued.
I do have to say, the story introduces a lot of characters and a lot of details, which made the main plot a bit long and a bit convoluted at times. There were so many characters that at some point I had a difficult time remembering who was who, but that might be my only complaint, honestly.
I also have to admit, as interesting as I find Charlie Parker as a character, Angel and Louis were the ones who actually stole my heart. I absolutely adore them and their friendship with Charlie. The banter and the way they interact with each other and with Charlie was really enjoyable to read about, and the small moments between them were a nice, tiny break from the darkness surrounding the case Charlie was working on.
Well, I can safely say that I can't wait to read (and in some cases re-read) the rest of the books in the "Charlie Parker" series.
The story was grim, tense, twisted, bloody and dark, which is something every person who wants to read this novel should be aware of. Each character introduced throughout the story had something to add to the plot, even if it didn't seem like it in the beginning, which I like in my mystery and thrillers. The style of writing really worked for me, too, and the plot twists, didn't matter how bloody and gruesome, kept me intrigued.
I do have to say, the story introduces a lot of characters and a lot of details, which made the main plot a bit long and a bit convoluted at times. There were so many characters that at some point I had a difficult time remembering who was who, but that might be my only complaint, honestly.
I also have to admit, as interesting as I find Charlie Parker as a character, Angel and Louis were the ones who actually stole my heart. I absolutely adore them and their friendship with Charlie. The banter and the way they interact with each other and with Charlie was really enjoyable to read about, and the small moments between them were a nice, tiny break from the darkness surrounding the case Charlie was working on.
Well, I can safely say that I can't wait to read (and in some cases re-read) the rest of the books in the "Charlie Parker" series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Medical content, Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Sexual content