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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
probably my least favourite of all the Charlie Parker books.
Even after nearly being killed, trouble refuses to leave detective Charlie Parker alone. In A Song of Shadows, the thirteenth book in John Connolly’s series featuring Parker, the detective has gone to a remote town in northern Maine to recuperate from his near fatal shooting in the last book, The Wolf in Winter. The series began as a better-than-average moody private detective series, but it wasn’t long before Connolly introduced subtle supernatural elements to his series. In A Song of Shadows, it becomes more clear than ever that Parker’s family has something out of the ordinary in their bloodline. Parker himself has always been attuned to traces of evil in the world and can see ghosts in his dreams. His daughter, only six, is starting to show signs that she’s got an even more spectacular gift. I’m getting ahead of myself....
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Song of Shadows by John Connelly is a 2015 Atria publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I kept putting this one off until I was more in the mood for a little supernatural tone with my detective stories, and there's no better time than in the month of October for a good ghost story. So, I settled in on a dark and stormy night, hoping Charlie was still the guy I have come to know and love.
I have to say, this story was absolutely incredible. A small community in Maine with a large German community is where Charlie has moved temporarily in order to continue his long physical, mental and emotional healing. It's just his luck that a couple of Nazi war criminals have recently made headlines, and a body has washed up on the shore, a case that is all but screaming at Charlie to get involved. It seems, for Charlie at least, there is no rest for the weary.
Charlie's daughter, Sam, is staying with him for a while, and reveals her own talent for seeing dead people, and maybe a little more than that, which has Charlie worried sick. But, thankfully, he has Rachel, and his old friends Angel and Louis are there to watch his back.
This story is sort of like a 'time out' for Charlie, who is outside of his usual elements here, and is hampered by his injuries. The plot is intricate and there were some rather long winded passages here and there concerning the history of the town, the war, and the reminder that some people who committed atrocities during world war two managed to escape justice, and have been living quite comfortably to boot. There were several heart stopping twist along the way with some shocking developments I never saw coming. I was completely immersed in the story involving war crimes and the puzzling mystery behind why certain people were now being targeted.
But, the storyline with Sam and her 'dead sister' was one that literally had the hair standing up on the back of my neck and chills running down my spine! The dark and sinister undertones here are going to have you on the very edge of your seat.
One thing about long running series is that the stories go through peaks and valleys, with some installments either falling flat or just barely managing to break even, while others are simply mind blowing. With thirteen books in a this series, I would say Charlie was due to take stumble, especially after the climatic conclusion of book twelve. But, this was one of the best of the lot, in my opinion. The plot was crisp and fresh, very clever, intense and sharp, offset by some humor and poignancy.
I highly recommend this book for fans of this series for sure, but even if you haven't followed the series, you can still enjoy the detective story is this one and I know once you get a taste of Charlie's otherworldly life you will want to know more. Just be sure not read it alone on a dark and stormy night!
4.5 stars
I kept putting this one off until I was more in the mood for a little supernatural tone with my detective stories, and there's no better time than in the month of October for a good ghost story. So, I settled in on a dark and stormy night, hoping Charlie was still the guy I have come to know and love.
I have to say, this story was absolutely incredible. A small community in Maine with a large German community is where Charlie has moved temporarily in order to continue his long physical, mental and emotional healing. It's just his luck that a couple of Nazi war criminals have recently made headlines, and a body has washed up on the shore, a case that is all but screaming at Charlie to get involved. It seems, for Charlie at least, there is no rest for the weary.
Charlie's daughter, Sam, is staying with him for a while, and reveals her own talent for seeing dead people, and maybe a little more than that, which has Charlie worried sick. But, thankfully, he has Rachel, and his old friends Angel and Louis are there to watch his back.
This story is sort of like a 'time out' for Charlie, who is outside of his usual elements here, and is hampered by his injuries. The plot is intricate and there were some rather long winded passages here and there concerning the history of the town, the war, and the reminder that some people who committed atrocities during world war two managed to escape justice, and have been living quite comfortably to boot. There were several heart stopping twist along the way with some shocking developments I never saw coming. I was completely immersed in the story involving war crimes and the puzzling mystery behind why certain people were now being targeted.
But, the storyline with Sam and her 'dead sister' was one that literally had the hair standing up on the back of my neck and chills running down my spine! The dark and sinister undertones here are going to have you on the very edge of your seat.
One thing about long running series is that the stories go through peaks and valleys, with some installments either falling flat or just barely managing to break even, while others are simply mind blowing. With thirteen books in a this series, I would say Charlie was due to take stumble, especially after the climatic conclusion of book twelve. But, this was one of the best of the lot, in my opinion. The plot was crisp and fresh, very clever, intense and sharp, offset by some humor and poignancy.
I highly recommend this book for fans of this series for sure, but even if you haven't followed the series, you can still enjoy the detective story is this one and I know once you get a taste of Charlie's otherworldly life you will want to know more. Just be sure not read it alone on a dark and stormy night!
4.5 stars
I don't think it's a secret that I love this series.
If you've made it to number thirteen, you don't really need a true review, so I'll just post my favorite quote instead!
[Speaking of those who pray]
"Can you imagine all those voices screaming together, begging for rescue, for mercy, for an end to pain, for the annihilation of their tormentors? Do you know how many of them were answered? Tell me. Speak the number. No? Then let me say it for you: none. There was no answer. There was no mercy. From that, what can we say of God? Either that He does not exist, or He would not listen to their cries. What have we to fear from a being like that, even if He is real? How could He look at us in the eye and pass sentence upon us?"
Daaaaayummmmm.......
If you've made it to number thirteen, you don't really need a true review, so I'll just post my favorite quote instead!
[Speaking of those who pray]
"Can you imagine all those voices screaming together, begging for rescue, for mercy, for an end to pain, for the annihilation of their tormentors? Do you know how many of them were answered? Tell me. Speak the number. No? Then let me say it for you: none. There was no answer. There was no mercy. From that, what can we say of God? Either that He does not exist, or He would not listen to their cries. What have we to fear from a being like that, even if He is real? How could He look at us in the eye and pass sentence upon us?"
Daaaaayummmmm.......
Definitely NOT my favorite of the Charlie Parker books.
It's, as always, tightly plotted and well written, with some little hints dropped about the greater universe, but... it's also a book about Nazis written by a non-Jewish, non-Rromani author, and that's always a crapshoot. There were no Jewish POV characters, just a bunch of dead Jewish bodies. OTOH the Nazis got some definite sympathetic "well I've been NOT a Nazi for 70 years, doesn't that count for something?" POV bits. The revelation at the end (which, honestly, I was waiting for) just added that one last twist of the 'the Jews don't actually matter in the grand scheme of this story ostensibly about Jews' knife.
I would have been much happier if Connolly had done for Rabbi Epstein in this book what he did for Louis in The Reapers-- give him a book about his community, and his night horrors. Connolly's done some very sensitive writing on US race relations (for a white Irish man writing a horror thriller series), but none of that sensitivity was evident in this book, and that was a shame.
It's, as always, tightly plotted and well written, with some little hints dropped about the greater universe, but... it's also a book about Nazis written by a non-Jewish, non-Rromani author, and that's always a crapshoot. There were no Jewish POV characters, just a bunch of dead Jewish bodies. OTOH the Nazis got some definite sympathetic "well I've been NOT a Nazi for 70 years, doesn't that count for something?" POV bits. The revelation at the end (which, honestly, I was waiting for) just added that one last twist of the 'the Jews don't actually matter in the grand scheme of this story ostensibly about Jews' knife.
I would have been much happier if Connolly had done for Rabbi Epstein in this book what he did for Louis in The Reapers-- give him a book about his community, and his night horrors. Connolly's done some very sensitive writing on US race relations (for a white Irish man writing a horror thriller series), but none of that sensitivity was evident in this book, and that was a shame.
Charlie Parker did it again for me. I can't believe we're arrived at the 13th book in the series, and the narration and plot is still as powerful as always.I think I won't wait for a hardcopy of the next in the series, but will get it in a digital form, because it makes sense now to keep on reading.
Probably not a great sign when the side threads are more interesting than the main plot. It dies set up future books nicely.
Now Available in the U.S.!
I loved this book!
Charlie Parker is recovering from near fatal injuries and as such, is reflecting on his life and the decisions he has made. Rehabilitating at a house in Boreas, Maine he becomes interested in a body that washes up at a nearby beach and so begins this story which I'll call Charlie and the Nazis.
The portions of the book that I loved best, (other than the always entertaining Angel, Louis and Fulci Brothers), were the parts regarding Charlie's daughters. Series followers are already familiar with Jennifer and Sam but this book reveals that Sam has a secret, a dangerous one, and I cannot wait to find out more about where it comes from and how it is to be used. Jennifer made a promise to Charlie in "The Wolf in Winter" and in this volume, she keeps her promise. Charlie's girls hold sway over his emotions and I think Connolly's writing shines brightest when dealing with Parker's feelings toward them.
In short, this is yet another hit from Mr. Connolly. We've got a damaged Charlie, two daughters, Nazis, Nazi hunters, concentration camp survivors and all the old standbys including Cambion and The Collector. Everything you love about this series is here, plus some.
A Song of Shadows receives my highest recommendation. To fans of truly excellent writing, crime thrillers, mysteries and horror, go get yourself some new Charlie Parker at the end of this month! You won't regret it. (Available in the U.S. September 29, 2015.)
*I received a free e-ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. *
I loved this book!
Charlie Parker is recovering from near fatal injuries and as such, is reflecting on his life and the decisions he has made. Rehabilitating at a house in Boreas, Maine he becomes interested in a body that washes up at a nearby beach and so begins this story which I'll call Charlie and the Nazis.
The portions of the book that I loved best, (other than the always entertaining Angel, Louis and Fulci Brothers), were the parts regarding Charlie's daughters. Series followers are already familiar with Jennifer and Sam but this book reveals that Sam has a secret, a dangerous one, and I cannot wait to find out more about where it comes from and how it is to be used. Jennifer made a promise to Charlie in "The Wolf in Winter" and in this volume, she keeps her promise. Charlie's girls hold sway over his emotions and I think Connolly's writing shines brightest when dealing with Parker's feelings toward them.
In short, this is yet another hit from Mr. Connolly. We've got a damaged Charlie, two daughters, Nazis, Nazi hunters, concentration camp survivors and all the old standbys including Cambion and The Collector. Everything you love about this series is here, plus some.
A Song of Shadows receives my highest recommendation. To fans of truly excellent writing, crime thrillers, mysteries and horror, go get yourself some new Charlie Parker at the end of this month! You won't regret it. (Available in the U.S. September 29, 2015.)
*I received a free e-ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. *
Notes:
I should write a review but I'm not in the right mode to do it.
- Jeff Harding was great as the narrator.
- Story was a riot of feels. Emotional roller coaster.
- I <3 the ending! My new fav.
I'm almost caught up to the latest release which won't be out for the US until October. I think I'll suck it up and wait impatiently for the next book like a good bookaholic. =P
I should write a review but I'm not in the right mode to do it.
- Jeff Harding was great as the narrator.
- Story was a riot of feels. Emotional roller coaster.
- I <3 the ending! My new fav.
I'm almost caught up to the latest release which won't be out for the US until October. I think I'll suck it up and wait impatiently for the next book like a good bookaholic. =P