Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I adore the Charlie Parker series for its wit and humanity in the face of the darkest aspects of humanity (and other, far less human things). John Connolly excels at pacing his character development throughout the series, not just the individual novels. "Children Of Eve" made a choice to follow the action, which often meant following the perpetrators instead of Parker and company and suffered for it. The brief interludes with Jennifer felt intrusive, but were also teasing a more interesting plot to come.
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
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
John Connolly is my favourite author. Charlie Parker is my third favourite fictional character after the beloved Angel and Louis. ‘The Children of Eve’ takes us further into the underworld with mummified children and their god mother, a decaying life but a dab hand with a killer blade. Exciting from start to finish leaving the door open for the next instalment. Quote of the book from Louis speaking with the girlfriend of the ex-soldier that beat Parker - ‘don’t mistake me for someone with scruples … by the time I leave your body behind I will already have forgotten your name’. Im not sure what loving Louis so much says about me … but I do. Another 5/5. Just brilliant.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve devoured every Charlie Parker novel and had The Children of Eve pre-ordered the moment it was announced. That makes this review all the more frustrating to write, because this book simply didn’t deliver.
The signature atmosphere — that eerie blend of mystery, melancholy, and menace — was missing. It felt flat. The pacing dragged, and most of the core characters felt like they were on the sidelines, reduced to cameo roles rather than contributing meaningfully to the plot. Angel and Louis barely registered, and even Parker himself felt distant at times.
The one shining thread was the focus on his daughters, which added a layer of emotional depth. But even that wasn’t enough to carry a story that felt empty — as if it was going through the motions. And the ending? Rushed, abrupt, and unsatisfying. It read more like a contractual obligation than a novel Connolly was invested in.
I’ll always read Connolly, but this one felt like a misstep. Here’s hoping the next book finds its way back to what makes this series so extraordinary.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The main character, Charlie Parker, grows and deepens and darkens as this series progresses.
The secondary charters we've come to love all put in appearances - Angel and Louis, the Fulci brothers, Samantha, and Jennifer.
Connolly's writing is sharp, and the changes from one POV to another are easy to follow. Of special interest is that the reader knows from the outset more than Parker does, and yet we keep turning the pages as the mysteries unfold. Parker's spot-on assessments of the real world, and his snark, and delightful. The dénouement does not disappoint.
The secondary charters we've come to love all put in appearances - Angel and Louis, the Fulci brothers, Samantha, and Jennifer.
Connolly's writing is sharp, and the changes from one POV to another are easy to follow. Of special interest is that the reader knows from the outset more than Parker does, and yet we keep turning the pages as the mysteries unfold. Parker's spot-on assessments of the real world, and his snark, and delightful. The dénouement does not disappoint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
dark
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
Not up to the usual standard - too much flicking about between POVs made for a tale it was hard to get into at all
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No