The Furies: Private Investigator Charlie Parker looks evil in the eye in the globally bestselling series (Charlie Parker Thriller)

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I love Charlie Parker, I love Louis and Angel, I even love Tony and Paulie Fulci (how could you not?) The was a distinct absence of Jennifer, which I was unhappy about, but enough death and chaos and sarcasm to keep me interested. Damn, that was a properly boring and lifeless experience considering the usual vibrancy and suspense of the Charlie Parker series. The Infernals (2011), also known as Hell’s Bells. Young Samuel Johnson is in trouble. Not only is his eyesight so poor that he mistakenly asks out a letter box on a date but an angry demon wants revenge for Samuel’s part in foiling the invasion of Earth by the forces of evil. When Samuel and his faithful dachshund, Boswell, are pulled through a portal into the dark realm, home of the Infernals, it gets its chance.

I have read 19 of John Connolly’s books. I have read 18 in the Charlie Parker series. To same that I am a fan is an understatement. I have no problem with this book. I wasn't sure how it would go with the two shorter stories, but if it's Connolly writing about my 3 favorite men in fiction, then how could I not love it? I always get excited when I see that John Connolly has a new book out in the Charlie Parker series! I love Connolly's beautiful writing. He has the heart of a poet who writes dark supernatural tales that put a smile on my face. I love how he combines genres: horror, mystery, supernatural, etc. In The Furies, Connolly takes a new slant and instead of writing a one story, he writes two novellas (The Sisters Strange and The Furies). Both were enjoyable, but I did enjoy the second one much more.

I just couldn’t engage with the first story, the longer of the two. It was well told, but kind of meh. I enjoyed the second one more. Fans of this series will probably enjoy The Furies, but I’m not sure it will attract many new aficionados.

Night Music: Nocturnes 2 (2015) – The second volume of tales of the supernatural. From stories of the monstrous for dark winter nights to fables of fantastic libraries and haunted books, from a tender account of love after death to a frank, personal, and revealing account of the author’s affection for myths of ghosts and demons. New York Times bestselling author John Connolly pits Parker against two separate—but vitally connected—investigations, which prove to be among the most complicated of his entire career in this “must-read for the author’s fans and a good introduction to the series for newbie” ( Booklist ). The Furies, John Connolly’s latest novel, is actually two short novels: the titled novel and The Sisters Strange. Both demonstrate his strengths: Charlie Parker himself with his code of behavior; Charlie’s various, and quite varied associates who offer a wide assortment of aid in his work; a deep knowledge of the inner workings of New England and its criminal underworld; that ever present, but varyingly used, supernatural world; and of course his personal history which has colored his entire adult life.And in the title novel, The Furies , Parker must protect two women under threat as Portland shuts down in the face of a global pandemic. But it may be that those clients are more capable of taking care of themselves than anyone could have imagined. Connolly writes so well that his books are always a pleasure to read. As well as mystery, horror and the supernatural, he also includes humour. There is some excellent and very entertaining dialogue as well as some of those 'must read aloud to anyone who will listen' moments. Look, John. I get it. You've been writing at least 1 book per year for what's it now...23 years? You get tired. Inspiration slips away.

I press him on the book’s length, a particular bugbear of mine in contemporary crime fiction (although the truth remains: it’s never too long if, as here, the writing is good enough). The two stories were fantastic. I'll confess that I may have enjoyed the last story more than the first, because it had a more supernatural bent to it. I do love that stuff!😜 I enjoyed both novellas, but I am ready for this series to finally move forward, as it has been at a standstill since the events of book 18. As always, Connolly’s writing is well-crafted, and I loved spending time with Parker, Angel, Louis, and other favorite characters. I am ready to see where this series is headed and cannot wait to find out in book #21. The Furies by John Connolly is actually two novellas connected by theme and a somewhat disreputable hotel. In the first story, The Sisters Strange, Charlie Parker is hired by a man to protect the woman he loves from a dangerous man. Trouble is, this dangerous man not only has a relationship with the woman in question but with her sister as well. In his attempt to help the sisters, Charlie finds himself drawn into what should be a simple theft of some valuable coins but this is a Charlie Parker thriller so of course nothing is as simple as it seems.

Who is John Connolly?

The game goes on. The game always goes on. The only issue to be decided is if you’re a player or a pawn.” The Sisters Strange is the longer of the two, and begins with the seemingly simple murder of a coin collector. But this is John Connolly, and nothing stays simple for long – Charlie Parker is pulled into the increasingly twisty case by an outsider concerned for one of the two sisters the expanding mystery threatens to consume. This story is lighter on the supernatural elements that have come to be this author’s trademark, but not without them entirely.

Thank you to Netgalley for my THIRD Charlie Parker ARC, thanks to John Connolly and Simon & Schuster Publishing for allowing me the privilege. Nocturnes (2004) – a collection of supernatural tales book-ended by two novellas, 9 of which are transcripts of stories written for presentation on BBC Radio Four: The Erlking, Mr Pettinger’s Demon, Mr Gray’s Folly, The Ritual of the Bones, Nocturne. Both of these stories make it clear that even when investigating smaller cases – at least compared to some of the previous books in the series – Charlie Parker is a force for good and a character with plenty of stories left to tell. The Furies is an excellent example of a series that delights in horrifying and uplifting its readers simultaneously; long may it continue to do so. It might have been the scudding of clouds, or the shifting of the branches in the night breeze, but for an instant there was movement on X’s skin – no, not on, but under, so that the shape of his face was transfigured. Beneath his own features I descried those of another, the lines sharp and animalistic, the teeth jagged and sharp, and I smelled, amid the man’s floral scent, a hint of burning.”

Customer reviews

Thank you to NetGalley, Author John Connolly and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review. Bonus: Parker: A Miscellany – a nonfiction companion to John Connolly’s Charlie Parker novels that uses music as a jumping-off point.