I really like the author, and this was my first Charlie Parker. I probably should have started with the earlier works to build up to this novel. I knew that Parker was a P.I., and I guess I was expecting a little more of a mystery/investigation and less supernatural. I really did like the author's examination of soldiers from the war in Iraq and the possibility of PTSD, and the effects of war, and I wished there was less of the supernatural and more of the PTSD as a possible motive for crime.

Without giving anything away, it just seemed like there were too many entities (or possible entities) floating around, and the entities always seem to be all powerful without a snowball's chance in hell of being able to stop them. Usually at that point, I figure "why even bother" and wonder why the characters just don't give up. I was also curious as to whether some of the entities (maily the Collector) has been in previous novels, and if they are indeed a part of Connolly's canon of work. I will read Connolly again, hopefully starting with an earlier novel and see if I like that one better. I really did enjoy the Gates, so I am also thinking it might just be in my head right now. I am more in the mood for a mystery, and not the horror as much.