Book Review: The Instruments of Darkness by John Connolly

THEINSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS by John Connolly

Hodder& Stoughton 2024, 450 pages

Availablein hardcover

Iam a big fan of John Connolly’s Charlie Parker novels, all of which I have read.This, unbelievably, is the twenty-first!

Youwould perhaps expect after so many tales for there to be a gradual lessening oforiginality but believe me The Instruments of Darkness reads as fresh asever. With its subtle blend of crime and the supernatural, you are never quitesure where common criminality ends and worse takes over. And believe me howeverbad common criminality is the other is far, far worse. 

Thisis certainly the case here where Parker is hired to look into the guilt orotherwise of Colleen Clark whose young son has disappeared, either kidnapped ormurdered. The local district attorney, out to make a name for himself in anupcoming election to higher office, and his equally ambitious assistant, out totake his place when he steps up, are determined to prove Colleen is guilty ofmurdering her son and hiding his body. Compounding how bad things look for her,her estranged husband finds a bloodstained blanket in the boot of Colleen’s carand is outspoken in his belief his wife is their son’s killer. Things, indeed,look bad for Colleen, but she is lucky in having recurring character MoxieCastin as her lawyer, who wisely asks Parker to investigate what happened.

Andso begins a darkening tale of mysteries, intrigues and malign influences.

Connollyhas again given us a great cast of vividly depicted characters, whether they’repeople you love, pity, despise or hate. Plus plenty of action. And we also haveother recurring characters we are used to expect in any Charlie Parker novel,such as Angel and Louie.  

Thelast Charlie Parker book, The Furies, was made up of two novellas, whichI found less satisfying. Thankfully The Instruments of Darkness is onelong, full-blooded novel, into which it is easy to become thoroughly absorbed.The only problem for me, despite being well over four hundred pages in length, isthat I found it such a page-turner it didn’t take me long to finish it! Now Ihave at least another year, perhaps more, before I can dip into another.

 

This review was first published in Phantasmagoria Magazine Summer 2024