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Charlie Parker #21
The Instruments of Darkness
From the international and instant New York Times bestselling author John Connolly, the beloved and brilliant Charlie Parker series returns with a heart-wrenching crime only one man can solve.
In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty.
But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old, twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built.
A house, and what dwells beneath.
In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty.
But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old, twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built.
A house, and what dwells beneath.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2024
761 people are currently reading
6008 people want to read
About the author
John Connolly
216 books7,934 followersJohn Connolly was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1968 and has, at various points in his life, worked as a journalist, a barman, a local government official, a waiter and a dogsbody at Harrods department store in London. He studied English in Trinity College, Dublin and journalism at Dublin City University, subsequently spending five years working as a freelance journalist for The Irish Times newspaper, to which he continues to contribute.
He is based in Dublin but divides his time between his native city and the United States.
This page is administered by John's assistant, Clair, on John's behalf. If you'd like to communicate with John directly, you can do so by writing to contact-at-johnconnollybooks.com, or by following him on Twitter at @JConnollyBooks.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
He is based in Dublin but divides his time between his native city and the United States.
This page is administered by John's assistant, Clair, on John's behalf. If you'd like to communicate with John directly, you can do so by writing to contact-at-johnconnollybooks.com, or by following him on Twitter at @JConnollyBooks.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 576 reviews
January 4, 2024
Charlie Parker is back in the 21st installment in the hard to put down Charlie Parker series! Woohoo! I enjoy this thrilling and shocking series. I also love how Connolly weaves supernatural elements into the books. Another plus is that this book can be read as a stand-alone book for those who have not read the other books in the series. Although after reading this book, your interest may be piqued, and you may find yourself going back to read the other books in the series. I speak from experience. In The Instruments of Darkness, Charlie Parker along with Louis and Angel team up with Sabine, a psychic who had fallen from grace years ago, to find a missing boy.
Everyone believes that Colleen Clark murdered her son. Even her husband. While everyone is busy pointing their fingers at her, she is adamant that she is innocent and wants her child back. Her lawyer has hired Charlie Parker to find Colleen's missing son. Charlie knows there is more to this story than meets the eye and throws himself into the investigation.
I wasn't quite sure what I thought of this book in the beginning and in no time found myself fully immersed in the book. As with other books in this series, I found this book to be beautifully written, gripping, and full of tension and danger. I also love the supernatural element in this book (and the other books). The supernatural sections fit in seamlessly and never feel forced, overdone or over played.
Charlie and the gang are a great bunch. I enjoy their personalities and how they play off each other. Over the course of the series, I have learned more about their backstories. They are as tough as nails, and I love rooting for them. As with the other books in the series, Charlie and gang will come up against some dangerous people and situations. I enjoyed how the tension and sense of unease mounted as the book progressed. I also enjoyed the parts where Sabine, the psychic has had contact and the insight she provided. Toward the middle of the book, it takes on an eerie and chilling feel.
Gripping, eerie, tense, and dark. John Connolly and Charlie Parker never disappoint!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Everyone believes that Colleen Clark murdered her son. Even her husband. While everyone is busy pointing their fingers at her, she is adamant that she is innocent and wants her child back. Her lawyer has hired Charlie Parker to find Colleen's missing son. Charlie knows there is more to this story than meets the eye and throws himself into the investigation.
I wasn't quite sure what I thought of this book in the beginning and in no time found myself fully immersed in the book. As with other books in this series, I found this book to be beautifully written, gripping, and full of tension and danger. I also love the supernatural element in this book (and the other books). The supernatural sections fit in seamlessly and never feel forced, overdone or over played.
Charlie and the gang are a great bunch. I enjoy their personalities and how they play off each other. Over the course of the series, I have learned more about their backstories. They are as tough as nails, and I love rooting for them. As with the other books in the series, Charlie and gang will come up against some dangerous people and situations. I enjoyed how the tension and sense of unease mounted as the book progressed. I also enjoyed the parts where Sabine, the psychic has had contact and the insight she provided. Toward the middle of the book, it takes on an eerie and chilling feel.
Gripping, eerie, tense, and dark. John Connolly and Charlie Parker never disappoint!
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 11, 2024
My thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler and Netgalley.
It's Charlie Parker and Louie and Angel and the Fulci brothers. Of course this dang story is the bomb!
One of my favorite things in life is reading about Charlie and friends. I love them all.
The first half of this book is mostly filled with Parker! I'm ecstatic about that because I seldom seem to get my fill of Charlie. Charlie is my most beloved character of all time in a series.
This story has everything that we crave from this series. Mostly just being around Charlie and the supernatural aspect. This was that!
Lot's of changes. "No spoilers."
I did have one issue, and that was the fact that Charlie seems to have become intolerant of other opinions. I'm with Parker on all of his thinking "mostly" it just reminded me of how some other people, from the other side of the aisle are so set and fixed in their ways. Well, both sides of the aisle I suppose! Still, this is the one and only series that I've read since its inception and have continued with. Parker and friends never get old.
I'd recommend reading this series from the beginning. Otherwise you're going to miss some incredibly important stuff.
It's Charlie Parker and Louie and Angel and the Fulci brothers. Of course this dang story is the bomb!
One of my favorite things in life is reading about Charlie and friends. I love them all.
The first half of this book is mostly filled with Parker! I'm ecstatic about that because I seldom seem to get my fill of Charlie. Charlie is my most beloved character of all time in a series.
This story has everything that we crave from this series. Mostly just being around Charlie and the supernatural aspect. This was that!
Lot's of changes. "No spoilers."
I did have one issue, and that was the fact that Charlie seems to have become intolerant of other opinions. I'm with Parker on all of his thinking "mostly" it just reminded me of how some other people, from the other side of the aisle are so set and fixed in their ways. Well, both sides of the aisle I suppose! Still, this is the one and only series that I've read since its inception and have continued with. Parker and friends never get old.
I'd recommend reading this series from the beginning. Otherwise you're going to miss some incredibly important stuff.
May 21, 2024
This, the 21st installment of the one of the best dark fiction series' ever created, holds up to the standards I've come to expect from John Connolly.
Charlie is working a case for Moxie, one that appears to be cut and dried. But the mysteries and cases that Charlie works are never cut and dried, and this one was no exception. A woman's son is missing, taken from his bedroom while his mother slept. The police were furiously looking for the missing boy, until they found a blood-soaked blanket in the trunk of the mother's car. From that point on, the police are only looking at her and she is soon arrested. Luckily she has Moxie for a lawyer and Charlie comes along with him. Enter a sad and tortured psychic, a group of white supremacists, and a decrepit house in the woods, and you have the setup for THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS. Will Charlie clear the mother of murder? Will the psychic be redeemed and WHAT is in that house? You'll have to read this to find out!
Here we are 21 books in and I never want this series to end. I know that it's going to because all of my favorite characters are getting old now. Angel and Luis are beginning to show their age, and they don't move as quickly as they used to. Same with Charlie, too. But when an author is as good as John Connolly is, the reader never wants to let go of characters like this. Angel and Luis are killers and would be considered bad guys in any other books, but not these. Every time they appear I find myself smiling.
Once again, Connolly hits the top of the bar with this reader, and that bar was already set pretty high. I am eagerly anticipating, (and kind of dreading), the next book in the series. I sense heartbreak will soon be coming for Parker fans, but I still want my heart broken just the same. I mean, if it's going to be broken, it might as well be at the hands of one of the best crime writers out there, right? Until that time, I reluctantly say goodbye to Charlie, Angel and Luis. I hope to see you all again, alive and well, my friends.
My highest recommendation!
*ARC from publisher.*
Charlie is working a case for Moxie, one that appears to be cut and dried. But the mysteries and cases that Charlie works are never cut and dried, and this one was no exception. A woman's son is missing, taken from his bedroom while his mother slept. The police were furiously looking for the missing boy, until they found a blood-soaked blanket in the trunk of the mother's car. From that point on, the police are only looking at her and she is soon arrested. Luckily she has Moxie for a lawyer and Charlie comes along with him. Enter a sad and tortured psychic, a group of white supremacists, and a decrepit house in the woods, and you have the setup for THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS. Will Charlie clear the mother of murder? Will the psychic be redeemed and WHAT is in that house? You'll have to read this to find out!
Here we are 21 books in and I never want this series to end. I know that it's going to because all of my favorite characters are getting old now. Angel and Luis are beginning to show their age, and they don't move as quickly as they used to. Same with Charlie, too. But when an author is as good as John Connolly is, the reader never wants to let go of characters like this. Angel and Luis are killers and would be considered bad guys in any other books, but not these. Every time they appear I find myself smiling.
Once again, Connolly hits the top of the bar with this reader, and that bar was already set pretty high. I am eagerly anticipating, (and kind of dreading), the next book in the series. I sense heartbreak will soon be coming for Parker fans, but I still want my heart broken just the same. I mean, if it's going to be broken, it might as well be at the hands of one of the best crime writers out there, right? Until that time, I reluctantly say goodbye to Charlie, Angel and Luis. I hope to see you all again, alive and well, my friends.
My highest recommendation!
*ARC from publisher.*
July 25, 2024
Isn't it great to get to end of a 450 page book and still want more! Charlie Parker can do this to you.
I have read all twenty two books in the series and this latest one has everything - Angel and Louis, Charlie himself, a heart breaking mystery with multiple layers, people who can hear dead people, danger and excitement, and the spookiest house ever with "some thing" under the floor. I never quite got my head around that entity but it sure was scary.
I enjoyed the new character of Sabine Drew, the medium. She had some amazing psychic skills and it was sad how she suffered for them. The lawyer, Moxie Castin, was excellent too and I loved the banter between him and Charlie. The author writes superbly as usual and although I rarely quote in a review I have to repeat this part of the very first paragraph describing Moxie.
"He was overweight by the equivalent of a small child, didn't use one word in public when five others were loitering nearby with nothing better to do, and had a taste for ties with patterns reminiscent of the markings of poisonous insects or the nightmares of LSD survivors."
I especially love the idea of loitering words just hanging around waiting to be used.
I hope Charlie finds himself a woman soon and not the one he is with right now. I think his dead daughter agrees with me that she is not suitable. A great book and I look forward to the next one.
I have read all twenty two books in the series and this latest one has everything - Angel and Louis, Charlie himself, a heart breaking mystery with multiple layers, people who can hear dead people, danger and excitement, and the spookiest house ever with "some thing" under the floor. I never quite got my head around that entity but it sure was scary.
I enjoyed the new character of Sabine Drew, the medium. She had some amazing psychic skills and it was sad how she suffered for them. The lawyer, Moxie Castin, was excellent too and I loved the banter between him and Charlie. The author writes superbly as usual and although I rarely quote in a review I have to repeat this part of the very first paragraph describing Moxie.
"He was overweight by the equivalent of a small child, didn't use one word in public when five others were loitering nearby with nothing better to do, and had a taste for ties with patterns reminiscent of the markings of poisonous insects or the nightmares of LSD survivors."
I especially love the idea of loitering words just hanging around waiting to be used.
I hope Charlie finds himself a woman soon and not the one he is with right now. I think his dead daughter agrees with me that she is not suitable. A great book and I look forward to the next one.
July 6, 2024
This review was first posted on Mystery & Suspense Magazine. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...
In this 21st book in the 'Charlie Parker' series, the sleuth investigates the disappearance of a child. This supernatural mystery thriller works fine as a standalone.
When two-year-old Henry Clark disappears from his toddler bed in Portland, Maine.....
.......suspicion quickly falls on Henry's mother Colleen.
Colleen's husband Stephen - who was on a business trip when Henry vanished - tells the police that Colleen had post-partum depression and anger issues. When Stephen finds a blood-stained blanket in the trunk of Colleen's car, that clinches it.
For her part, Colleen says she had a glass of wine, fell asleep, and woke up to find Henry gone. Colleen further claims to know nothing about the blood-stained blanket in her car, but the authorities don't believe her, and prepare to make an arrest.
Colleen is represented by attorney Moxie Castin......
......who works with private detective Charlie Parker. Colleen, who's distraught about her missing child, believes Parker will understand her plight because he lost his daughter years ago.
Little Henry's disappearance galvanizes the public, and journalists, vloggers, amateur detectives, web sleuths, and would be podcasters, along with protesters of various types haunt the Clarks' neighborhood.
Vandals aren't far behind, and Parker engages two bruisers, Paulie and Tony Fauci, to guard Colleen's house.
Meanwhile, state attorney general Paul Novak and assistant attorney general Erin Becker see an opportunity in the situation.
Novak plans to run for governor, and Becker hopes to climb the ladder into Novak's shoes. A successful prosecution of Colleen Clark would help their ambitions, and they mean to put her on trial and lock her up.
As Parker investigates Henry's disappearance, he learns that Colleen's husband Stephen had an affair with a woman, Mara Teller, whom he met at a National Gas and Petrochemicals Forum. When Parker tries to track down Teller, who's supposedly an industry consultant, he finds that Teller's name is fake and her company doesn't exist.
Meanwhile, a psychic named Sabine Drew, who's had mixed results finding missing children, contacts Parker. Sabine tells Parker she hears young Henry screaming in her head, and that the boy is in the clutches of an evil entity. Parker is skeptical - but since he sees and speaks to his dead daughter Jennifer - Parker doesn't blow Sabine off.
As all this is happening in Portland, we visit rural Maine, where the wooded property of the Michaud family harbors a very old house built from Sears Kit #174. No one has ever lived in the house, which is dilapidated but secure, with a heavy steel door. The unfinished basement of the dwelling harbors an ancient unseen hungry presence.
The Michauds, two sisters and a brother, have a home near the Sears dwelling, and do their best to ensure that no one disturbs the old place.
This is getting more difficult, because militant Neo-Nazis have a camp near the Michaud property, and they want to rent Sears House #174. The Neo-Nazis are funded by billionaire racist Bobby Ocean, who's an old enemy of Charlie Parker.
A firebomb thrown at Colleen Clark's house, seemingly by acquaintances of Bobby Ocean, brings Parker to rural Maine. As always in dangerous situations, Parker brings his good friends Angel and Louis, two tough birds who like nothing better than killing bad guys.
The novel is long and complicated, but all the story lines come together in an exciting, action-packed climax. People like to say Charlie Parker has nine lives, which is great, because I look forward to his further adventures.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
May 13, 2024
I only buy 2 book series brand new via Amazon and in…wait for it…consecutive order. Lee Child and…John Connolly. The Charlie Parker series is about an ex cop whose wife and daughter are murdered. Charlie seeks out the murderer. Leaving the force he becomes a PI based in Maine. Imagine Dennis Wheatley occult meets Sam Spade type banter.
Connolly waited a few years before releasing this latest book. Years not wasted. Parker is back in true form. Aided by the Fulci brothers - imagine ‘bank safes dressed in clothes.’ And Louis and Angel. A mismatched but loving violent gay couple.
Super story of a snatched baby. A mother accused. A husband who we don’t trust. Nazi thugs, a psychic and a malignant entity. All overlayed with superb prose and great action.
Damn I read the book too quickly. Have been promising to read the novels again as unusually these I have kept. Advice - read the first book and then soak up the life of a man who died on the operating table and still sees his dead daughter.
Connolly waited a few years before releasing this latest book. Years not wasted. Parker is back in true form. Aided by the Fulci brothers - imagine ‘bank safes dressed in clothes.’ And Louis and Angel. A mismatched but loving violent gay couple.
Super story of a snatched baby. A mother accused. A husband who we don’t trust. Nazi thugs, a psychic and a malignant entity. All overlayed with superb prose and great action.
Damn I read the book too quickly. Have been promising to read the novels again as unusually these I have kept. Advice - read the first book and then soak up the life of a man who died on the operating table and still sees his dead daughter.
August 20, 2024
A little boy goes missing. A blood-drenched blanket is the only evidence of possible foul play. The boy’s mother is arrested for murder. Her husband, the town, the police: they have already decided she’s guilty. Her attorney, Moxie Castin, hires private detective Charlie Parker to investigate. Their hope? Find the kid, alive. Their realistic goal? Find out what really happened to the boy, bring his body back to be buried, and put the perpetrator in prison or the ground.
Thus begins John Connolly’s 21st book to feature Parker, “The Instruments of Darkness”.
Parker’s search for the real killer gradually leads him to unimagined horrors, the least of which is the father who may have a secret in his past, a commune of white supremacists preparing for a civil war in the woods of Maine, and a 100+-year-old house deep in the woods that is more than just a house.
This is Connolly at the top of his game, and this novel is his most edge-of-the-seat suspenseful supernatural thriller to date.
Thus begins John Connolly’s 21st book to feature Parker, “The Instruments of Darkness”.
Parker’s search for the real killer gradually leads him to unimagined horrors, the least of which is the father who may have a secret in his past, a commune of white supremacists preparing for a civil war in the woods of Maine, and a 100+-year-old house deep in the woods that is more than just a house.
This is Connolly at the top of his game, and this novel is his most edge-of-the-seat suspenseful supernatural thriller to date.
May 16, 2024
My name is Mark and I am an addict.
Ever since my first encounter of Charlie Parker and his unlikely friends Louis & Angel as written by mr. John Connolly I felt the urge to devour this series. This time I decided to pace myselves and not read the novel in one sitting. Even my missus recognizes the writers name and leaves me at peace while reading.
This time the story is a slow burn untill Connolly has build up all threads into an explosive solution. It all starts with a missing child and when a bloody blanket is found the childs' mother is easiest to blame. Enter lawyer extraordinaire Moxie Castain who wants to defend the mother. And hé brings his investigator Charlie Parker which is generally enough to get things rolling .
This time Charlie and friends are up against an ancient evil that is being protected by humans. And then there are the various socalled American patriots who are basically fascists that do not mind certain illegal activities to fill their coffers.
This time again mr Connolly delivers a great potboiler of a story with all of the ingredients that make his books such an addiction. Great to recognize mr Stephen King as rightfull character living in Maine like Parker does. Both like their darkness.
Anyhow now for the withdrawal symptomes untill the next installment. Why not 5 stars well some strings in this book feel left dangling in the wind. Perhaps the writer Will pick these up in his continuing series.
As always Connolly like King remain the best advertisement for the state of Maine. May hé keep up the level of quality for years to Come.
Ever since my first encounter of Charlie Parker and his unlikely friends Louis & Angel as written by mr. John Connolly I felt the urge to devour this series. This time I decided to pace myselves and not read the novel in one sitting. Even my missus recognizes the writers name and leaves me at peace while reading.
This time the story is a slow burn untill Connolly has build up all threads into an explosive solution. It all starts with a missing child and when a bloody blanket is found the childs' mother is easiest to blame. Enter lawyer extraordinaire Moxie Castain who wants to defend the mother. And hé brings his investigator Charlie Parker which is generally enough to get things rolling .
This time Charlie and friends are up against an ancient evil that is being protected by humans. And then there are the various socalled American patriots who are basically fascists that do not mind certain illegal activities to fill their coffers.
This time again mr Connolly delivers a great potboiler of a story with all of the ingredients that make his books such an addiction. Great to recognize mr Stephen King as rightfull character living in Maine like Parker does. Both like their darkness.
Anyhow now for the withdrawal symptomes untill the next installment. Why not 5 stars well some strings in this book feel left dangling in the wind. Perhaps the writer Will pick these up in his continuing series.
As always Connolly like King remain the best advertisement for the state of Maine. May hé keep up the level of quality for years to Come.
April 30, 2024
Admission time: this is my first Charlie Parker novel. Not for want of people telling me how brilliant they are. And yes, they were all right. The good news is that the book is clever, funny in parts, creepy, strange, tightly plotted and almost impossible to put down. As I was lucky enough to get the audio version as an advance review copy I have taken it everywhere with me for the past two days. The narration is also expertly done by Jeff Harding - no melodrama, no silly voices and clear as a bell.
The story is just the right side of creepy - not quite Stephen King but we are in Maine so ... it gives you enough background on Parker amd hos past to be helpful but not so much as to overwhelm.
Instruments of Darkness is the story of Henry Clark who is missing, presumed dead. His mother is the main suspect and certainly her husband thinks she's to blame. Charlie Parker disagrees and he's not alone. He calls in his regular helpers but is also assisted by celebrated (then demonised) medium Sabine Drew whose can hear Henry's cries of fear. The question who or what took Henry? Why is his father so convinced his mother killed her own child? And what does a house in the middle of a wood have to do with it?
My first Charlie Parker, most definitely not my last. Grim but not bloodthirsty; cleverly plotted with just enough twists to make it interesting but not impossible to follow. As I said, my first Charlie Parker but I honestly didn't need to have read any others to follow the plot.
Highly recommended. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio. Most appreciated.
The story is just the right side of creepy - not quite Stephen King but we are in Maine so ... it gives you enough background on Parker amd hos past to be helpful but not so much as to overwhelm.
Instruments of Darkness is the story of Henry Clark who is missing, presumed dead. His mother is the main suspect and certainly her husband thinks she's to blame. Charlie Parker disagrees and he's not alone. He calls in his regular helpers but is also assisted by celebrated (then demonised) medium Sabine Drew whose can hear Henry's cries of fear. The question who or what took Henry? Why is his father so convinced his mother killed her own child? And what does a house in the middle of a wood have to do with it?
My first Charlie Parker, most definitely not my last. Grim but not bloodthirsty; cleverly plotted with just enough twists to make it interesting but not impossible to follow. As I said, my first Charlie Parker but I honestly didn't need to have read any others to follow the plot.
Highly recommended. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio. Most appreciated.
April 15, 2025
Parker-by-the-numbers: Moxie, the Fulcis, Louis and Angel, the Great Bear, the dead, buried gods, all trundled out like a familiar theme park ride. One of the tighter written, plotted, and darker turns in the franchise in a while though.
February 9, 2025
The 21st novel in Connolly's private eye Charlie Parker — It is a top-notch read and does not require a familiarity with the previous 20 novels. Connolly is a former police detective, haunted by the death of his daughter, who still speaks to him from beyond. There is generally a supernatural element lurking in the Charlie Parker novels as if there are things that cannot necessarily be explained by simple logic and facts. Robert E. Howard often used that same formula with his Conan series and it adds a depth of mystery. Here, a psychic/medium is employed and she hears, to her regret, cries from beyond.
The setting, of course, is Portland, Maine, and the story is sort of Jon Benet Ramsey tale without the beauty pageants. An infant disappears from his home during the night after his mother (Colleen Clark), who suffered from post-partum depression, had one glass of wine and put herself to bed. She is estranged from dad, a cool cucumber who scarcely raises his voice. There is no body yet and the evidence is circumstantial, but includes the infant's now bloody blanket in the mother's car under the spare tire. The case is so juicy that the prosecutor sees it as a career case, catapulting to state attorney general and beyond. Moxie Castin, a character, is her lawyer, and he hires Charlie Parker as the investigating detective to help Colleen with the entire state ready to come after her with pitchforks and even her husband accusing her of homicide.
Written in an easy-to-read format, Connolly offers the reader both a detective story where scant clues are tracked down, a supernatural mystery with a medium hearing the boy's voice, a medium though considered a fraud by more than half the state, and a law enforcement machine ready to throw the book at Colleen. For readers of the series, Angel and Louie appear in the later half as Parker butts heads with a White Supremacist group.
The setting, of course, is Portland, Maine, and the story is sort of Jon Benet Ramsey tale without the beauty pageants. An infant disappears from his home during the night after his mother (Colleen Clark), who suffered from post-partum depression, had one glass of wine and put herself to bed. She is estranged from dad, a cool cucumber who scarcely raises his voice. There is no body yet and the evidence is circumstantial, but includes the infant's now bloody blanket in the mother's car under the spare tire. The case is so juicy that the prosecutor sees it as a career case, catapulting to state attorney general and beyond. Moxie Castin, a character, is her lawyer, and he hires Charlie Parker as the investigating detective to help Colleen with the entire state ready to come after her with pitchforks and even her husband accusing her of homicide.
Written in an easy-to-read format, Connolly offers the reader both a detective story where scant clues are tracked down, a supernatural mystery with a medium hearing the boy's voice, a medium though considered a fraud by more than half the state, and a law enforcement machine ready to throw the book at Colleen. For readers of the series, Angel and Louie appear in the later half as Parker butts heads with a White Supremacist group.
May 23, 2024
Words almost fail me to describe how I feel about this latest title in the Charlie Parker series. Let’s start with an easy one: this book can easily be read as a stand-alone, which is very good news for those who’ve never read a book in this series. Connolly very cleverly waves some background information about Parker, his lawyer friend Moxie Castin and his other two good friends Louis and Angel into the story (not to mention the Fulci brothers) without rehashing many details. Be careful though; after reading this book, you may want to read all of them… and this is book 21 in the series.
What looks like an open and shut case for the local police, the abduction and (supposed) murder of a young boy by his mother, soon develops in a multi-layered story with great characters. Moxie asks for Parker’s help because a lot of research needs to be carried out in a short span of time. Nothing new here: the state’s assistant attorney general and the attorney general need this case solved quickly. Not because they want justice served – but only because there are new elections coming up and the AG wants to run for governor, while the AAG wants the job of the AG. They have no interest whatsoever in the young mother Colleen Clark who needs to stand trial for something she may not have done. This horrible system where public officials do not serve the country, but only their own hunger for more power, doesn’t sit well with either Moxie or Parker. After all, the only ‘evidence’ is a blood-stained blanket, found in the car of Colleen by her estranged husband Stephen.
Soon, Parker discovers that he cannot trust what people tell him regarding the people closest involved in this case – and when he is being offered help from someone with a tarnished reputation, he needs all the help he himself can get from his old friends.
I just loved the snappy dialogues, the plot twists, the beautiful language as only Connolly uses to describe even rather disturbing and horrible events. I was looking for a quote to start this review with but there is just too much to choose from. I can only urge readers to buy and read this book - apart from everything else, there is also humour and love to be found in it.
What looks like an open and shut case for the local police, the abduction and (supposed) murder of a young boy by his mother, soon develops in a multi-layered story with great characters. Moxie asks for Parker’s help because a lot of research needs to be carried out in a short span of time. Nothing new here: the state’s assistant attorney general and the attorney general need this case solved quickly. Not because they want justice served – but only because there are new elections coming up and the AG wants to run for governor, while the AAG wants the job of the AG. They have no interest whatsoever in the young mother Colleen Clark who needs to stand trial for something she may not have done. This horrible system where public officials do not serve the country, but only their own hunger for more power, doesn’t sit well with either Moxie or Parker. After all, the only ‘evidence’ is a blood-stained blanket, found in the car of Colleen by her estranged husband Stephen.
Soon, Parker discovers that he cannot trust what people tell him regarding the people closest involved in this case – and when he is being offered help from someone with a tarnished reputation, he needs all the help he himself can get from his old friends.
I just loved the snappy dialogues, the plot twists, the beautiful language as only Connolly uses to describe even rather disturbing and horrible events. I was looking for a quote to start this review with but there is just too much to choose from. I can only urge readers to buy and read this book - apart from everything else, there is also humour and love to be found in it.
July 16, 2025
Another stellar addition to the Charlie Parker series!!
I'm shocked that I've read 21 books in this series. The characters, writing and plots are always consistent throughout each book.
I always know that when I pick up a new book in this series that it will be a great, comfort read for me.
Sure, it's likely to be dark, violent at times, and super intense?!
But I'll also get amazing characters that fight against insurmountable odds, excellent sarcasm, descriptive atmosphere, and a supernatural element that just works.
The supernatural element always feels terrifying and it’s never silly or unbelievable. That’s so hard to do and John Connolly gets it right each time in my opinion!!
I'm not sure what's happening in Maine these days but I'm glad Charlie Parker is up there fighting the weird, evil and darkness for us all! 🧐🤣
I'm shocked that I've read 21 books in this series. The characters, writing and plots are always consistent throughout each book.
I always know that when I pick up a new book in this series that it will be a great, comfort read for me.
Sure, it's likely to be dark, violent at times, and super intense?!
But I'll also get amazing characters that fight against insurmountable odds, excellent sarcasm, descriptive atmosphere, and a supernatural element that just works.
The supernatural element always feels terrifying and it’s never silly or unbelievable. That’s so hard to do and John Connolly gets it right each time in my opinion!!
I'm not sure what's happening in Maine these days but I'm glad Charlie Parker is up there fighting the weird, evil and darkness for us all! 🧐🤣
May 16, 2024
“I didn't have time to write a short letter,
so I wrote a long one instead.”
― Mark Twain
Author John Connolly must not have had the time to write a short book......so he wrote a 512-page book instead.
"The Instruments of Darkness" is #21 in Connolly's Charlie Parker series.
It is a standalone read.
The book started strong with an ultra-compelling premise:
A mother from Maine is accused of the abduction and possible murder of her child.
Did she do it?
Halfway through the book, the repetitive text and storyline tangents began.
And that was when the author lost me.
I listened to the audiobook read by Jeff Harding, who did an outstanding job with the narration.
This New Englander particularly enjoyed Harding's Maine and Boston accents.
Had this 14.5-hour audiobook been an 8-hour book, it would have earned all of the stars.
June 3, 2024
John Connolly is undoubtedly my favorite author since I discovered his books several years ago. Charlie Parker is an extraordinary person and I love these Private Investigator books with their excentric characters, mystery and that supernatural twist mostly in the background but not always that subtle.
In this book Charlie is drawn in to investigate for his lawyer Moxie Castin the abduction and possible murder of a child by the child's mother. Shortly thereafter the Fulci brothers, Pauli & Tony are enlisted to help protect Colleen and her home. In between the Colleen Clark investigation we start to get little snippets regarding an evil house deep in the Maine woods. You gain a little more info as the chapters progress about the people who oversee the land that the house is located on and so many other things and people that tie into that one story. Events progress on several fronts and Parker finally calls New York for additional help and the Calvery arrives in the form of Louis and Angel.
I was very excited to preorder this book seeing that the last Charlie Parker book was published in 2022. I did enjoy the book quite a bit but was a little disappointed that the Fulci's as well as Louis and Angel didn't actually do much within the story and the creepiness in the story was much lower key than it usually is. Thus, my four-star rating.
In this book Charlie is drawn in to investigate for his lawyer Moxie Castin the abduction and possible murder of a child by the child's mother. Shortly thereafter the Fulci brothers, Pauli & Tony are enlisted to help protect Colleen and her home. In between the Colleen Clark investigation we start to get little snippets regarding an evil house deep in the Maine woods. You gain a little more info as the chapters progress about the people who oversee the land that the house is located on and so many other things and people that tie into that one story. Events progress on several fronts and Parker finally calls New York for additional help and the Calvery arrives in the form of Louis and Angel.
I was very excited to preorder this book seeing that the last Charlie Parker book was published in 2022. I did enjoy the book quite a bit but was a little disappointed that the Fulci's as well as Louis and Angel didn't actually do much within the story and the creepiness in the story was much lower key than it usually is. Thus, my four-star rating.
May 22, 2024
This is the twenty-first book in the Charlie Parker series, but it is the first one I have read. As embarrassing as it is, I have to admit this is the first book I have read by John Connelly, despite the huge number of book he has written.
Description:
In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty.
But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old, twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built.
My Thoughts:
Well it looks like I have a bunch of reading to do since I enjoyed this one I will have to pick up more by the author. I did like the paranormal aspect in the book and the psychic playing her role in the investigation. Surprising that an entire town was being affected. The plot and the pacing kept me glued to the page in search of answers. There were quite a few surprises. Charlie Parker is a good character with both the drive and instints to find the truth.
Thanks to Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty.
But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old, twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built.
My Thoughts:
Well it looks like I have a bunch of reading to do since I enjoyed this one I will have to pick up more by the author. I did like the paranormal aspect in the book and the psychic playing her role in the investigation. Surprising that an entire town was being affected. The plot and the pacing kept me glued to the page in search of answers. There were quite a few surprises. Charlie Parker is a good character with both the drive and instints to find the truth.
Thanks to Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.
January 24, 2024
I have read every John Connolly book. As a. matter of fact, I have all of them in my possession. Love them. I hate to say this, but that is ending. I wish I could put my finger on what it is that is missing, but something is definitely different. At first, I thought it was the fact that the characters Louis and Angel didn't seem to be in it. But they were reintroduced about 2/3s of the way into the book. Not soon enough. I have always loved these books because of the otherworldly aspect. It wasn't as pronounced in this one. Not at all.
This is coming from a die hard John Connolly fan. I don't want to trash this book. All I am saying is John Connolly, please, please bring back your past recipe for best sellers. This is not it.
I suspect that many of his fans will have no problem with this book. I am just saying that I did.
This is coming from a die hard John Connolly fan. I don't want to trash this book. All I am saying is John Connolly, please, please bring back your past recipe for best sellers. This is not it.
I suspect that many of his fans will have no problem with this book. I am just saying that I did.
February 12, 2024
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
How does John Connolly do this? How does he manage to just write books that hit you in the gut and wish for something better in humanity while also being horrified when he lifts the rocks off of it. A perfect blend of mystery, fantasy, and horror.
In the "Instruments of Darkness" we have a slower Charlie, no less committed to shedding light on things dark, but more reluctant in this one after Moxie takes on a case that could cause issues in the community. Moxie agrees to take on the case of Colleen Clark who is accused of murdering her baby. Moxie though thinks she is innocent. And though Charlie is reluctant to believe it, enough of her story has him wondering if something dark came for her son.
There is some humor in this one, but not a lot. Some of it is mostly between Charlie and Moxie. And of course Charlie's unending horror of dealing with the Fulci brothers who I absolutely adore.
We do also get Louis and Angel in this one, they may be a bit slower, but are still ride or die for Charlie.
We do get some mentions of Samantha, but don't see her, and just a few cutaways to Jennifer.
I loved the plot in this one and some wrap up to prior characters who became a problem to Charlie in the past. This one felt less dark though. I mean it's not like reading a book about an abducted child and their possible murder. But it just felt lighter somehow even though we now know about another thing that is dark that lurks in Maine.
The twists to this one were great and I absolutely adored the ending.
How does John Connolly do this? How does he manage to just write books that hit you in the gut and wish for something better in humanity while also being horrified when he lifts the rocks off of it. A perfect blend of mystery, fantasy, and horror.
In the "Instruments of Darkness" we have a slower Charlie, no less committed to shedding light on things dark, but more reluctant in this one after Moxie takes on a case that could cause issues in the community. Moxie agrees to take on the case of Colleen Clark who is accused of murdering her baby. Moxie though thinks she is innocent. And though Charlie is reluctant to believe it, enough of her story has him wondering if something dark came for her son.
There is some humor in this one, but not a lot. Some of it is mostly between Charlie and Moxie. And of course Charlie's unending horror of dealing with the Fulci brothers who I absolutely adore.
We do also get Louis and Angel in this one, they may be a bit slower, but are still ride or die for Charlie.
We do get some mentions of Samantha, but don't see her, and just a few cutaways to Jennifer.
I loved the plot in this one and some wrap up to prior characters who became a problem to Charlie in the past. This one felt less dark though. I mean it's not like reading a book about an abducted child and their possible murder. But it just felt lighter somehow even though we now know about another thing that is dark that lurks in Maine.
The twists to this one were great and I absolutely adored the ending.
May 14, 2024
A creepy house in the woods. A mother is arrested for killing her child. The psychic searching for redemption. Fascists wet-dreaming about the Civil War. And Charlie Parker, who thinks — no feels — something more sinister is going on.
The Instruments of Darkness was my first foray into John Connolly’s work and I couldn’t be more surprised or impressed. I’ve seen Connolly’s books for years and heard good things. I went in ‘dark’; I didn't read the synopsis and knew nothing of Charlie Parker’s world. Boy, was I surprised. Dipping into the paranormal/spiritual caught me completely off guard. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t hate it so much I’ve already finished 3 other Parker books.
The Instruments of Darkness is an excellent read even if the paranormal isn’t your cup of tea.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Instruments of Darkness and be introduced to John Connolly and the world of Charlie Parker.
The Instruments of Darkness was my first foray into John Connolly’s work and I couldn’t be more surprised or impressed. I’ve seen Connolly’s books for years and heard good things. I went in ‘dark’; I didn't read the synopsis and knew nothing of Charlie Parker’s world. Boy, was I surprised. Dipping into the paranormal/spiritual caught me completely off guard. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t hate it so much I’ve already finished 3 other Parker books.
The Instruments of Darkness is an excellent read even if the paranormal isn’t your cup of tea.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Instruments of Darkness and be introduced to John Connolly and the world of Charlie Parker.
January 10, 2024
The pleasure of a new Charlie Parker novel is absolute. As you read, everything else in the real world comes to a stop and you’re immersed in a story that’s all encompassing.
This newest novel is no exception. The mix of crime, supernatural elements, and utter heartbreak is everything. Like all the Parker stories, this one is bittersweet. It’s full of horrifying sadness, but also touches of humor and the idea that, even in this bleak world, there’s some sort of hope.
The story introduces a new character who I hope will be part of further books and brings back some of our absolute favorites.
While, at times, the sadness of the story was almost too much, I loved the book and was happy to back in Parker’s world if only for a short time.
More, please.
• ARC via Publisher
This newest novel is no exception. The mix of crime, supernatural elements, and utter heartbreak is everything. Like all the Parker stories, this one is bittersweet. It’s full of horrifying sadness, but also touches of humor and the idea that, even in this bleak world, there’s some sort of hope.
The story introduces a new character who I hope will be part of further books and brings back some of our absolute favorites.
While, at times, the sadness of the story was almost too much, I loved the book and was happy to back in Parker’s world if only for a short time.
More, please.
• ARC via Publisher
April 26, 2024
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
When attorney Moxie Castin asks for Charlie Parker's help with his latest client, Parker is at first reluctant to take the case. The client, Collen Clark, is accused of abducting and possibly killing her young son. But as Parker gets to know her better and investigates deeper, he comes to believe her innocence. Bringing in his usual cohorts in the form of the Fulci brothers and New York couple Angel and Louis, Parker will engage with illicit figures he's dealt with in the past, including gangsters and white supremacists, plus a somewhat famous, or infamous, Maine psychic who believes she's in contact with the missing boy. What he doesn't know is awaiting him in the backwoods are neighboring feuding clans and a boarded up house that hides something ancient and evil within its depths.
After the most recent entries in the Charlie Parker series included a multi-book arc involving the villains Quayle and Mors, a "solo" adventure for Louis (and Angel) helping out with someone from his past, a case very early in Parker's life that he wasn't responsible for but happened to stumble into, and a pair of one-off novellas in one book, The Instruments of Darkness was a welcome return to the more conventional and enjoyable adventures because of Parker's investigations. It did have the requisite inclusion of him running into some villains he squared off with in other books, though they turned out not to be the reason for his client's predicament, though in a tangential way they aided his endeavors. And, like some of my favorite books in the series, this was a hardboiled crime case mixed with a supernatural entity, meshing squarely between crime thriller and horror. Even though I still enjoyed the previous entries, this was by far my favorite book in the series in quite some time.
When attorney Moxie Castin asks for Charlie Parker's help with his latest client, Parker is at first reluctant to take the case. The client, Collen Clark, is accused of abducting and possibly killing her young son. But as Parker gets to know her better and investigates deeper, he comes to believe her innocence. Bringing in his usual cohorts in the form of the Fulci brothers and New York couple Angel and Louis, Parker will engage with illicit figures he's dealt with in the past, including gangsters and white supremacists, plus a somewhat famous, or infamous, Maine psychic who believes she's in contact with the missing boy. What he doesn't know is awaiting him in the backwoods are neighboring feuding clans and a boarded up house that hides something ancient and evil within its depths.
After the most recent entries in the Charlie Parker series included a multi-book arc involving the villains Quayle and Mors, a "solo" adventure for Louis (and Angel) helping out with someone from his past, a case very early in Parker's life that he wasn't responsible for but happened to stumble into, and a pair of one-off novellas in one book, The Instruments of Darkness was a welcome return to the more conventional and enjoyable adventures because of Parker's investigations. It did have the requisite inclusion of him running into some villains he squared off with in other books, though they turned out not to be the reason for his client's predicament, though in a tangential way they aided his endeavors. And, like some of my favorite books in the series, this was a hardboiled crime case mixed with a supernatural entity, meshing squarely between crime thriller and horror. Even though I still enjoyed the previous entries, this was by far my favorite book in the series in quite some time.
July 13, 2025
I still marvel at how John Connolly has wrote a 20 plus book series and all of the books are 5 star reads. This one is no exception. Starts out high, ends the same way. I found it hard to put down once I sat down to read. Can’t wait to read the next one.
June 21, 2024
*4.5 stars rounded up
Charlie Parker is back to help the lawyer Moxie with a child-abduction case in which the mother is accused of killing her son after the child's blanket is found with bloodstains. What always sets these suspenseful thrillers apart from others is the touch of the supernatural involved--in this case, something quite evil. A physic comes forward to help, a woman who was disgraced in another high-profile case. Can her instincts be trusted now?
If you are a longtime reader of the Charlie Parker series, you'll be happy to know that all the usual suspects are brought into this case to help: the 4XL Fulci brothers as well as Angel and Louis. They are violence personified but also bring an element of humor to a story filled with horror. And as always John Connolly shows himself to be quite erudite with his unusual word choices. The book is fairly long but moves along quickly with the help of short chapters and exciting developments. An excellent addition to the series.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Charlie Parker is back to help the lawyer Moxie with a child-abduction case in which the mother is accused of killing her son after the child's blanket is found with bloodstains. What always sets these suspenseful thrillers apart from others is the touch of the supernatural involved--in this case, something quite evil. A physic comes forward to help, a woman who was disgraced in another high-profile case. Can her instincts be trusted now?
If you are a longtime reader of the Charlie Parker series, you'll be happy to know that all the usual suspects are brought into this case to help: the 4XL Fulci brothers as well as Angel and Louis. They are violence personified but also bring an element of humor to a story filled with horror. And as always John Connolly shows himself to be quite erudite with his unusual word choices. The book is fairly long but moves along quickly with the help of short chapters and exciting developments. An excellent addition to the series.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
March 13, 2024
Colleen Clark’s child is missing. When his bloody blanket is found in her trunk, prosecutors with political ambitions are convinced she has murdered him. Most neighbors, strangers, and even her husband believe her to be guilty. Moxie Castin is her attorney and he enlists the help of private investigator Charlie Parker.
There is a lot to consider in this case. The husband’s story is a bit suspect to Parker. A psychic who has helped and hindered past missing child cases steps forward. There is a strange, foreboding house deep in the Maine woods. And, what danger does that Fascist group arming themselves in the adjacent woods bring to the situation?
In addition to the basic mystery, there are aspects of horror and the supernatural, along with some humor. I typically do not like otherworldly elements in a story, but that did not interfere with my enjoyment of this book. Although it seemed long, it was an engrossing read and I was anxious to get to the resolution.
This is the twenty first in the Charlie Parker series. Incredibly, it is the first one I have read; I felt it worked well as a standalone. I liked the repeating characters (and they are characters!), although I think I might have enjoyed them even more if I had read some of their previous adventures.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @atriabooks for the DRC.
There is a lot to consider in this case. The husband’s story is a bit suspect to Parker. A psychic who has helped and hindered past missing child cases steps forward. There is a strange, foreboding house deep in the Maine woods. And, what danger does that Fascist group arming themselves in the adjacent woods bring to the situation?
In addition to the basic mystery, there are aspects of horror and the supernatural, along with some humor. I typically do not like otherworldly elements in a story, but that did not interfere with my enjoyment of this book. Although it seemed long, it was an engrossing read and I was anxious to get to the resolution.
This is the twenty first in the Charlie Parker series. Incredibly, it is the first one I have read; I felt it worked well as a standalone. I liked the repeating characters (and they are characters!), although I think I might have enjoyed them even more if I had read some of their previous adventures.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @atriabooks for the DRC.
October 28, 2025
Роман, изпипан по вече запазената жанрова формула на Джон Конъли: микс между класическа кримка с корав частен детектив и хорър, стъпил върху Лъвкрафтовите традиции. Разбира се, приемам донякъде доводите, че тази история май вече сме я чели, но все пак говорим за серия от 20+ книги и категорично нямам нищо против да ги подхващам един-два пъти в годината. Нещо повече, влюбен съм в мрачния стил на ирландеца, намирам го за изключителен сладкодумец и много, ама много харесвам Чарли Паркър и кръжеца от опасни типове около него.
Мейн беше старо място с дълга памет, предхождаща появата на хората. Странността беше ендемична. Затова и Стивън Кинг не би могъл да се роди другаде.
Мейн беше старо място с дълга памет, предхождаща появата на хората. Странността беше ендемична. Затова и Стивън Кинг не би могъл да се роди другаде.
May 7, 2024
The Instruments of Darkness is the latest in the Charlie Parker series from John Connolly and it’s an exciting entry. Combining the strong characters, plotting, and apparent supernatural elements that are expected from Connolly, this novel also manages to incorporate many contemporary ills in one multifaceted story.
Charlie is at home in Maine when Moxie Castin asks his help with the case of a new client he is defending, Colleen Clark, a mother accused of abducting and likely murdering her young child, Henry. The local D.A. believes she’s guilty. Much of the public agrees. Even her husband has stated he believes she is guilty. But Charlie gradually develops questions about her guilt as he gets to know Colleen, separately meets her husband, Stephen, and learns more of what may have happened.
It feels too easy to give too much information on this book and I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone. There is violence, as would be expected in a novel where Parker literally battles evil and evil doers. There is also a lot of introspection about the life he leads and those in the battle with him.
This is a compelling story with compelling characters. If you are interested in intense mystery/crime fiction with a paranormal element in a realistic setting, this book is for you!
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
Charlie is at home in Maine when Moxie Castin asks his help with the case of a new client he is defending, Colleen Clark, a mother accused of abducting and likely murdering her young child, Henry. The local D.A. believes she’s guilty. Much of the public agrees. Even her husband has stated he believes she is guilty. But Charlie gradually develops questions about her guilt as he gets to know Colleen, separately meets her husband, Stephen, and learns more of what may have happened.
It feels too easy to give too much information on this book and I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone. There is violence, as would be expected in a novel where Parker literally battles evil and evil doers. There is also a lot of introspection about the life he leads and those in the battle with him.
This is a compelling story with compelling characters. If you are interested in intense mystery/crime fiction with a paranormal element in a realistic setting, this book is for you!
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
March 22, 2024
It's a rare series indeed that, twenty-plus entries in, I still feel invested in the characters and author enough to not only continue on but to eagerly anticipate additional offerings. The Charlie Parker series is among these few current on-going series I consistently make the effort to not only keep up to date with but actively seek out and jump at the opportunity to read advance copies for review (Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series is another).
The Instruments of Darkness finds Charlie Parker working a case for lawyer Moxie Castin. His newest client, Colleen Clark, has been accused of murdering her infant son, but between her story and the prosecution's evidence, things aren't adding up. Neither Parker nor Castin think she's guilty and believe the state is overlooking a few key particulars in a reckless rush toward a slam-dunk conviction. The deeper Parker digs, the more irregularities he uncovers, particularly those of Colleen's husband and the woman he was having an affair with. It's an investigation that will eventually lead Parker into the woods of Gretton, and an old abandoned home that stinks of the dead...and an ancient force hidden in its darkness.
Connolly's writing is as tack-sharp as its ever been, as are the keen wit, snappy dialogue, and pointed barbs of his characters. It's always a joy to sit in on the various back-and-forths between Parker and his allies, particularly Angel and Louis, and doubly-so when they're squaring off against some particularly unsavory sorts. There's plenty of the latter, to be sure, as Parker's investigation draws him toward a group of white supremacists seeking to turn the Gretton woods into a paramilitary base where they can stand back and stand by.
I admire Connolly's open willingness to use these fascist villains of late, harkening back to 2018's The Woman in the Woods. As I wrote then, "Sadly, the normalizing of these repugnant attitudes by the right-wing is now common place and hate crimes have been on the rise ever since Trump took office, so it's quite refreshing to see characters like Charlie Parker and Luis taking a stand against this all-too human evil. Their actions and reactions toward the Stonehursts had me smiling rather happily along the way, and I suspect this family of rich racists will be playing a larger role in the books to come." What I said then still stands today in 2024, plus bonus points to me for pegging the recurring role of the Stonehurts. Trump hasn't gone away, and neither have these jackals, but at least we still have Parker and Louis to act as a much needed release valve to live vicariously through. They make sure these baskets of racist deplorables get everything they deserve, even if I do wish we got to read even more. Maybe next book!
Props, too, to Connolly for the character of Sabine Drew, a disgraced psychic now haunted by the crying of Clark's deceased child. Her backstory is tragic, but the way in which she wends her way into Parker's investigation presents a nicely redemptive arc, albeit one that I hope is not entirely finished just yet. I hope we see more of her in the future, as her gifts make an interesting foil for Parker's own supernatural insights and ingrained skepticism.
Speaking of gifts, it's Connolly's own that I already find myself eager for Charlie Parker's next case. I don't even have to be psychic to know that it will be worth the wait.
The Instruments of Darkness finds Charlie Parker working a case for lawyer Moxie Castin. His newest client, Colleen Clark, has been accused of murdering her infant son, but between her story and the prosecution's evidence, things aren't adding up. Neither Parker nor Castin think she's guilty and believe the state is overlooking a few key particulars in a reckless rush toward a slam-dunk conviction. The deeper Parker digs, the more irregularities he uncovers, particularly those of Colleen's husband and the woman he was having an affair with. It's an investigation that will eventually lead Parker into the woods of Gretton, and an old abandoned home that stinks of the dead...and an ancient force hidden in its darkness.
Connolly's writing is as tack-sharp as its ever been, as are the keen wit, snappy dialogue, and pointed barbs of his characters. It's always a joy to sit in on the various back-and-forths between Parker and his allies, particularly Angel and Louis, and doubly-so when they're squaring off against some particularly unsavory sorts. There's plenty of the latter, to be sure, as Parker's investigation draws him toward a group of white supremacists seeking to turn the Gretton woods into a paramilitary base where they can stand back and stand by.
I admire Connolly's open willingness to use these fascist villains of late, harkening back to 2018's The Woman in the Woods. As I wrote then, "Sadly, the normalizing of these repugnant attitudes by the right-wing is now common place and hate crimes have been on the rise ever since Trump took office, so it's quite refreshing to see characters like Charlie Parker and Luis taking a stand against this all-too human evil. Their actions and reactions toward the Stonehursts had me smiling rather happily along the way, and I suspect this family of rich racists will be playing a larger role in the books to come." What I said then still stands today in 2024, plus bonus points to me for pegging the recurring role of the Stonehurts. Trump hasn't gone away, and neither have these jackals, but at least we still have Parker and Louis to act as a much needed release valve to live vicariously through. They make sure these baskets of racist deplorables get everything they deserve, even if I do wish we got to read even more. Maybe next book!
Props, too, to Connolly for the character of Sabine Drew, a disgraced psychic now haunted by the crying of Clark's deceased child. Her backstory is tragic, but the way in which she wends her way into Parker's investigation presents a nicely redemptive arc, albeit one that I hope is not entirely finished just yet. I hope we see more of her in the future, as her gifts make an interesting foil for Parker's own supernatural insights and ingrained skepticism.
Speaking of gifts, it's Connolly's own that I already find myself eager for Charlie Parker's next case. I don't even have to be psychic to know that it will be worth the wait.
December 17, 2023
When I got approved for this ARC, I was absolutely thrilled. The Charlie Parker series is one of my favorite book series, and I was so happy to see a new book was being released. I’m happy to report this book did not disappoint. The story was gripping from the beginning, and I had to keep reading because I needed to know what happened. The supernatural elements were eerie and creepy, and added an extra layer to the story. It was so nice to see all the side characters who add extra flavour to this book again. I absolutely adored this book, and can’t recommend this series enough.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2024
Excellent. Clear, crisp writing from the amazing John Connolly.
May 5, 2024
Thank you, Atria, for my free book for review.
Captivated from the very beginning, my first foray into the Charlie Parker series exceeded expectations. What initially seemed like a standard mystery thriller revealed intriguing paranormal elements, adding depth and allure to the narrative. The intricate layers of the story, from Charlie Parker's investigation process to his quest to find the missing child, and the characters who came to his aid, all contributed to a deeper understanding of him and the unfolding of the plot. After experiencing "The Instruments of Darkness," I'm eager to delve into the rest of the series in reverse order. With its action-packed, twisty plot and compelling characters, this is undoubtedly a must-read.
Captivated from the very beginning, my first foray into the Charlie Parker series exceeded expectations. What initially seemed like a standard mystery thriller revealed intriguing paranormal elements, adding depth and allure to the narrative. The intricate layers of the story, from Charlie Parker's investigation process to his quest to find the missing child, and the characters who came to his aid, all contributed to a deeper understanding of him and the unfolding of the plot. After experiencing "The Instruments of Darkness," I'm eager to delve into the rest of the series in reverse order. With its action-packed, twisty plot and compelling characters, this is undoubtedly a must-read.
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