Maine

I’m not sure if I ever told you before, but usually I don’t read all the books from the same author in one go. Somehow that goes well for one, two at the best three books, but after that I kind of get bored. With the Charlie Parker-series by John Connolly, that is however not the case.

Last year I’ve read the whole Charlie Parker series in one go, finishing with the novel in Nocturnes (a short story bundle). I was kind of mesmerized by the whole story. And with this series it is better to read to books in sequence. Yes, every book is a story on its own, but there is an underlying development. Charlie is always caught up in supernatural cases. Like fallen angels. God threw some angels out of heaven and they are still here on earth, trying to wreck human life. Or strange serial killers. Who – in his right mind – would think of committing murder using toxic spiders? But then the serial killer in question – mr. Pudd – is a far cry from normal.

And Charlie always encounters the darker side of humans: abuse, paedophiles, trafficking, smuggling, (serial) murder. It gives you a grim outlook on mankind. Sometimes the books are very close to horror. It is crime, but with a very sinister, very dark twist.

In the end of course our Charlie puts everything right, but never without a cost. He’s estranged from his girlfriend and his daughter grows up without him. He doesn’t like violence or guns, but somehow trouble always seems to find him. He struggles with himself and his family history. He is a troubled man who still does to do the right thing.

The wrath of angels is the latest instalment in the series. This takes place in the depths of the woods in Maine. The state of Maine throughout the series plays an important factor. It is a strange state, where people are still independent. In The wrath of angels Charlie searches for a crashed plane buried deep in the woods. But he’s not alone. The Collector – a very strange serial killer who collects debts – and two fallen angels also search for the plane and most specific a list with names. The end is at the crash site. Charlie and his friends come out alive, but barely. And the list? I think we have to wait for the next instalment to learn more about that.

So, if you’re in for a dark, mysterious, gruesome series, I highly recommend Charlie Parker. And now I have to wait for the next book.