My least favorite in the Charlie Parker series. I love Louis and Angel, but The Nameless Ones, of which they take center stage, is sluggish, meandering and just plain dull. A few choice scenes give the novel some kick, but overall, it’s not worth the hours lost trying to find them. Maybe next time.

The Nameless Ones is already the 19th book in John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series. I can still remember when I found Charlie Parker about 13 years ago … It was like a kick into heart, he captured my imagination … I do not watch horror movies and at times I feel as if Charlie’s stories are horror movies on paper … you close your eyes and … cannot sleep at night …
The Nameless Ones – thank you for reminding us about the inhumanity of Serbian Croatian war … so easily we forget the inhumane acts that people commit, how the ones gaining power become untouchable … It is not your usual Charlie Parker book, it is Angel and Louis book with Charlie popping up couple of moments but I do not complain … if you have read the series, I am sure you also fell in love with Louis and Angel and it was great to ‘get on the road’ with them … and add to this Jennifer and … man … and you have one heck of a ‘road trip’ that leaves you shaken to your core!
I ask you to have patience when you read this book as there are loads of characters here and you might feel lost at times but take your time, you will figure it out and you will be so immersed in the story that when you come to the end you go … hmm … really … over? Enjoy this beautifully horrific masterpiece by a writer that has put extensive research into Balkan’s history and its impact on the present … and thank you for still finding light in the midst of the darkness the humanity so seems to be drawn to …

There is nothing this author can wrote that I will not read. I have followed Charlie Parker since day one, and these books continue to amaze and thrill. More Louis and Angel is only a good thing. Brilliant pacing and a gripping story.

It is as always great! John Connolly takes up alot of space on my shelves because I never get bored with his books, just reading and reading to see what happens next. If you haven't tried him then you must! Start with his first and you will feel like family very fast. I wouldn't say not to start in the middle somewhere but I highly recommend you go with the first one. This book has the Louis/Angel combination working on a outraged murder of 4 family members and that needs revenge. Who better to handle that than this pair. Louis is so mad that he could take on the whole country !! They are such a great couple and the humor they share is what I like the most. I laugh out loud with it. Now in this episode they have the sweet lady who watches the apartment for them and she is just darling. Go read!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Nameless Ones.

This book did not capture my interest. It is likely, the series is too far along and I missed the character building in the previous books. As a stand alone, this book is dark and the characters lack dimension.

First of all, I would like to say that I think John Connolly is one of the greatest Thriller writers of the Modern Age. His Charlie Parker books have kept me up late some nights, whether it's reading them or thinking of the implications of them. I have never been disappointed in the reading of a Charlie Parker novel.

WARNING! SPOILERS!

Having said this, all I have to say is, how can this be referred to as a Charlie Parker novel? Charlie himself was literally in a chapter and a half. I love Louis and Angel. Don't ever get me wrong on that fact. But seriously, John, if you are going to do what you call a Charlie Parker Thriller, you should probably include him a little bit more. If you want to do an offshoot series about Louis and Angel, I would read that too ( and considering the number of books that have more to do with Louis and Angel that in Charlie, it's not a half-bad idea, hint hint, John). But I don't think calling this a Charlie Parker Thriller is accurate.

Now the good news! This was an excellent book. Well-written, entertaining and gloriously violent. I hated seeing some of the characters die, and I enjoyed seeing others perish. As always, the rapier wit displayed by Louis and Angel keeps me smirking the entire novel. And I LOVE the Zorya character! Connecting her with Jennifer Parker was a stroke of Genius!

I will continue reading John Connelly's Parker series because I think it's amazing and groundbreaking and eerily entertaining. I just hope the next couple of novels have Charlie in them a bit more.

Trigger warnings: Gun and Knife violence, lots of talk of sexual assault and violence (but no actual scenes of sexual assault)

Angel and Louis take the lead in this installment of Connolly's Charlie Parker series. I was concerned about that, but once again, Connolly did not disappoint! An old friend in Europe is found dead, and it's time for Angel and Louis to go settle the score. The cast of characters include Serbian mobsters who are ruthless and desperate, a dangerous combination. The plot itself doesn't have a lot of twists, but there are a number of players involved, all with different agendas, which makes everything very interesting and tense. And in the end, there's some supernatural elements at play, of course. I look forward to more stories with Parker at the center, but this did not disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I always love spending time with Louis and Angel, even if I got lost in the weeds a few times with all the war details. Still rather be reading a John Connolly book than just about anything else. Three and a half stars, rounded up.

Laden with historical details of Serbia and Bosnia atrocities the plot develops and moves slowly. In addition a myriad of characters are introduced and all have similar back stories. A sophisticated vocabulary is somewhat off putting and adds to this difficult read. It is the opposite of a page turner.

Connolly gave fans what they were looking for - A book heavily featuring Louis and Angel!!! Woohoo!!!!! Plus, there is a little Charlie Parker in this - just a little. Jennifer is back as well! YES! So now that you know the gang is all here, I will give you a brief synopsis:

In Amsterdam four people are horrifically murdered and their bodies are arranged around the crucified body of De Jaager. Fans of the series will remember him from the last book. He was a fixer; he gets things done and acted as a go-between and a confidant for fan favorite Louis. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to know that this is not going to go over well with Louis. Those responsible for the carnage are Serbian war criminals.

"This man, this beloved, infuriating man."

Louis goes to Europe to hunt down the five killers. But there is a sixth, that he does not know about .... YET! Angel is still recovering from Cancer, but he does what he can in this book as well. I love these two men together and individually. They are a great couple but also great at what they do. They pack a punch with their love for each other, their dark humor, and their 'unique' skills. I have said in many reviews that I wanted to see more of them featured in this series and Connolly granted this wish.

This book, as all his books, was well written with beautiful passages. Connolly might write some terrifying and bloody scenes, but he has the heart of a poet. I love how all the characters interact and love how Angel and Parker interact with Jennifer. Speaking of Jennifer, the last scene with her had me wondering where Connolly is going to go with this. Consider my interest piqued.

Not for the faint of heart. There is bloodshed, shady characters, assassins, and one that is oozing with creepy vibes. There are also a lot of characters in this book but once I found my footing, this did not bother or confuse me. If you can stomach it, this is a gripping, book which features non-stop action, intrigue, and chills.

Fans of the series (and Angel and Louis) will not be disappointed! I am not sure how this would work as a stand-alone. But this is a rewarding and gripping series, I highly recommend it!

A gripping, page turner which is full of action, heart, brilliant passages, and bloodshed.

A MUST Read!

Thank you to Atria Books/Emily Bestler 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.

I read books to learn, to incite curiosities, and to arouse my soul. The Nameless Ones stirred something in me.

Rather than regurgitate this story’s content and call it a review, I choose to discuss its underlying theme.

I still struggle to fully understand the motivations and constructs of war, the longstanding feuds, the steady clash between neighboring clans and cultures. I look at the constant maneuvers like the ever-changing landscape of a furious chessboard, the innocent and not so innocent victims, the fallout, and the vicious cycles of revenge. All to what end? I see no winners, only the inherited madness to play a game of murder and damage on repeat.

Though John Connolly’s book is a work of fiction it explores these subjects with a stark real-ness. Not watching the dry machinations of governmental bodies, but seeing the pain and long-lasting effects of the people caught up in giant webs of hate and destruction on individual levels.

After closing the book I was left with this thought . . . Many are long affected by the violence they never asked for or wanted any participation in, people simply trying to exist on someone else’s chessboard. Atrocities are not easy to look at, but what are the consequences for consistently looking away?

I'd like to thank the author, NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Nameless Ones for an honest review.

Sorry, this one just isn't for me. It's billed as a thriller and recommended by accomplished writers, but I'm having tremendous problems engaging because the narrative keeps leap-frogging from setting to setting and character to character. None of the characters--and there are a lot of them to keep straight--are likable and most are downright detestable. And it's so very, very dark.

Brutal but fun!

The Nameless Ones is book #19 in the Charlie Parker series. This installment revolves around Louis and Angel, who are seeking revenge for the murder of a close friend.

After Book #18’s detour to the past, we return to the present in Serbia. Unfortunately, the reader has to experience the inhumanity of the Serbian Croatian war. Connolly describes the war through moments that revolve around violence and brutality. The criminals who fought in the war and gained an immense amount of power in the criminal circuit often are the most brutal, and their deeds are unreadable. When these horrible criminals brutally murder someone Louis cares for, he and Angel, with a little help from some shady U.S. government officials, take it upon themselves to enact revenge.

The details of the violence of the Serbian-Croat conflict were quite hard to read, especially given the nature of the crimes and the details of the violence. This element of the plot is extremely hard to read, but it does highlight the atrocities of this war.

Thankfully, the majority of this book features Louis and Angel, and their characters add a bit of lightness and additional darkness to the events. There are just a few moments featuring Parker, and while I wanted more of him, I was also o.k. having a break. Jennifer does pop in a bit here and there, offering protection. Additionally, a few other characters who frequently play a role in the series make brief, and, humorous, appearances.

The Nameless Ones is not Connolly’s tightest work, nor is it the most compelling in terms of the plot; however, because of Louis and Angel, it is one of the most fun in a sadistic way. Their humor and barbs bled through the violence (no pun intended) and made me smile. This book, like The Dirty South, deviates from the narrative of “the Book.” I don’t know if Connolly needed a break or isn’t sure where to take the threads from book #17, but I have faith. Spending time with my favorite assassin and thief was a nice break from the traditional elements of this series. I can't wait to see what is next for Parker, Angel, Louis, and the rest of the crew.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a new brand of "dark" for me. This book initially drew me in as I know and dearly love the beautiful Balkans (live in that region part time) but this level of darkness is out of my scope. Rather than the story itself standing out in my mind the torture and violence and awful portrayal of Serbs especially do. The characters are despicable. After really trying to get into this I gave up...it is not my style and I could not force myself to engage. What I read of the writing is good but the content is graphic. I did not finish the book.

Just know that this is NOT a reality in the Balkans. I am grateful the author notes he had only good experiences when in the region.

I am sure this is a great read but I didn’t realize that it is a continuing series and I always like to start with the first book so I won’t be reading this book at this time.Thank you for understanding.

I've read several books by this author and have always enjoyed everything I've read, so I was looking forward to reading this book. I must say it didn't disappoint. This book was easy to read and fast paced and kept me wanting to read more. I highly recommend this book.

Longtime friends and associates of Charlie Parker, Louis and Angel, travel to Europe following the brutal murder of a friend at the hands of a pair of ruthless Serbian brothers, The Vuksans. Not content to return home until all those who are responsible for his friend’s murder meet their maker, Louis seemingly has to overturn every rock on the continent to track down his adversaries. Along the way he’ll have help, but the Vuksans are far from vulnerable. In their possession, they have someone who can not only see the future, but can also communicate with the dead. But what will happen when this person runs afoul of Charlie Parker’s long since passed daughter, Jennifer?

While The Nameless Ones is the 19th book in the Charlie Parker series, it is only the second one to feature Louis and Angel as the focused characters. While I’m just as content to read another book following the series’ titular detective, I welcomed the shift and the opportunity to focus on two of Connolly’s strongest characters. Angel, having just overcome cancer, continues to deepen as a character and Louis, having to once again confront mortality through Angel’s battle with the deadly disease, becomes even more meticulous when approaching a job.

The book takes Louis and Angel all over Europe as they’re hot on the heels of a pair of gangsters with their own troubles, those which Connolly is more than eager to explore. In his author’s note as well as afterword, Connolly detailed the amount of research that went into developing the book’s central villains – both born out of the Yugoslavian war and the bloodshed that followed. I will admit, I did struggle at times trying to keep track of the history, the locations and a few of the characters. But by the end, I was OK. It surprised me just how much of the book’s real estate Connolly gave to developing the Vuksans and their associates – it seemed to be on par to what he offered up to Louis and Angel.

As always, the violence is on full display. Much of the death here is extremely graphic and one of the early instances had me wincing. This isn’t a complaint, mind you – it’s what I expect from this series. It helps to set up the absolute barbarism and savagery on the part of the novel’s villains. The Vuksans are two guys you absolutely want to see Louis put in the ground.

I loved getting to hang out with Louis and Angel more than usual. Their back-and-forth created more than a few laugh-out-loud moments for me. After nineteen books, these two are so well-developed and feel so realistic that I could probably read a novel where Louis keeps his gun holstered and the pair go on vacation. Also, it’s worth noting that Parker isn’t entirely absent here – he has a few scenes here and there – so longtime fans will be happy to check in on how he’s doing. There’s also a tremendous scene featuring the Fulci Brothers that nearly had me cheering.

The Nameless Ones did not disappoint. It is another solid entry in an already strong series. It baffles me that John is able to continue this insane schedule of a book-a-year, especially when each novel requires a staggering amount of research, while also building and building to a seemingly never-arriving climax. I know John has an ending in mind when he decides to retire Parker and company, but I hope it is still a long way off.

My thanks to Atria books, John Connolly and Netgalley.
I loved everything about this book! I'll confess it made me very uncomfortable at times. Serbia is no place for me. I still remember the atrocities. But also, this story took a deep dive into subjects that I find disturbing. Corruption, gangs and hate.
Thankfully, Louis and Angel are wonderfully human! Murderous? Sure! They do at least kill those that deserve every bit of it.
I was so glad to see Angel recovering. I would have a hard time continuing these books without him.
It was nice visiting Charlie and the Fulci brothers. That bear head!! Jennifer Parker, is still freaky.
Mostly? I was happy to spend time with my two favorite sidekicks.
Who are always compelling on their own.
Bravo, Mr. Connolly!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to preview The Nameless Ones by John Connolly. This edition of the Parker series concentrates on Angel and Louis - Parker's close associates and friends. Parker makes a cameo appearance, however, Angel and Louis play center stage.
If you are a fan of these books, you have an affinity to these two characters. They are a couple, they love each other, and they are killers together. You love them.
Louis starts to feel that something is wrong and he soon finds out that a murder has occurred and the victims were close to him. Louis' intuition and rage over the loss take him and Angel accross the ocean - there is no other course of action but revenge. Louis and Angel face killers that respect the old ways, have century old bonds, and have no regard for human life. It is their quest to make things right and if that means taking out an entire country, well these are the right people to do it.
This is a departure from for Connolly as he usually concentrates on Charlie Parker as the central character. There is alot in this book - history, geography, human suffering. I took my time reading but by the end, i just could not put this one down. This book is rich, vivid, and scary - Connolly provides details that make you see what you are reading. I loved it.
Now I have to wait another year for my fix. This book is detailed with many characters so you have to take it all in, digest it properly, and take it slow - it's worth it for sure.
5 stars!!!!!!

So intricate, so exciting with Lewis as the character driving the action across the globe in revenge for a horrible crime. Let me say, I do not like spy/kingpin type novels but this kept my interest from page 1. Even without Parker's presence this author wove a tale with peripheral characters from previous novels creating a tense, terrific novel you will not put down.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review