I am a John Connolly fanatic; and “The Furies,” buildup has everything that I need for it to be a page-turner from beginning to the end, but I just can’t wrap my brain around this messy story about duplicitous thieves of ancient coins and sisters weirdly similar to those depicted in Shakespeare’s Macbeth brewing macabre broth and predicting that wickedness is approaching—and it certainly does in this smelly novel that doesn’t make much sense in any context. John did the Covid get the best of you on this one? I’m giving you a gracious pass with Lots of Love.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author John Connolly, Publisher Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

The Furies is #20 in the Charlie Parker detective series, by John Connolly. Several entries ago, Connolly began introducing supernatural elements so that each novel now is either a detective story laced with elements of horror, or else a true hybrid. Friends, nobody does this better than Connolly. Nobody.

My thanks go to Atria Books and Net Galley for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

This particular book is singular in that it is a pair of novellas in one volume, but they share the same characters, and flow so smoothly that I forget, at times, that it’s two different stories. Each of them has women that are either at risk of death or grave bodily harm, or that appear to be. The characters are brilliantly crafted; some are old favorites that Connolly’s faithful readers will recognize. We have Angel and Louis, not much, but enough to satisfy; the Fulci Brothers return, and these guys make me laugh out loud. (Notice that I don’t say that Connolly makes me laugh. I believe the characters enough that most of the time, my readerly relationship isn’t with the author, but with the characters themselves.) And we have some brand new baddies as well.

I won’t even tell you about all of the ne’er-do-wells that frequent these pages, because there are a host of them, but the most memorable and salient are Raum Buker, a career criminal, and Bobby Wadlin, an opportunistic slumlord who runs a boardinghouse for the formerly incarcerated. Let’s take a look at Raum:

“There are men who are born into this world blighted, men who are blighted by the world, and men who are intent upon blighting themselves and the world along with them. Raum Buker somehow contrived to be all three in one person, like a toxic, inverted deity….Raum became his own worst enemy by election, and decided by extension to become the worst enemy of a lot of other people, too….Gradually, like fecal matter flowing down a drain, gravity brought Raum to Portland. He kept company with men whom others avoided, and women who were too foolish, desperate, or worn down by abuse to make better life choices.”

Unfortunately for Raum, he has obtained, extralegally, of course, a rare coin that is also a supernatural talisman. It’s a bit like the ring that Bilbo Baggins and Gollum vie for in The Hobbit, but the coin is loose in modern society among humans during the pandemic.

Bobby Wadlin runs The Braycott Arms where Raum lives, along with some other questionable people. Wadlin is too lazy to be truly evil; he inherited this pile from his late daddy, and he rents rooms to former convicts because they are the least likely to make a fuss over repairs and such that most people expect from their rental lodgings. Wadlin sits behind the front desk during most of his waking hours and sometimes other hours, too, watching endless Westerns on his little television. When things start to go sideways, he turns to an herbal product that is named in the book, and as I read, I became sold on its anti-anxiety attributes and bought some for myself. It works, too! As long as it doesn’t turn me into Bobby Wadlin, I’ll be okay.

There are small but important ways in which Connolly’s skill sets him apart from other writers. An essential component is his timing. Less experienced and analytical authors might create an amusing character or situation, and it’s funny, and then it’s over. For others, they know they’ve struck gold, so then they beat it to death to where it’s stale and loses its magic. Connolly seems to know precisely at what point to bring back the humorous bits for maximum effect. He lets us forget all about that hysterical situation or person back there, earlier in the novel, and so when he brings it out again, the hilarity hits us right in the funny bone. There’s never a wasted word, with everything carefully measured and edited down for maximum effect.

If there is one area in which this author might improve, it’s in the way he writes female characters. When I finish a Parker novel, it’s always the men that I remember. Connolly demonstrates tremendous respect for women, but he doesn’t fully develop any of them. There it is, a challenge.

Nonetheless, The Furies is brilliant and entertaining, and I recommend it enthusiastically to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC at no cost for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I am unabashedly a tremendous John Connolly fan. I still remember picking up a copy of Every Dead Thing back in the early 2000s. I was in a much loved used bookstore; the copy itself had stiff pages as though it had gotten wet and re-dried, and it smelled a bit dusty. When I read that book, I was transported. Any fellow avid reader knows exactly what I mean - that sensation that you are right there beside the characters, watching raptly as the events unfold before you, yet still far enough removed that you are in no danger. Connolly is such a gifted storyteller. His way with words, his ability to describe sounds and sights, and even the wordless emotions we sometimes are unable to name ourselves, always delights me..

Connolly’s Charlie Parker books were groundbreaking to me, because back when he wrote The White Road, mystery authors rarely introduced any element of fantasy or otherworldliness into their books. But Connolly seems to have always marched to the beat of his own drummer, and I heartily respect him for that. His books are closer to what I’d expect from the literary fiction category, rather than being toned down to appeal for a wider audience of thriller or mystery novels. He has a very strong voice as an author, and as a result, so too does Charlie Parker.

I have read and deeply enjoyed every Charlie Parker novel with very few exceptions. Some are closer to my heart than others. The Fury was not quite what I expected, as I had no idea this was two novellas published together as one book. I admit that was a little disappointing. But both novellas are so very well written.

Overall, I was left with the feeling I’d been able to peek in on Charlie Parker for a time. I got to see something closer to his ordinary life (which is still extraordinary) rather than one of his grand adventures featuring an unflinchingly evil series of foes and his associates Angel and Louis, who are drawn in shades of gray.

I highly recommend this to any Charlie Parker fan, because although it was not a full length novel, John Connolly is still head and shoulders above a million other mystery writers. Very enjoyable. 4.5/5

So I think to really have appreciated this book, I should have read at least some of the prior ones.
This consisted of two short stories. While it was all well written, I was confused as to what was going on.

This is a favorite series of mine. This installment which consisted of two novellas was fantastic. I have to say that the second drew me in more.
Many thanks to Atria and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have read all of the Charlie Parker books and love them! These two stories were more of a "day in the life" than Mr. Connolly's standard Parker novels. It was a nice change to have a snippet of what a regular day for Charlie, Angel, and Louis is like. I found both stories engaging and entertaining. I also buy the audiobooks as the narrator is amazing!

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and John Connolly for this eARC.

The Furies are two novellas tied together in one bow of a book. I went into this series seemingly blind - I’ve never read one book in the Charlie Parker series but was intrigued by the synopsis enough to give the book a try.

While I missed a few pieces about some of the characters because this is the 20th Charlie Parker book, I don’t think I missed enough for me to get lost in the book. I enjoyed the macabre and supernatural world of the stories. It was evenly paced with interesting characters. It’s a good book for “spooky season.” I plan to read more of the Charlie Parker series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC. The Furies is out now.

“Why he couldn’t just sit when he peed, like a sensible human being, she’d never been able to establish. Lord knows, he took every other opportunity to sit when it was offered, so there seemed to be no comprehensible reason why he couldn’t have extended that policy to peeing, too.”

“It might have been the scudding of clouds, or the shifting of the branches in the night breeze, but for an instant there was movement on X’s skin – no, not on, but under, so that the shape of his face was transfigured. Beneath his own features I descried those of another, the lines sharp and animalistic, the teeth jagged and sharp, and I smelled, amid the man’s floral scent, a hint of burning.”

This book contains 2 novels, each of which could have been a standalone and, even though this book is part of the Charlie Parker series, the entire book stands alone from the series.

In “The Sisters Strange”, Parker learns a lot about the rare coins market. Career criminal Raum Buker stole a unique coin from the wrong man and this crime brings danger to Dolors and Ambar Strange. Raum has a tendency to dare his enemies “which bespoke a degree of confidence in himself to which he had no right”. In “The Furies”, a widow asks Parker to recover some mementos of her dead daughter. A pair of murderous thugs are holding them for ransom. Another mother asks Parker to help her daughter escape from an abusive boyfriend.

I preferred The Sisters Strange, but I enjoyed the entire book. The humor, combined with the excellent creation of atmosphere, is what keeps me reading these supernatural thrillers. The author also has a much broader vocabulary than most thriller writers. Parker’s colleagues Angel and Louis make only a few brief appearances in this book, but I was ok with that. Jeff Harding did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. 4.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Although this is the twentieth in the Charlie Parker series, I think it is the first one I have read. It is comprised of two novellas. In the first, The Sisters Strange, Charlie is called upon by someone concerned about the welfare of two sisters from someone in their past who is back now, having stolen some ancient coins. The Furies sees Charlie working two cases, both involving protection of women in trouble.

Well written and more literate than some novels in this genre, I liked the main character, especially his sense of justice and understanding of the world. Both stories incorporate a bit of the supernatural, something I just learned is typical of Connolly’s books.

I just couldn’t engage with the first story, the longer of the two. It was well told, but kind of meh. I enjoyed the second one more. Fans of this series will probably enjoy The Furies, but I’m not sure it will attract many new aficionados.

I always get excited when I see that John Connolly has a new book out in the Charlie Parker series! I love Connolly's beautiful writing. He has the heart of a poet who writes dark supernatural tales that put a smile on my face. I love how he combines genres: horror, mystery, supernatural, etc. In The Furies, Connolly takes a new slant and instead of writing a one story, he writes two novellas (The Sisters Strange and The Furies). Both were enjoyable, but I did enjoy the second one much more.

The whole gang is back! Charlie, Angel and Louis amongst others are back and in action in this book. It is always nice to read about them again. The characters are tough and no case is too much for them to take on.

Although I enjoyed this edition to the Charlie Parker series and thought it was very well done, I want a full fledged book and will be eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.

Well written, dark, and gripping.

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.

I looked it up, and The Furies is book #20 in the Charlie Parker series by John Connolly. While I have heard a lot of good reviews of his work over the years, this is the first book of his that I have read, and I am now ready to reset and go back and start at the beginning.

Charlie Parker is a retired NYPD officer who is now working as a PI in Maine. This story has two different cases dropped in his lap. One involving the theft of valuable mementos which are being held for ransom, and the other a domestic violence case.

I don't want to give any spoilers. I enjoyed the storytelling and writing style of Connolly. It definitely lives up to the reviews I've heard the last several years. If you've never read any of the books you can start here and be ok in terms of understanding characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Furies in exchange for my thoughts. I am looking forward to my John Connolly journey.

I'm a loyal Charlie Parker fan! I peeked at some other reviews (never do that!) and was convinced I would prove them wrong. But sadly, this collection of two stories was a bit of a disappointment. The story didn't grab me, I know it's a blip! I'm there for his next one, coming out in 2023.

Every time I open an entry in John Connolly's Charlie Parker Series [with one exception], I feel I'm coming home. Despite intermittent violence, Supernatural overhangs, and often heartwrenching events and memories, reading a Charlie Parker/Louis/Angel novel is like settling into a comfy armchair and pulling on a warm cozy sweater. Odd, I know, since former [long ago] Homicide detective, now Maine private Investigator, Parker is never a stranger to violence or to ugly situations; and in fact, the end of his police career followed the horrific slayings of his wife and first daughter.
So his stories are not "cozy" in the accepted sense, but reading them renders me happy, with ironically the sense that once again all is right with the world. There's a sense of 19th century Victorian optimism in this feeling.

THE FURIES is not per se a novel, but two novellas, both of which stood my hair on end, from the disparate paths of Human Evil and Supernatural Interference in human lives.

In a new format for Connolly, The Furies contains two short novels rather than one long one. In The Sisters Strange, Charlie Parker is hired by the suitor of one of the aforenamed women to investigate an ex-con named Raum Buker and former lover of both sisters who has returned to town and may be causing trouble for one or both of them. Unbeknownst to any of them, Buker brings major baggage with him, as a ruthless collector of coins and antique esoteric items is after those who stole a rare and powerful artifact of a coin from him, Buker being one of those who robbed him. I had originally read this story in 2020 when Connolly posted it in weekly chapters during the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, so I was prepared to speed-read my way through it, just because I couldn't recall the details. However, in re-reading it, the story felt mostly new to me, as I only found myself recalling bits and pieces of it. As it turns out, Connolly states at the end of the book that he revised and expanded the story greatly from its original format, so that helps explain why I remembered so little, and made it an enjoyable read for me.
The title story is set during the early stages of the pandemic, and with an unpredictable near future and a heavy load already, Parker attempts to turn down new business. But he is persuaded to take on two new clients. The first is the widow of a former Mafia guy who has moved to Maine to make a new life for herself. Two goons steal precious reminders of her dead daughter from her and try to blackmail her into paying them large sums of money, as rumors have always followed that she still has money her husband pilfered from the Mob. As Parker tried to track down these men while carefully negotiating his way among their Mob connections a ghostly presence is also following the goons. For the other client, a woman begs Parker to save her daughter from an abusive relationship, as she fears the drug addict boyfriend is getting dangerously close to graduating from mildly hurting her daughter to finally killing her. Parker calls in Angel and Louis and the Fulci brothers to aid him in trying to free her.
Both stories were solid, enjoyable Parker tales, and proved that Connolly can write a complex, immersive, full story without taking 500+ pages to do it like he has been with the previous novels.

Composed of two novellas Mr. Parker’s latest adventures focus on what happens when the powers of “the weaker sex” are underestimated.

The Sisters Strange, the first story in the series involves two strong women who are matched up against a supernatural villain. In the Furies the misogynistic villains are pursued by supernatural justice. Both stories can be seen as battles of the sexes in which really awful men find themselves battling with women who they have gravely underestimated.

I read Connolly for more than just the stories—-although his stories are compelling to be sure. It’s the characters. I can think of no other set of characters that so completely embody pathos, empathy, humor, friendship, loyalty, and intelligence. Charlie, Lous and Angel bring equal portions of menace with humor. I want these to be real people. And let’s not forget the Fulchi brothers—who serve up comedy relief and lethal force in equal portions. When reading the Charlie Parker Series (one of my all time favorite series) I never fail to laugh out loud, learn something, or frantically turn pages to see what is next. If there is a series that intertwines mystery thrillers with the supernatural then I have not encountered it.

Great book because John Connolly can’t write a bad book. He is one of the best writers out there.

John Connolly never disappoints! This is actually two books, with the usual cast of characters we have grown to love. Parker’s out again to right new evils in the state of Maine. John Connolly tight, well written prose makes for a great read and a book you can’t put down until done.

Hate to finish his book as now I have to wait for the next one!

One of the greatest joys in my life is when a new Charlie Parker books comes out. I've enjoyed the last two books, as always, but I really feel like this one puts us firmly back into Parker's world along with all that that entails.

This book consists of two novellas, the first being more of a short novel is The Sisters Strange. Firmly in the "mystery" camp, this was a fun story with some humor, and more than its fair share of darkness. It also featured an extremely creepy villain named Kepler.

The second novella The Furies was the type of Parker story I've come to love. Parker is always trying to navigate through the world of being a private investigator, working within the legal system, and all the while dealing with the reality of his daughter's ghost and other things not of this world. Angel and Louis feature in this one as well as some dealings with the New England mafia. (Some of these portions were extra fun for me because Springfield, MA is my home town and I've eaten at a few of the places mentioned here, like Frigo's and La Fiorentina Bakery. That type of thing always gives me a bit of a thrill.)

In summary, this was such a lovely visit with all of my old friends, even though the overall story arc did not progress very much. That is fine with me, because in my heart of hearts, I know this series is winding down and both my soul and my heart are worried about what will eventually happen where Charlie, Angel and Louis are concerned. I love them all so much, but I am concerned that we will soon have to part.

Until then, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment and will eagerly be awaiting the next!

*Thank you to Atria books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

*4.5 stars rounded up.

The latest in the long-running Charlie Parker series actually contains two short novels in one. The first, The Sisters Strange, involves the theft of rare coins: Charlie is hired to keep a watchful eye on Dolors Strange, who may be tangled up with one of the thieves. In the title novel, The Furies, two separate women come to Charlie for help in troublesome cases--one, involving the theft of precious mementos held for ransom, and the other, a case of domestic violence that could turn deadly. Watching Charlie figure out how to handle these investigations is fascinating and intriguing. As usual, he turns to his good friends for help so we have appearances from Louis and Angel and the Fulci brothers. Both stories are very suspenseful and macabre but the involvement of these friends always adds a great dose of humor.

I received an arc of this thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Each year when a new John Connolly novel drops, I get so excited. His new book is two short stories, that as usual, are terrifying but delicious.

Charlie Parker is arguably one of my favorite literary characters. He’s a detective up in Maine, and the world has broken him multiple times over, and Connolly continues to throw him into these creepy, supernatural situations and cases. Like a public washroom along the interstate, these novels are dark, scary, and unsettling. Connolly’s masterful prose that wisps readers through the pages, saddled alongside Parker as he bounces through the emotional turmoil that always seems to accompany him.

As per usual, Connolly’s writing style, characters, and intriguing stories suck a reader in, and you’ll soon find yourself lost in the pages of Parker’s world.

Very, very disappointed in The Sister Strange. I have read every book by John Connolly, have his entire library and honestly, if this is his best now, he has lost it like so many authors I follow. Need a lot more of Angel and Louis and flashbacks to Charlie Parkers' sad past. I will review the second in this book series (?), The Furies, shortly.