Charlie Parker returns in The Instruments of Darkness, by John Connolly, the twenty-first book in the series. Parker has been bruised and battered by his work as a private investigator, but he can’t stop when there’s a chance that he can take a measure of evil out of the world. Evil is absolutely real for Parker. He can sense the presence of supernatural evil when it begins to infect our world. It’s a wonder Parker can still joke. This entry in the series sees Parker taking on two evils: a child murderer and a pack of neo-Nazis.

The client this time is Colleen Clark, a passive and damaged woman accused of killing her toddler son, Henry. Henry’s body hasn’t been recovered but a bloody blanket was recovered from the Clarks’ garage. Parker’s old friend, Moxie Castin, who is defending Colleen, calls him in to try and find out what really happened to the boy. An early meeting with Colleen convinces Parker that Colleen is not only innocent but that something sinister is going on with her weirdly affectless husband—a husband who was far too quick to throw his wife under the bus.

Fans of the series will be pleased to see old friends show up to help: the Fulci brothers, Louis and Angel. I’m not so sure, however, that they will be thrilled by the muddled plot. Much of the first half of the book centers on the investigation into the Clarks and what happened to their son. I was intrigued by the shadowy figure of Mara Teller, a woman who is strangely hard to track down after it’s revealed that she had an affair with Henry’s father. Why would a woman create an identity and pay for a money order to get into a petrochemical conference just to seduce Stephen Clark? What’s up with the mysterious plot of land “Mara” is tracked to that everyone in the community avoids? In the second half of The Instruments of Darkness, Parker et al. are surprised by the reappearance of an old enemy, who takes the opportunity to instigate a bizarre firebombing of Colleen’s house. I was very confused by this addition, especially since I was sufficiently interested in learning what happened to Henry and if Colleen would be successfully railroaded into a prison sentence.

I might’ve been more forgiving of the overstuffed plot if I hadn’t kept seeing British-isms in the dialogue of a bunch of American characters. It was little things like people being phoned instead of called. Connolly is Irish but I don’t remember his books about Parker and his crew being so inauthentic with their vocabularies. I recognize this as a pet peeve of mine. That said, I hope there’s time for someone familiar with American English to do some swaps.

From blurb: "In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can commit: 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."
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Colleen's lawyer is Moxie Castin and those familiar with the series know that Moxie is good; any who underestimate him will regret it. He may not look like much and he certainly fails at healthy eating, but Moxie wins cases and Charlie Parker trusts him.

The case hinges on a bloody blanket. No body. The assumption is that the amount of blood assures that little Henry could not have survived, and when Colleen's husband makes comments about Colleen's "failures" as a mother, public sentiment turns against her.

Although the evidence is circumstantial, there are those who see this as slam dunk case that will elevate their careers. Moxie turns to Charlie Parker, who is initially reluctant to get involved, but after meeting with Colleen, Parker agrees to work on the case.

All the usual suspects (the Fulci brothers, Louis, Angel, Dave, etc.) appear and lend a hand. An appealing new character gets involved, Sabine Drew--medium/psychic, who has had successes in the past and one demoralizing failure. Hope to see more of Sabine.

As usual, Charlie Parker is a winner for me. Now I have to wait for the next book.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for this ARC.

Publication date: May 7, 2024 blog publication on April 23, 2024

I love all of the Charlie Parker books, some resonate more than others, but there isn’t one I have regretted reading. We are back in Maine, with a creepy house, an evil entity, and various other bad guys in the middle of the forest. Our cast begins with Charlie and Moxie and a new mystery to solve. The Fulcis are back to help out and add some humor. I was hoping to see Louis and Angel and was ecstatic when they also joined the case. I really enjoyed meeting Sabine Drew and hope to see her again in future books.

This is the 21st book in the series. Even if you start with this one, you can follow the storyline with no issues, but beware, as you will be intrigued to start at the first one and read them all. The story provides mystery, paranormal elements, justice, a little redemption, and some well-deserved payback.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and John Connolly for the eARC.

This book was one of the best. It was amazing from start to finish. Thank you so much to the publisher for the copy!

One thing is certain when you're dealing with private investigator Charlie Parker - there'll be some other-worldly "stuff" in it. This is the 21st book in the series - I've read several others - and this one certainly doesn't spoil the pattern.

When Colleen Clark's son Henry goes missing, as is customary, the parents are early-on suspects. When evidence appears to not only confirm that the young boy is dead, Colleen - who by her own admission suffered from post-partum depression - is arrested for his murder. That her husband, and just about every former friend and neighbor, are convinced of her guilt as well doesn't help her case.

But Charlie's long-time friend and attorney, Moxie Castin, will; he'll serve as her attorney. And of course, he enlists Charlie's help. At the outset, both are suspicious of the husband, who even without the evidence seemed convinced that his wife did the dirty deed.

Even with the evidence, though, a body certainly would bolster the case on one side or the other. Enter into the picture a remote cabin deep in the woods of Maine that seems to harbor those aforementioned other-worldly secrets and that isn't far from a cult-like settlement of Fascists. In the midst of the investigation comes Sabine Drew, a psychic who claims to have heard Henry's plaintive cries from somewhere nearby. No one believes her, of course, except possibly Charlie - who knows firsthand what it's like to be in touch with those who've gone on (somewhere) before.

As the investigation progresses, another of Charlie's old enemies, Bobby Ocean, pops up, opening up the necessity of bringing in Charlie's bodacious friends and bodyguards, Angel and Louis (love these guys). That, in turn, brought up what perhaps is the best-ever description of a thug-style bodyguard, who "probably barely emerged from the womb before the obstretrician offered him twenty bucks to watch the surgery door."

There's plenty more murder and mayhem from this point to the end, and I loved every minute of it. Many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to binge on a pre-release copy of this latest installment of a favorite series.

This one was a little wordy for me but wow what a plot. I loved how this story unravelled and came together. The characters were solid and even the ones you hate were so well done. This one was dark, so dark with the worst of crimes that caused my mama heart to break. The supernatural aspect was well woven and believable and not hookey. This was a great fast paced read that kept me enraptured from start to finish.

I've always enjoyed Connolly's books but haven't read one in a while so I'd forgotten how detailed and crazy-interconnected they are! In this one P.I. Parker is on a case of a missing child, two-year-old Henry who disappeared in the middle of the night and is feared dead. Mother, Colleen is the suspect as a bloodied blanket was discovered under her tire and as she is separated from husband, Stephen she was alone with her son. Bring in attorney, Moxie who hires Parker to discover what he can. And then there's Sabine, an odd woman who "hears" the cries of little Henry and seems to know more than investigators as she knew another missing girl had oatmeal for breakfast when no one else did. The novel takes some crazy twists and turns but Connelly is adept at incredible descriptions and plot lines that make your head spin, all while pacing the book perfectly!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books in return for a fair and honest review.

I have read every Charlie Parker novel that has been published and Mr. Connolly repeatedly delivers on the mystery and paranormal aspects of the series. Parker is joined again by Louis and Angel in this story and I find the friendship of the three to be an endearing part of the novels. The tying of loose ends from other stories in the series can be a satisfying aspect but the reader doesn’t need to have read the entire series to enjoy the book. Having said that I highly recommend reading the entire series and look forward to reading subsequent stories.

This is one of my favorite books so far this year. I absolutely love Charlie Parker. It is so well written!! I could not get enough.

John Connolly’s Instruments of Darkness is part of an ongoing series but is definitely robust enough to read as a standalone. The action is swift, coupled with Connolly’s unique style of character humor. The well-developed mystery swirls and churns to an explosive ending. A great read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

“The Instruments of Darkness” by John Connolly is an atmospheric thriller set in small town Maine. A woman is accused of murdering her toddler son and her husband who never really wanted children is convinced along with most of her town that she is guilty! Along comes Charlie Parker, (yes this is #21 of the series), along with the other beloved characters and a fallen from grace medium to find the missing boy and prove the innocence of the mother. This book has a bit of everything. It’s a thriller filled with darkness, humor, tension and some supernatural creepiness that keeps you turning every page. As with the other novels in this series the book stands fully on its own and you can absolutely enjoy it without having read the others. My only issue was that it was a bit too long and I found myself skimming a bit 3/4 of the way in, thus 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Altria Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

John Connolly does it again in his newest Parker novel. What happens when a,mom is accused of killing her child? Who will believe her when the evidence is stacked against her? This story is a twisty road of murder and mystery. Connolly is at the top of his game. Hold on tight because every chapter will make you second guess everything you think you know in this book. This story starts fast and never lets up taking the reader on a dollar coaster ride straight to the very last page. You won't be able to put this book down.

Charlie Parker is an investigator working for lawyer, Moxie Castin. Charlie and Moxie are hired by Colleen Clark who is suspected of abducting and murdering her son, Kevin. Does the discovery of Henry’s blood-soaked blanket in Colleen’s car mean she is guilty? Charlie and Moxie are on the case.

The first few seconds into this book, I am drawn to the voice of the narrator. I enjoy most of the plot, but find I lose a bit of interest during the chapters devoted to the psychic, Sabine. While this is the twenty-first book in the Charlie Parker series, it can be read as a standalone. This is the first time I’m reading a Charlie Parker novel and look forward to reading the backlist. Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read an advance reader copy.

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.

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.

The setting is a small town in Maine where Colleen Clark is accused of the murder of her child. It was unthinkable. What mother would do that? Her cheating husband who never wanted children is convinced she is guilty. She is faced with an entire town including the police force that is convinced she is guilty. Her greatest hope and her only support is her defending lawyer Moxie Castin and his private investigator, the neverending talented Charlie Parker.
In the midst of the investigation, the town psychic who sees and hears the voices of the dead comes forward. She leads the investigation to a site deep into the Maine woods where claims to have heard Colleen’s child crying.
John Connolly never disappoints! This is a riveting story with neverending twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

It’s a risk to read a book that’s part of a series you haven’t read all of before, I shouldn’t have worried as I had no problem following the characters. The setting in Maine was appropriate for the mystery and conveyed the atmosphere vividly. I’m a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural, ghosts and paranormal, not subjects I usually read. This plot has a psychic/medium character and a deeply disturbing creepy house. I actually felt sympathetic towards the lady and how she was treated. She was an integral piece of the plot. Colleen and Stephen’s son, Henry, has simply disappeared. Was he kidnapped, did he sneak out the window, is he still alive? The medium can only give so much information to assist in locating the boy. Private investigator Charlie Parker is attempting to get answers. Most of the town has already decided the mother is to blame. She had some postpartum depression and the rumors are rampant. The husband has some secrets of his own and isn’t very supportive. The mother has a lawyer doing his best to keep her from spending her life in jail. As more and more details were revealed I just knew I’d figured it all out. Then another unexpected clue would be revealed and send me in another direction. I very literally couldn’t stop reading to discover the truth. It held my attention throughout. It’s a well orchestrated cast of characters with plenty of suspense. I feel both his longtime readers and new ones will enjoy the novel.
NetGalley provided an advance reader copy of “The Instruments of Darkness” Charlie Parker #21, Author John Connolly, published by Atria, Simon & Schuster, anticipated publication 05/07/2024. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

John Connolly returns to Charlie Parker's Maine in "Instruments of Darkness". In this installment, Parker assists in the defense of a mother accused of killing her son. Fans of the series will be glad to see all of the favorites are in attendance: Louis, Angel, the Fulci brothers. For a while it seemed as though this series was building toward an epic concluding battle between Parker and the forces of evil. Until that time, we readers will enjoy the ride.

Twisty and laden with numerous moments of increased anticipation that propel the reader forward with urgency, The Instruments of Darkness is an incredibly well written story with a little bit of everything – crime, investigations, violent action and a touch of the supernatural. John Connolly has crafted an explosive thriller loaded with darkness and scheming, counteracted by sincerity and righteousness.

Colleen Clark is accused of abducting and killing her own son, and everyone in Maine thinks she’s guilty. But she’s entitled to a defense and fair trial. Enter Lawyer Moxie Castin and private investigator Charlie Parker, who after some initial investigating believe Colleen to be innocent. But proving that she was set up is the hard part. Involving a husband who is certain of his wife’s guilt, a medium/psychic with a dubious past, strange characters and even stranger houses in the woods, and racists arming themselves for battle, the investigation will take multiple twists and turns – some deadly – until the truth is finally revealed.

This was my first Charlie Parker novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. I was struck by Parker’s quiet professionalism and pragmatic investigations approach that leaves emotion out of the equation. He’s intelligent, highly capable and relentless. He has a stable of resources at his disposal that allows him to obtain critical and hard to get information or provide muscle/backup for dangerous situations, situations in which he’s able to handle himself with aplomb. Furthermore, he has a past that adds depth to his actions, motivations and thought processes. All of which make him a fascinating character.

And in The Instruments of Darkness, all those character traits come into play. Parker engages in a battle of wits with cunning lawyers. He must discern fact from fiction as he interviews individuals with various motivations and reputations. He puts himself in harm's way in the name of justice. All the while there’s a darkness lurking that he may be uniquely qualified to understand. Leading to a showdown where no one is left unscathed. It’s exciting and compelling stuff.

It's a masterfully crafted tale by John Connolly. One that is sure to thrill and satisfy long-term Parker fans while also providing an accessible on ramp for new readers to experience this excellent series.

This is one of those books that you just cannot put down, thinking one more page, one more paragraph,
something will break, become clear, allow you to settle for the day, evening, time allotted. Not going to
happen. I did not rush through the story, afraid I might miss a grain or learn something important… I read
the last couple of chapters multiple times because I was putting everything in order in my mind. This is
how I deal with outstanding, complicated stories.
Charlie Parker, the long serving PI in this series, is once again involved in a situation that has more tentacles
than an ocean of octopi, and as he becomes fully engaged with the story of the disappearance of a toddler,
his world will, once again, be turned upside down.
PI Parker has a circular reputation in his small town-a place so small that no one really has their own private
business. There are those who are better than the rest, those who think they are better than the rest, and
those who don’t care about anything but what they want and will either handle their own issues or make
things happen their way with their money and influence,
Sometimes people get things a bit wrong, and even when the answer might be right in their view, they
insist it is someone else at the other end of the untenable solution.
There is heartbreak in this story-nearly everyone will feel heartbreak. There are well meaning attempts
to right wrongs, but the results are not always successful.
What is successful is the brilliant storytelling of Author John Connolly~ again. This is a grand series that
continues to captivate me, and it will captivate the world.
My thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this download copy
for review purposes.