One of the darkest, most terrifying books of recent memory, John Connolly returns Charlie Parker to the pages with a book that will be sure to keep you up reading late into the night, even if it's just so you don't have to close your eyes. The Instruments of Darkness is shaping up to be on the best books of 2024.

When young Henry Clark goes missing from his home in the middle of the night, and his bloodied blanket is found in the trunk of his mother's car, lawyer Moxie Castin is called in to handle the murder defense. Moxie, in turn, brings in private detective Charlie Parker to assist with the defense. As Parker begins to turn over stones and talk to witnesses, it's discovered that maybe there are more mysteries and questions around the boy's disappearance than initially speculated. Parker's questions take him across Maine, speaking with gangsters, gun runners, lawyers, the DA, psychics, and everything in between. Parker races against the clock, slowly ticking away until the mother, Colleen, goes on trial.

In another fantastic addition to the Charlie Parker franchise, The Instruments of Darkness is another twisting drive down a dark, wooded road, where the trees are retaking their land and everything that lies within it.

I was quickly enraptured within the pages, and readers can't help but descend into this darkness right alongside Parker. Connolly brilliantly blurs the lines between thriller, crime, and horror, with a touch of the supernatural in the way only Connolly can. It's another terrifying ride in the Charlie Parker universe that is guaranteed to stop your heart.

Let me start by saying that I didn’t realize this was part of a series of books (#21). I didn’t really find any confusion or disturbance in the fact that I hadn’t read the previous books which was nice.

The story is about a woman, Colleen, who may or may not have killed her toddler son. Colleen is unyielding in her clams of innocence while everyone around her seems to believes her to be guilty. There is no body, just a bloody blanket that was rarely used, which adds to the tension of the story. She gets a lawyer, Moxie, who hires a P.I. named Charlie Parker (the lead of the series).

Parker brings with him a host of issues but he believes Colleen to be innocent and is determined to prove it. In doing so he comes across many dangers some of which may be a supernatural evil.

Needless to say the book is interesting, intriguing, and ends with a good chance of meeting up with Parker again in the next installment.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a good read and a possible series to get invested in.

A toddler has gone missing from his home in the night. His mother sleeps through any intrusion and his father is travelling. When a blanket is found soaked in his blood in his mother's car, she is immediately suspected and charged. Her lawyer, Moxie and his investigator Charlie Parker are increasingly sure of her inncence. Set in Maine, Charlie sends for his back up team, Angel and Louis. The Fulci brothers round out the caste of characters. The banter and wisecracks is amusing and certainly in character. A fun mystery.

I thought last year was sad because I didn't get a new Charlie Parker book. Then things got immeasurably worse for me. I don't want to go into details, but I think the quickest way to sum it up is to say that I cried on the phone with a bank and then I got a new John Connolly book. It's so secret that this is my favorite book series, so I was very eager to return to this world. I really liked it, as I always do, even if some parts of the story felt a little unfinished to me. But the story continues, so I s'pose those elements may return in the future.

John Connolly can do no wrong in my eyes, and the Instruments of Darkness proves get again that he is a powerful storyteller. When a child goes missing, and the mother is accused of murder, Charlie Parker is hired to find the case's discrepancies. Sketchy characters, ancient evils, and mayhem ensue, and staple recurrent characters return to get at the root of an evil so great that it contaminates everything around it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ as always.

2.5 stars
It was wordy; it could have been a lot shorter. Every detail seemed to be overly explained.
I vacillated between being engaged, and being bored. The story itself was good, but by the time I was 80% done with the book I was skimming over huge chunks of dialogue because it all seemed so repetitive and I just wanted to finish the book and have all the loose ends up tied up.
The ending was extremely satisfactory, though!

I let out a yippee when I saw that I had bee approved for this e-arc! Thank you to all involved! I got it right before Christmas so it was an awesome present. I am such a huge fan of this series. It is one of only two that I reread and I am so excited when a new one is put out. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. Like most long running series, some are better than others. This one fits that bill. A couple’s infant son goes missing without a trace. Then the husband finds the son’s bloody blanket in the wife’s car’s wheel well. The wife is accused of murder and the husband agrees. Parker’s longtime friend and attorney Moe requests Parker’s help to investigate. As is normal in this series, things get weird. I am a sucker for the mix of mystery and crime with a touch of supernatural in this series. Excellent.

I have read a few Charlie Parker novels but not many. I really enjoyed this one. The beginning of the book hooks you right away with the abduction/murder of the young child with the mother than main subject. Charlie Parker is assisting her lawyer and plans on finding everything he can to save the mother and hopefully solve the crime. I really enjoyed Charlie's crew as they added a whole additional element to the book. The setting also made some of these eccentric characters a bit more believable. A must read for anyone who loves a good mystery with a lot of action. I can't wait for the next story.

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

4.25 Stars 🌟

Charlie Parker is back.

I've been a long time fan of this series and was thrilled when I saw that there was a new addition coming out. It is actually not easy to explain the series to someone who isn't already aware of it - at least it was a bit hard for me. I was explaining to my husband that Charlie Parker is a private detective who seems to constantly find himself in the middle of trouble. Not the normal type of trouble- but TROUBLE TROUBLE. The supernatural kind of trouble. But, he is on the side of good, even if he himself has skirted the line a few too many times. That was about as easy as I could make it.

So we have Charlie finding himself helping out Moxie (his attorney friend) who has taken on a very polarizing case. Moxie is defending a woman accused of killing her young child. Charlie's job (in addition to finding ways to protect her) is to find out as many details and bits of information to help her with her case - and hopefully help to prove her innocence. Oh, and to help find her missing son Henry if possible.

If only it were that simple.....

In typical Parker fashion, there is more going on than meets the eye and there is some genuine evil at the heart of everything. One thing about Mr. Connolly's books is the fact that he writes extremely eerie, scary and chilling books. I'm honestly not a fan of the horror genre, I'm not even sure if this falls into this. I just know that over the years, I have fallen for Charlie as a character the more I got to know him, and it was the same with the others in his circle - many of whom we get to see again. Louis and Angel come up to help and there are the Fulci brothers, and Moxie.

All in all, this is a typical Connolly story. In essence, there is something evil out there and Charlie and the gang are trying to figure things out before it is too late. So, if that sounds interesting to you, definitely give it a go. While this is the 21st book in the series, I think it could be read as a stand alone. Just know that there is a LOT of history that everything is built on, basically the relationships between the team, and, well.....just know that there is definitely something.....different about Charlie Parker.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Instrument of Darkness. If you are a fan of the Charlie Parker series you will be very happy the gang is back. The Fulcis, Louis and Angel, Moxie and more.
The story bring them together to investigate the disappearance of a young child.
His mother is accused of murder but she claims her innocence.
Her husband believes she has killed the child and soon she is the target of the investigation
But she hires Moxie as her lawyer and Parker is called to assist in proving her innocence.
But there is a darkness in Maine that calls out. And a woman hears the cries of a child and she knows she has to help.
But this darkness is powerful and Parker and his troop may have to use all their resources to prove that the woman is Innocent.
One heck of a book. Loved it and you will too. 5 stars

“The Instruments of Darkness” by John Connolly - (4.5 Stars) (Pub Date:05/07/2024) – the newest installment in the Charlie Parker series does not disappoint thanks to Connoly’s excellent attention to detail, dynamic and true-to-life characterization, and ‘horrific reality meets insidious evil’ plot lines.

Good Things: Connolly is a master of detail and this book doesn’t lack for twisty bits and pieces that could be interesting side notes, or could be the big reveal so you better be paying attention.. The well-developed characters are some of the best I’ve read, and a handful of new folks were introduced alongside the solid return personalities. The blending of real crime with eerie, supernatural, evil is very present in this iteration and I had plenty of “euch” and “cold-chill” moments. The descriptive narrative marries these two genres together perfectly.

Opportunities: Charlie Parker is a recurring character in a very long series, and as such, there are some characters that are not as fleshed out as they could be for stand-alone-readers. If you are new to this series and want to know more about Angel, Louis, or Jennifer, you’re going to have to go back into the catalog and do some back-reading. This doesn’t detract from this book, particularly for the return fan and any gaps in backstory can easily be filled by a quick fandom / wiki search or, even better, a dive into the full catalog.

Final Thoughts: The Instruments of Darkness is another twisty, turny, can’t-miss story and as soon as I finished, I started it again. Connolly’s attention to detail is what really makes this series and this iteration of the Charlie Parker story and universe stand out in the absolutely tremendous ‘twisty-thriller’ genre. Best of class.

I appreciate the opportunity afforded me to have an early read of this story by netgalley and Wheelbarrow Books/Michigan State University Press. The opinions in this review are expressly those of ButIDigressBookClub and are intended for use by my followers and friends when choosing their next book. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #theinstrumentsofdarkness #johnconnolly #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #arc #arcs

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Publishing Review 05/01/2024

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 and the supernatural elements in 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!

The latest in the Charlie Parker series is another winner and you don’t need to read the others to enjoy it. . Moxie is defending a woman accused of taking and killing her 3 year old son and needs Charlie’s help in proving her innocence while also protecting her. It doesn’t help that Colleen’s husband is saying she definitely did it. Charlie along with his colorful and unique friends do what they do best, stand up to bad men while learning the convoluted truth about what happened, because this is a mystery as well as a supernatural tale, with a wake up call that evil comes in many forms including bigotry and hate against everyone not white.
Connolly’s plots are always complicated and intriguing and well worth the read. His style of writing propels you forward and the contradictions between Parker and his friends with their hard and softness of character always creates a nuanced story. I love the fact I will learn at least 7 new vocabulary words each time I read one of his books.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Coleen is accused of the possible murder of her child- most believe she is guilty- but is she?
Lawyer Moxie and Charlie believe her husband is willing to throw her under the bus- why.

The 21st novel in Connolly's private eye Charlie Parker series is due for publication on May 7, 2024 by Atria Books. 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.

I’m always happy to dive back into Charlie Parker’s world. There’s the usual cast of supporting characters, although Angel and Louis feature much less than usual. Very good creepy supernatural mystery, bad people doing bad things and getting dealt with harshly. All is as it should be way up in Maine.

I read an earlier novel in the series, and truly enjoyed it, so not sure why I haven't returned to the Charlie Parker character since. This novel is a marvel and will surely lead me to rectify that oversight. Connolly's writing reminds me of James Lee Burke, the highest praise I can give a crime novelist. Ever sentence, ever scene setting, every line of dialogue is savory. The characters are dark, violent, haunted in many cases, and oh so real. Love the third person scenes with the mix of Parker's first person POV. The mystery itself is involving. A mother has been accused of murder in the case of her missing son, and her louse of a husband is at the front of the line in pointing an accusatory finger. There's some intrigue around a shadowy woman character who may or may not be the real culprit. There's colorful side characters and swiftly executed backstories. All of which, keeps you turning pages. This is magnificent and highly recommended!

When a woman is accused of murdering her little boy, lawyer Moxie Castin asks private investigator Charlie Parker for help. Of course, because Charlie's involved, it means things are much more sinister than they seem.

I've been a huge fan of John Connolly's since randomly picking up Dark Hollow (still in my top ten), and I was super excited to be approved for this ARC. Full of tension, fan favorites (I'll forever be ride or die for gay hitmen Angel and Louis and the gigantic Fulci brothers), and moments of exquisite sorrow. In my opinion, it's his best book in years.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC!

I'm always happy to read a book by John Connolly and Maine seems to be the perfect setting for inserting a little supernatural woo woo stuff. Though the outcome is pretty clear from the beginning it is one of those stories that you enjoy seeing how it will be deconstructed, so to speak. I was happy to see the cast of familiar characters and sad when I came to the end of the book. Connolly fans will not be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. Can't wait for more from Connolly!