In March of 2009, I started reading Charlie’s journey through the criminal underworld with “Every Dead Thing”. While having a little supernatural stuff thrown in there, his character reminded me of a “Batman-ish” vigilante. You had the classic story line of a traumatic event happening to an undeserving person which leads into spending their life trying to make amends for what happened. I loved it – I was hooked right away. The first book was full of such anger, he hated the world and wanted justice for the murder of his wife and child.With Connolly’s “The Unquiet”, we’re six books in and two removed from one of the best Parker novels yet, “The White Road”. In this installment, we find Parker dealing with the separation from the mother of his second child. He picks up a job protecting the daughter of a long since missing child psychologist, Daniel Clay. Daniel’s daughter, Rebecca, is being troubled by a man who believes Daniel is still alive. The man in question, Merrick, desperately wants to find the location of Daniel about some unfinished business. Daniel Clay’s disappearance is linked to a scandal involving a case of alleged child abuse leading to death which had subsequently ruined his career. However, nothing was actually confirmed on whether Mr. Clay had anything to do with the events in question, just that his disappearance seems to indicate his involvement.Parker’s life is just a huge mess. He can’t seem to make a decision between what he believes is his moral obligation to seek out and help those troubled in life and accepting his role as a father and family man. The novel spends a good chunk of time on the personal life; heavily sinking into Parker’s dilemma. It’s like he’s just sulking around, hoping things will clear themselves up. He seems to have no desire to make any sort of final decision.Despite my feelings on Parker, his associates Louis and Angel remain excellent. Louis has some of the best lines I’ve read in this series. From his rant on hockey to his explanation of his political views; I just loved him.I’m a huge fan of Connolly’s wit and sarcastic humor but with a brooding Parker, the novel seems to just fall a little short of what I’m used to. Maybe that’s what Connolly was going for but it’s not something I’m a fan of – at least not this far into the Parker saga. I think the novel also suffered from its length. Finishing at just over 500 pages, I felt it could have been a little tighter. A lot seemed like filler to me.Despite my overall feelings toward the book, it had a superb ending. Connolly wraps things up well and treats the reader to an epilogue which progresses to the next book nicely. I have to admit, I was intrigued by something hinted at in the final pages – enough to make me pick up the next book right away. Actually, the final 100 pages or so really saved this. If not for some key events occurring before the conclusion, this could’ve been completely forgettable and feel like a less than perfect entry in the Parker series.Cross Posted @ Every Read Thing
This is the first book I've read by John Connolly but I've already ordered another. He is a writer that I will continue to read. His prose is remarkable and his characterizations are deep and give the reader a true feeling for each and every person in the book. It is a mystery/thriller with some hints of the supernatural. Normally, if one were to say the word 'supernatural' in reference to a book, I wouldn't even begin the first page. However, this is different. The elements of the supernatural are carefully melded to the psyche and unconscious so as to make it a therapist's dream.The Charlie Parker in this book is not the famous jazz musician, but rather a private eye who has been hired by one Rebecca Clay for protection. A very scary man named Merrick has been stalking her, trying to get information about her father, Daniel Clay. Daniel was a child psychiatrist who disappeared and has been declared dead. Before his death, he was implicated in some allegations of child sexual abuse, and Merrick thinks that Rebecca knows a lot more than she is letting on.Parker is one tough dude. He not only protects Rebecca but also wants to solve the mystery of what happened to Daniel Clay. This takes him to the darkest of the dark side where he meets predators of all different kinds, none of which are able to stop his investigation. Charlie is in for the long haul.Charlie is separated from his wife Rachel and their daughter Sam. He is also living with the ghosts of his first wife and child who were killed. Unfortunately, I have not read Connolly's earlier books so I don't know the specifics of their deaths. However, they lurk in his attic and speak to him, leaving his torn and filled with angst. He has never told Rachel about his former family but she senses their presence in his house. Thus, she has gone to live with her parents.Child sexual abuse is a difficult thing to read about and this book is not for the faint of heart. There were many times that I was so disturbed that I had to close the book and take a few deep breaths. However, the book drew me back over and over. There are a lot of blood and guts as Charlie tries to find out what happened to Daniel Clay. He meets many interesting characters along the way and the mystery of what happened is not revealed until near the end. I like that.I really enjoy Connolly's writing. He comes up with some gems and his prose reminds me of Tana French, another mystery author who I love. Do yourself a favor and start reading this series. If you like mysteries, you'll be doing yourself a favor.
What do You think about The Unquiet (2007)?
The sixth installment of the Charlie Parker series is another dark one, this time involving a ring of child abuse. But it also brings The Collector back which is just fascinating. This one includes less direct bloodshed, but retains a satisfying quality to its sense of justice. More questions are raised here about Charlie’s parents and his true self. It’s a highly engaging read and a very strong addition to the series!I love his books. He is one of the very best writers - and certainly the best mystery-writer that I have ever read! His words - even at their most grotesque and haunting - remain lyrically beautiful. His characters are so fleshed out that it is amazing that they are not actually alive. And his plots are finely woven webs that link everything together in the end. This installment, revolving around a mysterious ring of child abusers, was very well done. And with the rather surprising turn of events at the end, I am very curious to see where the next book will go.
—Victoria
Hay tanto para decir de este libro que no se ni que decir. PRIMERO: John Connolly es un genio. SEGUNDO: este libro tiene el mejor prologo que he leído en mi vida TERCERO: es libro es excelente, una obra casi perfecta. Es un libro que no es tan fácil parar de leerlo, la lectura no es ligera pero el buen uso de la lírica y lo fresco de la narración hace que se entienda todo.Esta es una de las las historias más raras que he leído. El detective Parker es de esos personajes que te enamoran, te cautivan y quieres seguir viviendo con ellos las aventuras, sin importar los turbias que se tornen. El trasfondo de la historia sobre los abusos sexuales a niños y como esta práctica los marca demuestra la profundidad del autor para tomar una situación muy triste y de la actualidad; y plasmarla en una historia que te llena de rabia, de venganza y al final te deja nadando en un charco de pena por tantas personas involucradas (niños, los violadores, familias en busca de venganza) que no pudieron lograr que algo cambiara o sucediera algo bueno.Frank Merrick, al igual que a Parker, me causó lastima puesto que unos hombres malvados y el desarrollo de un mal sistema de protección a menores le arrebataron a su hija, a la cual no pudo cuidar porque estaba preso y a raíz de esto sus últimos actos como asesino no fueron debido a un "trabajo pagado" si no al deseo de que el recuerdo de su hija descansara en paz. Lo que más amo de este libro de Connolly es que aunque dentro de la historia se juegue con las figuras de fantasmas y figuras de ultratumba que se llevan a quien debe morir; es la genialidad con la cual esta historia se escribió haciendo uso, como ya mencioné, de una realidad cruel y de la cual aún en el siglo XXI mucha gente teme divulgarla, la realidad de niños que son abusados y se callan por miedo a que se le haga daño a una persona de su familia a la cual ellos aman mucho. Asimismo como un padre o tutor puede jugar con la pobre mente de un infante y hacerle creer que esa conducta antinatural y esa relación maldita es un símbolo de "amor".
—Ivanna
Esta saga no hace mas que mejorar, no entiendo como Connolly supera a sus propios personajes de libro a libro, mas detallados y macabros a la vez; de cuando en cuando me escalofrío un poco al pensar en Pudd o el Coleccionista que junto con Moloch (de Malvados de Connolly pero no de la serie Charlie Parker) son mis mentes perversas favoritas. La mención entrecruzada de Malvados es fugaz pero deliciosa. No puedo decir cual es mi entrega predilecta de esta serie, tal vez no necesito tenerla, pues forman parte de una gran historia de una docena de libros y contando, enhorabuena.
—Inti Ruiz cruz
