URBAN FANTASY CRIME REVIEW: Charlie Parker 14: A Song of Shadows - John Connolly

Release Date: 14/01/16
Publisher:  Hodder

SYNOPSIS:

Grievously wounded private detective Charlie Parker investigates a case that has its origins in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War.

Broken, but undeterred, private detective Charlie Parker faces the darkest of dark forces in a case with its roots in the second world war, and a concentration camp unlike any other . . .

Recovering from a near-fatal shooting and tormented by memories of a world beyond this one, Parker has retreated to the small Maine town of Boreas to recover. There he befriends a widow named Ruth Winter and her young daughter, Amanda. But Ruth has her secrets. She is hiding from the past, and the forces that threaten her have their origins in the Second World War, in a town called Lubko and a concentration camp unlike any other. Old atrocities are about to be unearthed, and old sinners will kill to hide their sins. Now Parker is about to risk his life to defend a woman he barely knows, one who fears him almost as much as she fears those who are coming for her.

His enemies believe him to be vulnerable. Fearful. Solitary.

But they are wrong. Parker is far from afraid, and far from alone.

For something is emerging from the shadows . . .


REVIEW:

The latest book from John in his Charlie Parker Paranormal series (book 13) and lets just say after events from the previous outing, Charlie is thought to be broken and vulnerable, setting the tale up for a chance for others to get vengeance and what they think they deserve against the tales hero.

As with the other books, its well written and John has an ability to weave two genre’s together in such a way that they mesh seamlessly giving you a cracking reading experience. The prose is sharp, the characters delightful and when as a reader you get a story that brings dialogue that helps make the characters feel real all round gives you something that you know will be worth taking your time to read.

All round, when added to the others in the series I have to say that this is one of my favourites in John’s writing history. It really does bring Charlie to the fore and for me, showing a vulnerable side really helps make him feel more like a mortal man. Cracking.