August 25, 2014
Connolly’s absorbing 12th Charlie Parker novel (after 2013’s The Wrath of Angels) finds the PI, based in Portland, Maine, still on the hunt for the serial killer known as the Collector, with his sidekicks—and comic relief—Angel and Louis in tow. Meanwhile, the seeming suicide of one of the city’s better known homeless men, Jude, diverts his attention. Before Jude’s death, Parker was intent on tracking down his estranged, wayward daughter, Annie, to try to reestablish a connection. The investigative trail leads to the wealthy, isolated town of Prosperous, Maine. Sparks—and bullets—fly when Parker starts poking his nose into the deeper secrets of Prosperous, where he finds out fast that some secrets are worth killing for. A compellingly flawed hero and a detail-rich plot make for another satisfying read, though the strong supernatural vein won’t appeal to every crime fiction fan. Agent: Darley Anderson, Darley Anderson Literary.