The Wolf in Winter

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.

July 1, 2014

Connolly's latest novel features private investigator Charlie Parker (The Wrath of Angels), whose work often involves beings not wholly of this earth. After the apparent suicide of a homeless man who had been searching for his daughter, Parker looks for her in the Maine town of Prosperous, home of an ancient church and a strange historical religious sect. The community appears to be just as prosperous as its name and its residents seems to be extremely fortunate in both business and longevity, but Parker discerns that there is something not quite right. His inquiries ultimately lead to the involvement of his sometime business partners--and even enemies--in the business of Prosperous, with unexpected consequences. VERDICT This dark thriller is sure to please Connolly's fans, although newcomers might want to read the previous books in the series (starting with Every Dead Thing) before attempting this one. [See Prepub Alert, 4/21/14.]--Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2014
The town of Prosperous, Maine, seems almost too good to be true: everyone appears happy and financially secure, and the town itself feels untouched by economic downturns or, indeed, any disruptive influences. When Charlie Parker, the private investigator haunted by the deaths of his wife and daughter, winds up in Prosperous, looking for the missing daughter of a dead man, he soon learns that the residents really don't like it when a stranger shows up in town, and that they're willing to go to extreme lengths to protect their town's secrets. As usual for this series, the book has a strong supernatural element, but it's not really a supernatural thriller: it's more of a traditional thriller with some especially dark elements (if you're unfamiliar with the series, imagine a Jack Reacher novel told as an urban horror story). Connolly's writing is gripping, as alwaysthe man is a real stylistand fans of the Charlie Parker series are sure to give this one an enthusiastic response.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)