Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Every Dead Thing by John Connolly

8 reviews

mmoonlight's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I've read this novel for the first time about a decade ago, and I bought a copy recently, because I saw it on a shelf in a local bookshop. As it turns out, I was captivated by it just as much as I had been the first time I've read it.

The story was grim, tense, twisted, bloody and dark, which is something every person who wants to read this novel should be aware of. Each character introduced throughout the story had something to add to the plot, even if it didn't seem like it in the beginning, which I like in my mystery and thrillers. The style of writing really worked for me, too, and the plot twists, didn't matter how bloody and gruesome, kept me intrigued.

I do have to say, the story introduces a lot of characters and a lot of details, which made the main plot a bit long and a bit convoluted at times. There were so many characters that at some point I had a difficult time remembering who was who, but that might be my only complaint, honestly.

I also have to admit, as interesting as I find Charlie Parker as a character, Angel and Louis were the ones who actually stole my heart. I absolutely adore them and their friendship with Charlie. The banter and the way they interact with each other and with Charlie was really enjoyable to read about, and the small moments between them were a nice, tiny break from the darkness surrounding the case Charlie was working on.

Well, I can safely say that I can't wait to read (and in some cases re-read) the rest of the books in the "Charlie Parker" series.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Medical content, and Kidnapping

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, and Sexual content

auliarach's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder

rachelunabridged's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

noonjinx's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I chanced across a later volume in Connolly's Charlie Parker series last month and enjoyed it enough to go out and find this one (number one).

This is a first person hard boiled detective story with a hint of the supernatural about it (not much, just a hint).

Connolly writes a rollicking good story and isn't afraid to use some poetic language which makes his books a pleasure to read. You don't get sunsets in a Connolly novel, you get day bleeding into night. The plotting, pacing, characters, dialogue and action sequences are all great.

The tone of this one is *very* dark and the murders are particularly grisly (more grisly than I needed but not enough to put me off). I already have volumes two and three lined up but may need something lighter first.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

emperorxzee's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug use

featherreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Death

amyel1zabeth's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Gun violence

theneverendingtbr's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Well I absolutely loved this first book in the Charlie Parker series, Connolly is such a great author, especially writing dark and mysterious material - can't believe this was my first ever read of his - I guess you've got to start somewhere though.

This book was so brutal so I'd recommend to mature readers only because it contains a lot of torture, killing and worse.

I kept forgetting who was who though, because there's so many characters; the main character though is very likeable.

If you're into psychological crime thrillers that are full of suspense, gore and keep you guessing what's going to happen next and Whodunnit...then this is for you! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Torture, and Blood