chazmo1431's review against another edition
3.0
My first thought going into A Book of Bones was, “What’s could be better than a new Charlie Parker thriller? A big fat, looooong Charlie Parker thriller.” Following hot on the heels of this thought, came the old adage of being careful what you wish for.
If you have read any of the Charlie Parker novels then you will be familiar with Louis and Angel and the way the author melds the supernatural (with excellent research) with the thriller aspect of the story and - guess this is my one critique - it was way to heavy on the history more so than usual and it made me "skip" a little which I don't like to do. Huge fan and enjoy the verbal sparring and sarcastic descriptions which never fail to put a smile on my face. Charlie Parker doesn't feature much in the book, nor do Louis and Angel, which is my reasoning for the low rating.
If you have read any of the Charlie Parker novels then you will be familiar with Louis and Angel and the way the author melds the supernatural (with excellent research) with the thriller aspect of the story and - guess this is my one critique - it was way to heavy on the history more so than usual and it made me "skip" a little which I don't like to do. Huge fan and enjoy the verbal sparring and sarcastic descriptions which never fail to put a smile on my face. Charlie Parker doesn't feature much in the book, nor do Louis and Angel, which is my reasoning for the low rating.
kirkw1972's review against another edition
4.0
I am not a lover of long books and this, the 17th Charlie Parker story one is one long book so a shout out to me and the author because I didn't skip any of it. This is what is known as a bit of a miracle but I really didn't want to miss any little bit of it.
All the strands of the last few books come together plus we get the history of quite a few religious and spiritual places in England. I managed to learn a lot as well as enjoy a good thriller. A few other reviews say you should read the other books first but I have only read a few of them and had no problems following the plot. For me I found plenty of information to form good ideas on backstory of the various players involved.
It's dark, it's a bit creepy. I loved the fact that throughout a lot of the killers (and there is more than one without giving too much away) are women and no gentle poisoners are these women. They are cold, remorseless killers.
If you can cope with the length (about 700 pages give or take) then this is an excellent book.
All the strands of the last few books come together plus we get the history of quite a few religious and spiritual places in England. I managed to learn a lot as well as enjoy a good thriller. A few other reviews say you should read the other books first but I have only read a few of them and had no problems following the plot. For me I found plenty of information to form good ideas on backstory of the various players involved.
It's dark, it's a bit creepy. I loved the fact that throughout a lot of the killers (and there is more than one without giving too much away) are women and no gentle poisoners are these women. They are cold, remorseless killers.
If you can cope with the length (about 700 pages give or take) then this is an excellent book.
rookfeathers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I went into this 100% blind, and I would never ever have picked up the book based on the cover and description. I was gifted this book, sort of randomly. I did think this was an average cop thriller murder mystery. And then it wasn't.
I really, really like the style this was written in and although the pacing was slow and the book was confusing with no prior context (maybe also because I read it with months of break between bits of the first 300 pages), i eventually got hooked. Not knowing about the occult aspect at all I totally had an "oh, OH" moment when one of those short and sweet chapters about blood hit. Then, it only got wilder and I continued to revel in it. The moments of levity interspersed between packing punches were well-timed and not banal at all.
I like stories that are tangled, and stories that have many conclusions. I also like plots that seem to end in doom and tragedy, but then don't. This book took its time twisting the knife for some of the terrible things happening, but at the same time it ended with a feeling of stepping out into fresh air after a gruelling experience.
I'm not sure if I will pick up more of the Parker books, but even if not, I will remember this one very fondly. Trying to get back into reading a lot as an adult has its moments: I took many pauses looking over a page just to think on the very elaborate and mature way it was written, knowing i would not have appreciated this book as a teenager despite having been well-read (in an alternate universe where my English was good enough before I turned 18, I guess).
Great gift.
I really, really like the style this was written in and although the pacing was slow and the book was confusing with no prior context (maybe also because I read it with months of break between bits of the first 300 pages), i eventually got hooked. Not knowing about the occult aspect at all I totally had an "oh, OH" moment when one of those short and sweet chapters about blood hit. Then, it only got wilder and I continued to revel in it. The moments of levity interspersed between packing punches were well-timed and not banal at all.
I like stories that are tangled, and stories that have many conclusions. I also like plots that seem to end in doom and tragedy, but then don't. This book took its time twisting the knife for some of the terrible things happening, but at the same time it ended with a feeling of stepping out into fresh air after a gruelling experience.
I'm not sure if I will pick up more of the Parker books, but even if not, I will remember this one very fondly. Trying to get back into reading a lot as an adult has its moments: I took many pauses looking over a page just to think on the very elaborate and mature way it was written, knowing i would not have appreciated this book as a teenager despite having been well-read (in an alternate universe where my English was good enough before I turned 18, I guess).
Great gift.
reformed_geek's review against another edition
5.0
There are some Parker books that can be read as standalone novels, but this is a direct sequel to The Woman in the Woods.
I've read all 17 books, some of them more than once so I can't give a totally honest review as I very invested. However, I really enjoyed this entry - more so than Woman in the Woods. It did split the story slightly, with maybe a little less focus on Charlie Park and Co, but I enjoyed the other characters the book introduced, although maybe had there been more "in person" crossover between the two stories it wouldn't have felt quite as disjointed at times - plus I would have liked Heinz to have met Parker.
As always, once the book ends I want more. Both more of the story and more of the characters I've grown so fond of. Already excited to see the next book is penciled in for 2020!
I've read all 17 books, some of them more than once so I can't give a totally honest review as I very invested. However, I really enjoyed this entry - more so than Woman in the Woods. It did split the story slightly, with maybe a little less focus on Charlie Park and Co, but I enjoyed the other characters the book introduced, although maybe had there been more "in person" crossover between the two stories it wouldn't have felt quite as disjointed at times - plus I would have liked Heinz to have met Parker.
As always, once the book ends I want more. Both more of the story and more of the characters I've grown so fond of. Already excited to see the next book is penciled in for 2020!
scottneumann's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
randomreader41's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, this was a good listen/read. But it was too long. Like, I may have liked it more if the book was split or if it could’ve been shorten & got to the point. I liked the narration though. Probably why I kept listening.
fonril's review against another edition
4.0
Another page turner from John Connolly. I think it may be the first time ever I've read all of the previous books before the new one comes out. The 17th book in a series means that each time picking one up is like reuniting with old friends, albeit ones who live in a darker and more disturbing world than we even do now in the age of Covid19.
"He is our best hope.
He is our last hope.
On lonely moor in the northeast of England, the body of a young woman is discovered near the site of a vanished church. In the south, a girl lies buried beneath a Saxon mound. To the southeast, the ruins of a priory hide a human skull.
Each is a sacrifice, a summons.
And something in the darkness has heard the call.
But another is coming: Parker the hunter, the avenger. From the forests of Maine to the deserts of the Mexican border, from the canals of Amsterdam to the streets of London, he will track those who would cast this world into darkness.
Parker fears no evil.
But evil fears him . .
"He is our best hope.
He is our last hope.
On lonely moor in the northeast of England, the body of a young woman is discovered near the site of a vanished church. In the south, a girl lies buried beneath a Saxon mound. To the southeast, the ruins of a priory hide a human skull.
Each is a sacrifice, a summons.
And something in the darkness has heard the call.
But another is coming: Parker the hunter, the avenger. From the forests of Maine to the deserts of the Mexican border, from the canals of Amsterdam to the streets of London, he will track those who would cast this world into darkness.
Parker fears no evil.
But evil fears him . .
perednia's review against another edition
4.0
A tour de force that continues Charlie Parker's ongoing hunt of and pursuit by a creature who craves an atlas that will destroy the world, and his accomplice who reeks of death and kills whenever she has the chance. Recurring and new characters play important roles.
shelflife's review against another edition
4.0
More like 3 1/2
This is my favorite series and it’s been for quite awhile. Book 17 brings all the elements of this particular story arc full circle and leaves you with a good reveal on the very last page!
Why not my usual 5 stars? Well the writing is wonderful as usual and the underlying creep is still settled in between the pages, but the story left Charlie, Louis and Angel our far too long between chapters. They are a huge part of my positive reading experience and although I understand the author needs to explain many elements, it need not have taken so long to get there. Too many external characters that I felt didn’t need to be there. Some parts were just boring.
I feel the overall book was good just not great. I look forward as always to the next book.
This is my favorite series and it’s been for quite awhile. Book 17 brings all the elements of this particular story arc full circle and leaves you with a good reveal on the very last page!
Why not my usual 5 stars? Well the writing is wonderful as usual and the underlying creep is still settled in between the pages, but the story left Charlie, Louis and Angel our far too long between chapters. They are a huge part of my positive reading experience and although I understand the author needs to explain many elements, it need not have taken so long to get there. Too many external characters that I felt didn’t need to be there. Some parts were just boring.
I feel the overall book was good just not great. I look forward as always to the next book.
suburban_ennui's review against another edition
3.0
It feels churlish giving this book a 3 star review when I've given practically every other Charlie Parker / Connolly book 4 stars. It's a great read (in places) and "finishes" one aspect of the Charlie Parker series. But, MY GOD IT'S A LONG BOOK. Unnecessarily long. There are character backstories that go on for pages and pages which merely act as digressions, meaning Parker, Angel and Louis spent vast tracks of this tome totally absent from the central narrative. An enjoyable, but frustrating read.