THE CHILDREN OF EVE

4 stars out of 5

Perhaps what struck me the most about this, the 22nd in the author's Charlie Parker series, is that Charlie clearly isn't a spring chicken anymore. His old injuries still give him fits, and the new ones fit him too close to for comfort.

I'll also say of all the Parker books I've read so far (seven since I started my book blog), this is only the second one to which I'm not giving a 5-star rating. It's hard to explain why, exactly, except that it seemed a little "jumpy" and hard to follow and the subject matter just didn't "grab" me like the others. Still, it's Charlie - and his wonderful friends Louis and Angel, who simply can't appear in the pages often enough to suit me - so I certainly recommend it to others.

It begins as quirky artist Zetta Nadeau asks Charlie to find her missing boyfriend Wyatt Riggins, who took off in a flash. Left behind was his cell phone, on which he'd received a one-word message: Run. Through not a small amount of investigation, Charlie learns that Riggins was somehow involved in the kidnapping of four children that belonged to Mexican cartel leader Blas Urrea. It's not hard to understand why he'd do anything to get them back, except for the fact that his children are alive and well and still with him in Mexico. So who are the missing kids, and why is Urrea so determined to do whatever it takes to get them back?

The questions dogs Charlie throughout the story, but at least one of the obstacles between Charlie and the children is a dangerous man named Eugene Seeley, who's been hired by Urrea to do the dirty work to find and rescue them. And, it appears he's hooked up with an even more evil cohort - an unidentified woman. 

Along the way - as is a common occurrence in other books - Charlie stays "in touch" with his dead daughter Jennifer, and his live daughter Sam, who also "sees" Jennifer from time to time, plays a role as well. In fact, aside from the race to find the missing children, something more sinister is afoot; someone, or some thing, has been trying to find Jennifer and Charlie. Who, or what, is it, what's the reason for the search, and will it be successful? Hmmm, I'll never tell. From this point on, all I'll say is thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read a pre-release copy of this book. Another good one!

The Children of Eve by John Connolly (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, May 2025); 464 pp.)

THE BOOK OF COLD CASES

4 stars out of 5

Stories that go bump in the paranormal night (or even touch upon it) aren't my usual fare, but this one sounded intriguing so I went for it. Now that I'm done, I don't hesitate to recommend it to fans of the genre as well as those like me who normally prefer their thrillers a little less spirited.

In Claire Lake, Oregon, by-day medical receptionist Shea Collins is an after-hours operator of the Book of Cold Cases, a true crime website. Her interest in the topic was prompted by a horrific childhood experience - escaping an attempted abduction that could have proved deadly. When a patient named Elizabeth (Beth) Greer comes into the medical office one day, Shea recognizes her from a much-publicized and never forgotten incident in 1977, when Beth, the beautiful and eccentric daughter of wealthy parents, was charged and subsequently tried for the savage murder of two men. No motive was found - the murders were thought to be random - and ultimately, jurors found her not guilty. Since then, she's led a secluded life in the garish mansion in which she grew up with unloving, always fighting parents - a father who was murdered in cold blood and mother who later died in an accident.

Intrigued but not hopeful for success, Shea contacts Beth to ask for an interview. To her surprise, Beth agrees - allowing Shea to visit her in the family mansion. And therein lies a problem; every time Shea visits, strange things happen; faucets turn on, cupboard doors open and objects move around - kinda cool, I suppose, except that no one but Beth and Shea are in the house at the time. For her part, Beth seems to accept what's going on around her; Shea, though, isn't quite so comfortable.

Still, she refuses to stop investigating, connecting with several people involved in the years-ago case and even Beth's longtime family attorney - most of whom agreed to provide insights and information at Beth's surprising request. Chapters shift from what's happening in the here and now to Beth's and Shea's childhood experiences, all shedding light on what really happened that formed the women they've both become. For the record, neither Shea nor Beth was particularly likable despite their youthful circumstances; only two characters, a police officer and Shea's private investigator, came across as "normal" (for wont of a better word). And while the supernatural elements weren't overly obtrusive, I kept waiting for a plausible explanation that (understandably) never came.

So here's the skinny from my perspective: If you like your thrillers sprinkled with Twilight Zone dust, this one should be right up your alley (hey, if a nonbeliever like me can enjoy it...) And also for the record, I think this would make a great movie or TV series. Whether or not that happens, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. That I failed to finish it by the release date is on me - and for that I apologize profusely.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (Berkley, March 2022); 350 pp.

THE SHADOW HOUSE

4 stars out of 5

My overall impression? This is a perfect read while lounging at a sandy beach sipping an umbrella-topped margarita. Or in a recliner in front of a roaring fire sipping an Irish coffee while snowflakes tickle the windows. My personal scenario was nothing so dramatic, alas, but I made the best of my circumstances and enjoyed it just the same.

Living in Australia, Alex has run away from an abusive husband, taking her kids Ollie, age 14, and Kara, 8 months (by two different fathers). They've landed in what's called an ecovillage - a commune of sorts that's under development outside of Sydney. There, she hopes to find peace, love and safety but not divorce - at least that wasn't mentioned at the outset nor anywhere else in the book that I noticed. Love (or the potential thereof) comes early in the form of project developer Kit - a handsome hunk who's single and immediately wants to strike up a relationship with the beautiful Alex. She's interested, but she's got issues to deal with first - not the least of which is that her son - hardly an angel in his own right - is just plain angry about being dragged away from his home and friends - not for the first time, apparently.

The situation goes from bad to worse; amid rumors of supernatural occurrences experienced by other residents, Alex herself becomes a target. Meanwhile, readers (and Alex) learn about similar incidents half a dozen years ago involving a nearby family that led to the rumors. Alex is understandably upset, but she's also curious - and sets out to get to the truth before someone or something gets to her family. In between, she interacts with some of the locals, mostly with skepticism as to whether they really want her to join the community. Between her suspicions about them, the Twilight Zone goings-on and misgivings about Kit, she waffles over whether she should just pack up her kids and meager belongings and run once again.

With a little help from her friends (she's not sure they're really friends, but at least she trusts them enough to let them babysit), everything comes together in the end. And thankfully, most of that Voodoo-type stuff fell by the wayside fairly early on - for me, a little of that goes a long way unless Stephen King wrote it. What bothered me most, I guess, is that none of the characters is especially likable, and a couple of them seemed to be red herrings - thrown in the mix as nothing more than a diversion. Overall, though, this is an engaging story that held my attention (really!) throughout. And I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review.

The Shadow House by Anna Downes (Minotaur Books, April 2022); 314 pp.

THE NAMELESS ONES

5 stars out of 5

I swear that every time I read a book in the Charlie Parker series - this is the 19th - my jaw drops open early on and doesn't close till I get to the end. The writing is almost mesmerizing - not an easy accomplishment given the complexity of the plots - the detail is mind-boggling and every sentence is precisely crafted. This one, like the others, absolutely blew me away.

It's not like the others, though, in a way some readers may not appreciate: Charlie himself is almost nonexistent, except for a couple of brief phone conversations and equally brief in-person encounters. Front and center this time are Charlie's gay-couple friends Louis and Angel (mostly the former, an accomplished assassin) - actually fine with me because I love both characters. Accompanied and on occasion assisted by Angel, Louis is out for vengeance; in Amsterdam, the patriarch of a family of four - a man who was a close confidante of Louis, have been tortured and killed (the other three in the family, a young man and two women, for no apparent reason other than to make a statement). The two main killers are brothers and Serbian war criminals who hope to return to their native soil.

Louis, of course, has other ideas, but executing them (pun intended) proves more than a little challenging. In fact, he's gunning for five Serbian criminals; little does he know there's a sixth out there gunning for him. There's a lengthy cast of characters, all with names unfamiliar to me from countries even less familiar, but it all begins to make sense in fairly short order. There's even a supernatural element involving two young girls - a one who consorts with the brothers and seems to be in a sort of dead-but-still-living state similar to Charlie's late daughter Jennifer, who also makes a few appearances. 

I was on the edge of my seat with every finger crossed except the one swiping the pages of my Kindle throughout as Louis plans his assassination strategies - often working with people he's forced to trust even though it's a pretty sure bet they're untrustworthy. One of the planned encounters resulted in one of my favorite lines from the book, coming as Louis waited for one of his targets in a hotel lobby: "He found a bench, removed a book from his pocket and commenced not reading it."

In addition to the otherworldly elements, I will note that there's an abundance of grisly murders (for the benefit of those who aren't much into blood and guts stuff). The ending, while satisfying, leaves the door open to some intrigue I predict will show up in the next book. I'm up for it - bring it on!

The Nameless Ones by John Connolly (Atria/Emily Bestler Books (October 2021); 428 pp.

A BOOK OF BONES

4 stars out of 5

Up front and personal opinion: This is a tough book to read - even for series fans like me. First, it's long (just shy of 700 pages); second, it draws from past books so heavily that, unless you've read and remembered all those that preceded it, you're likely to be at least a little bit lost. Although this one picks up on loose ends from 2018's series entry "The Woman in the Woods" (which, fortunately, I've read) and private detective Charlie Parker's search for a very nasty character named Quayle and potentially even nastier female partner Pallida Mors, it extends backward to other books which, unfortunately, I have not.

To be sure, I had trouble following the story early on, actually considering calling it quits at a couple of points. But honestly, great writing won out; the author is so skillful that even if I didn't always "get" where some of the extensive historical background came from, I was able to enjoy the story in the moment even if many of those moments took place a very long time in the past. The series does touch heavily on otherworldly things; Charlie himself has experienced death three times, always (so far) returning to the land of the living but with an even greater understanding of the dark supernatural that exists to threaten the hearts of man. And therein lies another issue for me: for the most part, Charlie's presence here is notable by his absence. Other familiar characters like his close friends Louis and Angel play major roles, but it's Charlie who most fascinates me - and I just didn't get enough of him here. 

Still, the intricacy of the story here is nothing short of amazing - much as I always say after finishing a Stephen King novel, I simply cannot imagine a mind capable of concocting such complex and intriguing plots. As this one begins, Parker is continuing his quest for Quayle, who in turn is questing for pages that are missing from an ancient "atlas" that allegedly has supernatural powers; it can, for instance, alter itself at will. Bringing all the pages together, it seems, could alter the course of history - and definitely not the the better.

Murders also are the order of the day, most related to locations of ancient religious cults. Figuring out if, and how, they all tie together won't be an easy task, but failure to do so could condemn the world to unimaginable evil. Needless to say, I'm not about to explain more other than it's a wild ride to the finish. Many thanks once again to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.

A Book of Bones by John Connolly (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, October 2019); 683 pp.

THE OUTSIDER

5 stars out of 5


As a somewhat prolific reader/reviewer of books - the bulk of which are advance copies provided by generous publishers - it's hard to find time for books I simply want to read (especially when they're as long as this one). That said, a handful of big-time and favorite authors get to skip to the head of the line, in large part because I know I won't be disappointed.

And I certainly wasn't with this one. Oh, I won't call this the best of Mr. King's works, although in all honesty, they're all so good I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. Still, I moved heaven and earth to get to the end (well, more like rearranged dinner and bedtimes) not because I had a stack of other books to get to, but because it was so engrossing I just hated to put it down. The first third, give or take a few pages, was a bit traumatizing and the next third was mesmerizing. The last part - where the story begins to shift into otherworldly gear - was a little less appealing to a logical thinker like me; but then what would a Stephen King novel be if it doesn't challenge credibility?

 Basically, the story begins with the almost unthinkably vicious murder of a young boy; rock-solid evidence leads to the  arrest of a popular Oklahoma teacher and coach. Problem is, said coach has irrefutable evidence that he was elsewhere at the time of the murder. So now what?

Plenty of what, as it turns out, including ties to the similar murders of twin girls from Dayton, Ohio (actually, from nearby Trotwood - of special interest to me since I grew up not far from there and my late father worked for many years as a tool-and-die engineer at Trotwood Trailers). From this point on, I can't reveal much else except to say the rest of the book deals with the fallout and follow-up from that Oklahoma teacher's arrest and that those who read and enjoyed the author's Mr. Mercedes trilogy (like me!) will be happy to see one of the characters make a return appearance here.

The verdict? Well done once again, Mr. King - and when your next book comes out, no matter how many others are waiting for me to sample, you get dibs on passing them up.

The Outsider by Stephen King (Scribner, May 2018); 577 pp.

GAME OF GHOSTS

5 stars out of 5

By and large, paranormal, supernatural "stuff" just isn't my thing (with nods to the late Rod Serling's Twilight Zone and nobody-does-it-better Stephen King). But there's just something about P.I. Charlie Parker - the lead character here who actually died three times and now has a special connection to (or at least understanding of) otherworldly beings - that I just can't resist. And like the previous installments I've read, this one certainly didn't disappoint.

The appearance of characters from past books like Parker's faithful sidekicks Angel and Louis, his estranged wife Rachel and their daughter Samantha (the latter of whom shares her father's paranormal insights plus has a few notable ones of her own) makes this one extra-special for faithful readers, but there's more than enough background provided for newbies to follow along quite nicely. That said, I'm glad I read a few from the past, but that's just because they're all so doggoned enjoyable.

This one begins in Portland, Maine, on Feb. 1 and the onslaught of winter. Parker, still battered and torn from his many previous injuries, gets called in by the FBI's Edgar Ross, for whom Parker somewhat reluctantly works off and on. For an unexplained reason, Ross wants to find a missing private detective named Jaycob Eklund, who works with the FBI in a fashion similar to Parker. Eklund, it seems, has been sniffing around a series of homicides and disappearances, all of which took place amid hauntings of some kind. 

The trail leads Parker in and out of a shadowy world that includes a secret group known as The Brethren and their "enforcer," a criminal empire led by a woman called Mother and poignant exchanges between Parker's close friends Angel and Louis. In the midst of all this, Parker must deal with Rachel's insistence on keeping their young daughter safe at all costs - even if that means away from her loving father whose life is mostly spent in a danger zone not known by "regular" human beings. The ending is satisfying and complete, although a few threads are left that no doubt will be woven into the next book. Can't wait!

A Game of Ghosts by John Connolly (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, July 2017); 465 pp.

THE GOLEM OF HOLLYWOOD

4 stars out of 5

This is a book I've had access to since shortly after it was released, but I kept moving it down a notch or two on my to-read list for several reasons. First, it exceeds 500 pages, and anything much over 400 - unless perhaps it's by Stephen King - is daunting enough that I tend to think twice before opening. Second, I'm a huge fan of the writings of Jonathan Kellerman and his wife, Faye; their son Jesse, not so much. And last but hardly least, the reviews for the most part are bloody awful (at the time of this writing, the average from 485 customers was a pitiful 2-1/2 stars).


Still, every time I saw the title lurking on my Kindle I said to myself, "self, one of these days, you really should give it a go." That day finally came a few days before Christmas, when - quite honestly - I wanted to start a book, but not one that was too engrossing to put down when all the greeting, cooking and gift-wrapping tasks of the holidays called my name. 

Well, guess what? At first blush - and half a dozen nonstop chapters later - I decided that maybe, just maybe, those naysayers got it wrong (love when that happens). As I approached the halfway point - now cursing the fact that holiday demands forced me to stop reading when I don't want to - I had reached the "What were they thinking" mindset when I recalled all those nasty reviews.

That said, I get the objections. This is nothing like the usual Kellerman fare (none of the three), even though it involves a Los Angeles detective who is the son of a rabbi. He's working a case, yes, but it quickly evolves into a thriller mixed with Jewish history and a heap of the supernatural. The chapters switch from the present and the detective's investigation to the land of Cain and Abel. While some have called that difficult, I didn't mind a bit. In the first place, it's easy to tell the "old" characters and settings from the new; in the latter, the present-day chapters are numbered while the former are names of people and places.

Moving in and out this way also is necessary for the progression of the story - and the resolution of everything as the ending nears. It's also important to understand the meaning of the title (yes, I looked it up before I started the book; I'd heard the term before, but I had no idea what it meant). A golem, according to several sources including the dictionary, comes from Jewish legend/Hebrew folklore and describes a clay figure that's endowed with life. Golems began as servants but later came to be thought of as protectors of the Jews in times of persecution.

One such legend is of the Golem of Prague, a creature fashioned in the 1500s by a rabbi who wanted to protect his congregation. The figure has lain dormant in an old synagogue since then - until now. And when Detective Jacob Lev begins his investigation of an unidentified head found in a remote house with the Hebrew word for justice burned into the kitchen counter, he sets off on the adventure of a lifetime - a lifetime that connects with his own in both satisfying and frightening ways.

Because of the mythical aspect, I certainly understand that this book won't be everyone's cup of tea. But now that I've finished it, I totally agree with Stephen King's assessment that it is a "rare collaboration where the sum is truly greater than the parts." I also agree with one reviewer who simply deemed it "weird." It's definitely out of the ordinary - but also, IMHO, well worth reading.

The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman (Putnam Adult, September 2014); 552 pp.