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Charlie Parker #22
The Children of Eve
The “consistently high-quality” (Booklist) Charlie Parker series continues with a white-knuckled new thriller from New York Times bestselling author John Connolly.
Wyatt Riggins, the boyfriend of rising Maine artist Zetta Nadeau, has gone missing, leaving behind a cell phone containing a single-word RUN. Private investigator Charlie Parker is hired to find out why Riggins has fled, and from whom.
Parker discovers that Riggins, an ex-soldier, has been involved in the abduction of four children from Mexico: three girls and a boy, all belonging to the cartel boss Blás Urrea—except Urrea’s family is safe and well in Mexico, which means the abductees cannot be his children. Yet whoever they are, Urrea wants them back, and has dispatched his agents to secure them, even if it means butchering everyone who stands in their way.
One of those agents is Eugene Seeley, a clever, ruthless solver of other men’s problems. The other is an unknown woman.
Every child has a mother. Now Charlie Parker will face one unlike any other, and learn the terrifying truth about the Children of Eve.
Wyatt Riggins, the boyfriend of rising Maine artist Zetta Nadeau, has gone missing, leaving behind a cell phone containing a single-word RUN. Private investigator Charlie Parker is hired to find out why Riggins has fled, and from whom.
Parker discovers that Riggins, an ex-soldier, has been involved in the abduction of four children from Mexico: three girls and a boy, all belonging to the cartel boss Blás Urrea—except Urrea’s family is safe and well in Mexico, which means the abductees cannot be his children. Yet whoever they are, Urrea wants them back, and has dispatched his agents to secure them, even if it means butchering everyone who stands in their way.
One of those agents is Eugene Seeley, a clever, ruthless solver of other men’s problems. The other is an unknown woman.
Every child has a mother. Now Charlie Parker will face one unlike any other, and learn the terrifying truth about the Children of Eve.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2025
896 people are currently reading
8026 people want to read
About the author
John Connolly
219 books8,006 followersJohn Connolly was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1968 and has, at various points in his life, worked as a journalist, a barman, a local government official, a waiter and a dogsbody at Harrods department store in London. He studied English in Trinity College, Dublin and journalism at Dublin City University, subsequently spending five years working as a freelance journalist for The Irish Times newspaper, to which he continues to contribute.
He is based in Dublin but divides his time between his native city and the United States.
This page is administered by John's assistant, Clair, on John's behalf. If you'd like to communicate with John directly, you can do so by writing to contact-at-johnconnollybooks.com, or by following him on Twitter at @JConnollyBooks.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
He is based in Dublin but divides his time between his native city and the United States.
This page is administered by John's assistant, Clair, on John's behalf. If you'd like to communicate with John directly, you can do so by writing to contact-at-johnconnollybooks.com, or by following him on Twitter at @JConnollyBooks.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
May 26, 2025
These are the voyages of Charlie Parker to boldly go were few have gone before.....
this New novel is a somewhat Parker light tale, everybody from the series is around and do their part but the story is not about them.
Some people have stolen 4 children from a Mexican cartel as payback for certain actions. They now find out that was not a smart move because Wrath has no fury but a woman scorned.
Jennifer Parker has her own troubles as in angels who are interested into her continuing guarding her father.
Charlie Parker has taken on the job of finding a boyfriend who received a text message that simply said "run". And Charlie is not known to stop looking....
Sam Parker confesses to her dad that she wants to Walk the same path as her father, something her mother is not keen on.
When the book ends you know this has been the calm before the storm, and you are definately on board for the next installment.
A splendid addition to a great series that keeps delivering the goods. The story is a bit of a potboiler and takes its time telling the story leaving you wanting more.
This book is not for a first time reader, you lucky soul get to experience a story told in more than 20 books before coming to this one. So start at the beginning as this one is for the Charlie Parker fans who kept up their annual emptying of their wallet or tormenting of the employees of their local libery.
Now lets hope Connolly does not do a Butcher in which hé leaves his fans dangling for a unwanted long time before continuing the adventures of his hero Harry Dresden. I hope Charlie Parker will be faster with us again.
this New novel is a somewhat Parker light tale, everybody from the series is around and do their part but the story is not about them.
Some people have stolen 4 children from a Mexican cartel as payback for certain actions. They now find out that was not a smart move because Wrath has no fury but a woman scorned.
Jennifer Parker has her own troubles as in angels who are interested into her continuing guarding her father.
Charlie Parker has taken on the job of finding a boyfriend who received a text message that simply said "run". And Charlie is not known to stop looking....
Sam Parker confesses to her dad that she wants to Walk the same path as her father, something her mother is not keen on.
When the book ends you know this has been the calm before the storm, and you are definately on board for the next installment.
A splendid addition to a great series that keeps delivering the goods. The story is a bit of a potboiler and takes its time telling the story leaving you wanting more.
This book is not for a first time reader, you lucky soul get to experience a story told in more than 20 books before coming to this one. So start at the beginning as this one is for the Charlie Parker fans who kept up their annual emptying of their wallet or tormenting of the employees of their local libery.
Now lets hope Connolly does not do a Butcher in which hé leaves his fans dangling for a unwanted long time before continuing the adventures of his hero Harry Dresden. I hope Charlie Parker will be faster with us again.
April 6, 2025
Charlie Parker is back and as usual, he is pulled into quite the mess in this book. Slow to start but strong to finish, The Children of Eve involves missing children, a missing man, and devious and dangerous people. The books in the Charlie Parker series always have great mysteries, plenty of action, and a supernatural element. I love how Charlie Parker's long dead daughter Jennifer always comes into play in the books. I love seeing her and her watchful eye and interactions with Charlie and other supernatural elements. Fans of the series will be happy to see Angel and Louis make appearances as well. This book finds Charlie Parker smack dab in the middle of a whole lot of trouble when he is hired by a woman to find her missing boyfriend. Her boyfriend who got tangled up in a HUGE mess.
As I mentioned this book started on the slower side and I was worried that this might be one of the first books in the Charlie Parker series that I won’t enjoy. But he pace did pick up and this book became more and more enjoyable and intense as the subplots began to merge and things became more dicey and more mysterious. So, who are "The Children of Eve"? One will need to read this book to find out! The Children of Eve has many chilling, intense, gripping, and interesting parts. There are also some parts where readers will notice that Charlie is not as young as he used to be, and things hurt a little more than they once did.
But what doesn't get old, is the characters, their relationships, their banter, their love, and their teamwork. I love seeing them together, how they solve their unique cases, and how the depths of their love and courage shine through. As with the previous books in the series, The Children of Eve is wonderfully written, brimming with tension, atmosphere, twists, revelations, the supernatural, and dread.
Be sure to read the author's note to learn what trip he took inspired him to write this storyline.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
As I mentioned this book started on the slower side and I was worried that this might be one of the first books in the Charlie Parker series that I won’t enjoy. But he pace did pick up and this book became more and more enjoyable and intense as the subplots began to merge and things became more dicey and more mysterious. So, who are "The Children of Eve"? One will need to read this book to find out! The Children of Eve has many chilling, intense, gripping, and interesting parts. There are also some parts where readers will notice that Charlie is not as young as he used to be, and things hurt a little more than they once did.
But what doesn't get old, is the characters, their relationships, their banter, their love, and their teamwork. I love seeing them together, how they solve their unique cases, and how the depths of their love and courage shine through. As with the previous books in the series, The Children of Eve is wonderfully written, brimming with tension, atmosphere, twists, revelations, the supernatural, and dread.
Be sure to read the author's note to learn what trip he took inspired him to write this storyline.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
May 31, 2025
I look forward to the arrival of every new Charlie Parker novel and so far I have never been disappointed. In The Children of Eve we have an intriguing mystery about four missing children which turns into so much more.
Charlie himself is not always front and centre in the story which focuses much of the time on developing the bad guys and what they are all about. Charlie investigates and manages to end up in hospital where there is a very amusing scene between him, Louis, Angel and the nursing staff. Connolly writes the best humorous dialogue!
He also writes excellent spooky stuff and Jennifer appears quite frequently. The end suggests she is about to deal with something bad, leaving us in suspense and meaning I have to hold my breath until the next book. A very easy and well deserved five stars!
Charlie himself is not always front and centre in the story which focuses much of the time on developing the bad guys and what they are all about. Charlie investigates and manages to end up in hospital where there is a very amusing scene between him, Louis, Angel and the nursing staff. Connolly writes the best humorous dialogue!
He also writes excellent spooky stuff and Jennifer appears quite frequently. The end suggests she is about to deal with something bad, leaving us in suspense and meaning I have to hold my breath until the next book. A very easy and well deserved five stars!
April 25, 2025
The Children of Eve marks the twenty-second entry in John Connolly's Charlie Parker series. I've found myself wondering, in the past, when this series might start losing steam, even as I celebrated the release of each new entry and consistently found myself psyched to be granted early access to read the latest book thanks to the fine folks at Atria/Emily Bestler Books. I've read plenty of other series that fizzled out well ahead of hitting double-digits, let alone surpassing two decades of surprisingly consistent derring-do.
I'm not ready to count Charlie Parker and author Connolly down and out just yet, but there is a faint air of tiredness surrounding this endeavor. Parker, after all, is now in his fifties and the accumulation of so many wounds over the course of his PI career have left a lasting mark. He wakes up in pain most days, and his sleep is oftentimes troubled. As one character remarks, he's been at death's door so often, Death has left a key under the mat for him. He's slower, creakier, achier.
For a book that is ostensibly about the abduction of a Mexican cartel leader's children, The Children of Eve feels all the duller. It doesn't help terribly much that Parker only makes brief appearances in this installment, with the focus centering more on the cartel's killers, the bookish Seeley, and an unnamed woman with a penchant for carving out the hearts of her victims. Both pale in comparison to earlier villains like Pudd, The Collector, the cult of Prosperous or The Cut.
Coming in at over 460 pages, there's an awful lot to keep track of between the shifting points of view, the various targets and killers, the minor footnote that is Parker's investigation into a local artist's missing boyfriend and how that connects to everything else, but there's no real sense of momentum or focus to it all.
The Children of Eve feels like an interstitial segue between Parker's overarching mythology, a book that Connolly had to write in order to bridge what's come before with what comes next. He drops plenty of hints about what's to come, particularly between Parker and his daughters, Sam and Jennifer, one living and one deceased, that posits a truly compelling triangle between the living, the dead, and what lies in between and ever after. The downside, of course, is that teasing us with all these elements that are ostensibly better than the surrounding material is a vicious bit of cockteasing. Clearly, Connolly is saving all the good stuff for a later book, and it's frustrating he couldn't find much else of equal interest to insert here.
As an avid fan of this series, I don't believe there's such as a thing a "bad" Charlie Parker book, but there are certainly lower-tier entries. This is one of them, but Connolly dangles just enough hooks in the water to bait you in for the next one.
I'm not ready to count Charlie Parker and author Connolly down and out just yet, but there is a faint air of tiredness surrounding this endeavor. Parker, after all, is now in his fifties and the accumulation of so many wounds over the course of his PI career have left a lasting mark. He wakes up in pain most days, and his sleep is oftentimes troubled. As one character remarks, he's been at death's door so often, Death has left a key under the mat for him. He's slower, creakier, achier.
For a book that is ostensibly about the abduction of a Mexican cartel leader's children, The Children of Eve feels all the duller. It doesn't help terribly much that Parker only makes brief appearances in this installment, with the focus centering more on the cartel's killers, the bookish Seeley, and an unnamed woman with a penchant for carving out the hearts of her victims. Both pale in comparison to earlier villains like Pudd, The Collector, the cult of Prosperous or The Cut.
Coming in at over 460 pages, there's an awful lot to keep track of between the shifting points of view, the various targets and killers, the minor footnote that is Parker's investigation into a local artist's missing boyfriend and how that connects to everything else, but there's no real sense of momentum or focus to it all.
The Children of Eve feels like an interstitial segue between Parker's overarching mythology, a book that Connolly had to write in order to bridge what's come before with what comes next. He drops plenty of hints about what's to come, particularly between Parker and his daughters, Sam and Jennifer, one living and one deceased, that posits a truly compelling triangle between the living, the dead, and what lies in between and ever after. The downside, of course, is that teasing us with all these elements that are ostensibly better than the surrounding material is a vicious bit of cockteasing. Clearly, Connolly is saving all the good stuff for a later book, and it's frustrating he couldn't find much else of equal interest to insert here.
As an avid fan of this series, I don't believe there's such as a thing a "bad" Charlie Parker book, but there are certainly lower-tier entries. This is one of them, but Connolly dangles just enough hooks in the water to bait you in for the next one.
Read
January 15, 20263.5 stars
In this 22nd book in the 'Charlie Parker' series, the Maine private investigator searches for a missing man. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is a bonus.
PI Charlie Parker has a connection to the supernatural world, including his daughter Jennifer, who died as a child. Ghostly Jennifer feels compelled to protect her father, and refuses to go on to the afterlife despite the exhortations of other spirits.
In this book Jennifer visits Charlie while he's asleep, to alert him of inchoate danger. This may have something to do with the fact that Jennifer hears children calling, "the same words repeated like an incantation or a summoning, howling like animals desperate to be found." Jennifer's forecasting is prescient, as Charlie soon discovers.
After attending the sculpture exhibit of his acquaintance Zetta Nadeau, Parker agrees to look for Zetta's missing boyfriend.
Zetta's vanished beau, Wyatt Riggins, is a former military man who's been working in a local marijuana dispensary called BrightBlown. Riggins left without saying goodbye or taking his belongings, but his cell phone - found in a coffee shop - has a text message reading RUN.
Parker discovers that Riggins disappearance is connected with the abduction of four children from the compound of Blas Urrea, a Mexican cartel kingpin.
Urrea wants the children back, and he sends two ruthless killers - Eugene Seeley and La Señora - to retrieve the stolen youngsters.
The kidnapping was a complicated affair involving a chain of people, and Seeley and La Señora start with the first miscreant in Mexico. They torture the man for information, then rip out his heart and move on to the next culprit. The string of perpetrators eventually leads Seeley and La Señora to Maine, where a loose conglomeration of criminals and drug distributors have the children.
The American malefactors include a ruthless family called the Dolfes;
Devin Vaughn and his advisor Aldo Bern, who run the BrightBlown dispensary as well as a widespread criminal enterprise;
and an older couple called the Swishers.
Most of the novel follows two threads: the bloody mission of Seeley and La Señora to find the stolen children; and the attempts of the Maine criminals to protect themselves and neutralize the killers. Parker is tangentially involved because he's looking for Wyatt Riggins, who's hiding from Seeley and La Señora.
Along the way Charlie gets beat up and hospitalized, and he receives help from his usual posse: Angel and Louis - two tough birds who like nothing better than killing bad guys;
and Paulie and Tony Fauci - a couple of bruisers who are good at surveillance AND the rough stuff.
This book isn't among the best in the Charlie Parker series, partly because Parker is only marginally involved in the main plot, and - though there are supernatural elements in the story - most of them don't involve Charlie.
On the upside, Parker - who was a loner - is now in a relationship with police detective Sharon Macy;
and Charlie gets a visit from his college-bound daughter Sam, who confides she wants to be a PI like Charlie.
This is one of those mystery series in which the protagonists age over time, and Parker's body is starting to show the effects of repeatedly getting bruised and shot over the years. Fingers crossed that Charlie carries on for a while longer.
I'd recommend the book to fans of the series. For other mystery aficionados, I'd suggest starting with an earlier Charlie Parker novel.
Thanks to Netgalley, John Connolly, and Atria for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
May 18, 2025
This book has antiquity smugglers, drug dealers,stolen children and hired killers. There is a lot of jumping around among these groups. Sometimes the transition from one group/locale to another takes a little mental adjustment. But I still love Parker and the author’s writing style. The dialogue is really terrific. Actually, Parker is missing from large chunks of the book while the evil doers take center stage, and Parker’s colleagues make only a brief appearance. The missing children are definitely the creepiest part of the story. I did not see that coming. The ending of the book suggests that something dark is in store for Parker’s dead daughter.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
July 1, 2025
I have all the Charlie Parker books and this is the latest. I used to put them away to savour later as the gap between a new publication made me pine. But recently just read them as they arrive and then moan that I have to wait for another.
This one has Charlie older and still carrying the injuries and scars from earlier outings. Since the first book and the murders of his wife and daughter he continues as a PI in Maine after leaving the police. His meetings with his dead daughter are less and he enjoys the company of his living daughter. Jennifer, his dead daughter, is watching over him and the book leads to an assumption of a forthcoming confrontation with ‘someone’ likely in the next book.
The story centres on the abduction of four children from a Mexican cartel chief and the subsequent carnage as he sends a fixer and a ‘woman’ after them. The story builds slowly as Connolly layers on the interweaving characters but soon picks up pace. Charlie Parker’s banter is sublime. I have previously described these books as Dennis Wheatley meets Sam Spade. Angel and Louis are also there. But Charlie, Angel and Louis are all on the periphery of this story. Focusing more on those associated with the abduction and the hunters.
Connolly in his acknowledgments at the end tells where the story idea came from. I look forward to the next book. I also urge any who have not read this author to look out ‘Every Dead Thing.’ I leave you with an example of the banter:
‘Nice suit,’ said Louis, fingering Moxie’s lapel. ‘I like the shine. It’s hard to get the blend right so the natural fibres don’t overwhelm the nylon.’
This one has Charlie older and still carrying the injuries and scars from earlier outings. Since the first book and the murders of his wife and daughter he continues as a PI in Maine after leaving the police. His meetings with his dead daughter are less and he enjoys the company of his living daughter. Jennifer, his dead daughter, is watching over him and the book leads to an assumption of a forthcoming confrontation with ‘someone’ likely in the next book.
The story centres on the abduction of four children from a Mexican cartel chief and the subsequent carnage as he sends a fixer and a ‘woman’ after them. The story builds slowly as Connolly layers on the interweaving characters but soon picks up pace. Charlie Parker’s banter is sublime. I have previously described these books as Dennis Wheatley meets Sam Spade. Angel and Louis are also there. But Charlie, Angel and Louis are all on the periphery of this story. Focusing more on those associated with the abduction and the hunters.
Connolly in his acknowledgments at the end tells where the story idea came from. I look forward to the next book. I also urge any who have not read this author to look out ‘Every Dead Thing.’ I leave you with an example of the banter:
‘Nice suit,’ said Louis, fingering Moxie’s lapel. ‘I like the shine. It’s hard to get the blend right so the natural fibres don’t overwhelm the nylon.’
June 12, 2025
It's always exciting when a new Charlie Parker book comes out and this time was no different.
Charlie is hired by the girlfriend of a mysterious man, Wyatt Riggins. Riggins, a former soldier, has recently aided in the abduction of 4 children from Mexico. Problem being those children belonged to a Mexican cartel boss, and everyone knows that's not a good thing. The boss dispatches two people to get the children back. One is a wily man and the other is...well, you'll have to read this to find out!
I've been following this series from nearly the very beginning and I'm always happy to visit with Charlie, Angel, Louis and even the Fulci brothers. I know it sounds silly, but I worry about them, even when I'm not reading a book they're in. They are real to me and I have an affinity for them. This series has gone on for so long I can't help but feel that things are going to wind up soon and each new book brings more trepidation on my part.
This time around these main characters spend most of their time off screen while the story focuses on the abducted children and the people surrounding them. That was ok because John Connolly writes like no one else. However, I felt this tale could have been trimmed a bit with no ill effects. We did get a peek at both of Charlie's daughters and that was an...interesting twist. One I look forward to hearing more about in future books.
While I wish we had seen more of Charlie and his crew, this was still an excellent read. John Connolly always delivers and once again, I am left looking forward to the next Charlie Parker book!
Recommended!
*ARC from publisher
Charlie is hired by the girlfriend of a mysterious man, Wyatt Riggins. Riggins, a former soldier, has recently aided in the abduction of 4 children from Mexico. Problem being those children belonged to a Mexican cartel boss, and everyone knows that's not a good thing. The boss dispatches two people to get the children back. One is a wily man and the other is...well, you'll have to read this to find out!
I've been following this series from nearly the very beginning and I'm always happy to visit with Charlie, Angel, Louis and even the Fulci brothers. I know it sounds silly, but I worry about them, even when I'm not reading a book they're in. They are real to me and I have an affinity for them. This series has gone on for so long I can't help but feel that things are going to wind up soon and each new book brings more trepidation on my part.
This time around these main characters spend most of their time off screen while the story focuses on the abducted children and the people surrounding them. That was ok because John Connolly writes like no one else. However, I felt this tale could have been trimmed a bit with no ill effects. We did get a peek at both of Charlie's daughters and that was an...interesting twist. One I look forward to hearing more about in future books.
While I wish we had seen more of Charlie and his crew, this was still an excellent read. John Connolly always delivers and once again, I am left looking forward to the next Charlie Parker book!
Recommended!
*ARC from publisher
July 14, 2025
I don't know guys. I love Charlie Parker but this was just not that great. It's definitely not in my top five of this series. This is even more filler (why is Parker so important---the world will never know) and the main plot is just very unsatisfying. I just felt like there were too many holes and not enough people for me care about outside of Charlie, Louis, and Angel. We do get more of Charlie and his daughter Sam which I appreciated. I wonder if any other readers gets the idea that there may be a spin-off soon to Charlie Parker? I was getting those vibes.
"The Children of Eve" follows Charlie after he is hired by an artist he knows to track down her boyfriend who just bounced out of town without a letter, text, or email left behind. Charlie being Charlie, he starts to figure out that the guy may be in deep with some pretty bad people. Even though he is called off the investigation, he insists on still finding out what the guy was involved with and when he finds out children may be part of this mystery, he is determined to do whatever it takes to find them.
Since this is a hardcover, I can't estimate how much of the book was really about Charlie and the ongoing mystery with him, but not a lot it felt like. We spent a good portion of the book with Jennifer (Charlie's other daughter) in the place she has been for several books now. We get some additional context about this place, other people there, and what walks there, but I just didn't feel satisfied with that. I really wish that Connolly would just reveal all and quit dangling threads that go nowhere. Maybe I am annoyed because we even had a book getting into Charlie's birth, his mother, etc. and that went nowhere. At this point, I am getting some "The Rise of Skywalker" nonsense feelings and I just want to read a great book that involves mystery, horror, fantasy, and magical realism without me doing some crazed wall map of connections with red thread running around the whole thing.
The plot such as it was, drags down the whole book. I didn't care what was happening to the bad guys, who or what the senora was, etc. I guessed, was correct, and just didn't even understand the purpose of the main plot. It was all over the place. I mean I did applaud Connolly for talking crap about crypto because come on people, but everything else was too much. Too many side characters, too much murder, too much info spewing, etc. I just feel like Charlie is not central to these books anymore and that makes me sad.
The setting of Maine continues to be a dark place with ghosts. The action moves around to Mexico, Virginia, and I think I am forgetting some locations.
The ending though, I just want the mystery revealed or never brought up again. It's been several books now hinting at something bigger for Charlie. If Connolly doesn't reveal it soon, I can't see it mattering much to readers. But, I am officially over it at this point. I don't really care what it is since I doubt whatever Connolly reveals is going to trump what's in my head or used to be in my head about Charlie anyway.
Would suggest reading to keep up with Charlie and the gang, but for me, wish I had just borrowed via the library. I don't think it was worth the money I paid for it.
"The Children of Eve" follows Charlie after he is hired by an artist he knows to track down her boyfriend who just bounced out of town without a letter, text, or email left behind. Charlie being Charlie, he starts to figure out that the guy may be in deep with some pretty bad people. Even though he is called off the investigation, he insists on still finding out what the guy was involved with and when he finds out children may be part of this mystery, he is determined to do whatever it takes to find them.
Since this is a hardcover, I can't estimate how much of the book was really about Charlie and the ongoing mystery with him, but not a lot it felt like. We spent a good portion of the book with Jennifer (Charlie's other daughter) in the place she has been for several books now. We get some additional context about this place, other people there, and what walks there, but I just didn't feel satisfied with that. I really wish that Connolly would just reveal all and quit dangling threads that go nowhere. Maybe I am annoyed because we even had a book getting into Charlie's birth, his mother, etc. and that went nowhere. At this point, I am getting some "The Rise of Skywalker" nonsense feelings and I just want to read a great book that involves mystery, horror, fantasy, and magical realism without me doing some crazed wall map of connections with red thread running around the whole thing.
The plot such as it was, drags down the whole book. I didn't care what was happening to the bad guys, who or what the senora was, etc. I guessed, was correct, and just didn't even understand the purpose of the main plot. It was all over the place. I mean I did applaud Connolly for talking crap about crypto because come on people, but everything else was too much. Too many side characters, too much murder, too much info spewing, etc. I just feel like Charlie is not central to these books anymore and that makes me sad.
The setting of Maine continues to be a dark place with ghosts. The action moves around to Mexico, Virginia, and I think I am forgetting some locations.
The ending though, I just want the mystery revealed or never brought up again. It's been several books now hinting at something bigger for Charlie. If Connolly doesn't reveal it soon, I can't see it mattering much to readers. But, I am officially over it at this point. I don't really care what it is since I doubt whatever Connolly reveals is going to trump what's in my head or used to be in my head about Charlie anyway.
Would suggest reading to keep up with Charlie and the gang, but for me, wish I had just borrowed via the library. I don't think it was worth the money I paid for it.
May 20, 2025
Many centuries ago, in South American countries like Argentina, long before Columbus and his ilk plundered the New World, the Incans ruled. Human sacrifices were occasionally offered to ensure good growing seasons or prevent plagues or maintain a community's prosperity. These sacrifices were sometimes children. The Incan gods often preferred the spirits of the young. They were pure and innocent. The Incan deity of the Underworld, Supay, was a genderless deity that was neither good nor evil. They could dispense riches and gifts to the worthy, but they could dole out torture and death to the unworthy.
Many centuries ago, four children---three girls and one boy---were offered up as sacrifices to Supay in a cave at the top of an Argentinian mountain. Legend has it that the body of a dead woman, possessed by Supay, walked out of the cave with the bodies of the four children and disappeared into the jungles.
Fast forward many centuries: a South American drug lord is in possession of the four children. They are used as a totem of his power. Recently, greed-driven American gringos stole the children and brought them to the United States. They are being held for ransom. The drug lord, however, has no interest in paying a ransom. He has sent two soldiers to hunt down the kidnappers and retrieve the children. One of the soldiers is a very old woman who may not technically be alive...
This is the backstory for John Connolly's horrifying new thriller, "The Children of Eve". Private Detective Charlie Parker takes on a case of a missing boyfriend, and he stumbles awkwardly into the midst of this very weird kidnapping. Otherworldly forces are, of course, par for the course for Parker, but he may not be prepared for this one...
Another supernatural win for Connolly.
Many centuries ago, four children---three girls and one boy---were offered up as sacrifices to Supay in a cave at the top of an Argentinian mountain. Legend has it that the body of a dead woman, possessed by Supay, walked out of the cave with the bodies of the four children and disappeared into the jungles.
Fast forward many centuries: a South American drug lord is in possession of the four children. They are used as a totem of his power. Recently, greed-driven American gringos stole the children and brought them to the United States. They are being held for ransom. The drug lord, however, has no interest in paying a ransom. He has sent two soldiers to hunt down the kidnappers and retrieve the children. One of the soldiers is a very old woman who may not technically be alive...
This is the backstory for John Connolly's horrifying new thriller, "The Children of Eve". Private Detective Charlie Parker takes on a case of a missing boyfriend, and he stumbles awkwardly into the midst of this very weird kidnapping. Otherworldly forces are, of course, par for the course for Parker, but he may not be prepared for this one...
Another supernatural win for Connolly.
May 6, 2025
There is a sense of menace in The Children of Eve. Early on it’s quite ambiguous but lingers even amidst what appear to be routine activities for Charlie Parker, his friends, associates, loved ones and various clients. Charlie is self-admittedly middle aged now, dealing with the daily physical side effects of his rough life. And he appears to have found a steady woman interested in him with Macy. Angel and Luis have their Maine quarters set up too. So all that remains is Parker’s work life, the private investigations.
As this novel begins, Charlie is hired by a local artist to locate the man who has been living with her. He suddenly took off after a phone call, leaving everything behind. The only lead…he works at the local cannabis distributor and is ex-military. Not much to go on. But Charlie begins his persistent pursuit of facts.
Meanwhile, we readers become aware of much larger problems afoot in other parts of the country, of major game players pulling strings, trying to direct plans from Mexico, across the United States. There seems to be a large syndicate involved in drugs of all types, money laundering, and art theft. All of this is being unfolded through a separate narrative thread from Charlie’s This two pronged narrative continues throughout the novel.
Where these growing and ultimately converging threads may meet is the exciting action of The Children of Eve. It’s a different structure from any other Parker novel I’ve read previously, though I haven’t read them all, and I really enjoyed it. The energy level is high throughout: Parker continues with his work in Maine, where his initial problem grows worse, of course, but such details will be avoided here. In another interesting step, both of his daughters, Jennifer (spirit) and Sam, now about to graduate high school, participate in this story. I’m excited to see where they may be seen next.
4.5*
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
As this novel begins, Charlie is hired by a local artist to locate the man who has been living with her. He suddenly took off after a phone call, leaving everything behind. The only lead…he works at the local cannabis distributor and is ex-military. Not much to go on. But Charlie begins his persistent pursuit of facts.
Meanwhile, we readers become aware of much larger problems afoot in other parts of the country, of major game players pulling strings, trying to direct plans from Mexico, across the United States. There seems to be a large syndicate involved in drugs of all types, money laundering, and art theft. All of this is being unfolded through a separate narrative thread from Charlie’s This two pronged narrative continues throughout the novel.
Where these growing and ultimately converging threads may meet is the exciting action of The Children of Eve. It’s a different structure from any other Parker novel I’ve read previously, though I haven’t read them all, and I really enjoyed it. The energy level is high throughout: Parker continues with his work in Maine, where his initial problem grows worse, of course, but such details will be avoided here. In another interesting step, both of his daughters, Jennifer (spirit) and Sam, now about to graduate high school, participate in this story. I’m excited to see where they may be seen next.
4.5*
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This review is my own.
April 25, 2025
PI Charlie Parker is hired by his friend, the artist Zetta Nadeau, to find her boyfriend, Wyatt Riggins, who has abruptly disappeared after getting a text on his phone reading simply 'RUN.' Meanwhile we become aware of a 'fixer' named Seeley who is tracking down men involved in the abduction of four children belonging to a Mexican cartel boss named Blás Urrea. With Seeley is a woman who takes a gruesome trophy from each victim when they are finished with their interrogations.
A supernatural subplot continues with Parker's dead daughter Jennifer in the afterworld where she is determined to wait for her father against the urging of two angels. When she becomes aware of a dark angel amongst them, she seeks to warn her father.
This 22nd book in the series is filled with gruesome and exciting action as Charlie tries to find Wyatt. There's the usual sprinkling of humor provided by his friends Louis and Angel and a brief appearance by the Fulci brothers to lighten things up. A good addition to the series.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
A supernatural subplot continues with Parker's dead daughter Jennifer in the afterworld where she is determined to wait for her father against the urging of two angels. When she becomes aware of a dark angel amongst them, she seeks to warn her father.
This 22nd book in the series is filled with gruesome and exciting action as Charlie tries to find Wyatt. There's the usual sprinkling of humor provided by his friends Louis and Angel and a brief appearance by the Fulci brothers to lighten things up. A good addition to the series.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
May 10, 2025
This series has been a favorite of mine for many years, so I was very excited to finally listen to the audiobook of The Children of Eve. While the narrator did a fantastic job, I found myself struggling to keep track of all the characters, and the middle dragged a bit for me. That said, I was really drawn to Jennifer’s storyline, it added a personal, emotional depth that stuck with me. The ending pulled everything together and left me genuinely excited for what’s next.
May 28, 2025
Every book by John Connolly leaves me speechless. It took me quite long to finish this one because in my current state of mind I'm having trouble to really concentrate and enjoy the characters, the story and above all the beautiful, beautiful language.
I have a special physical shelf for Connolly's books because although I like reading from my tablet, his books are among the ones I want to look at when I'm in my study because even looking at the covers gives me pleasure. Fortunately the print of this paperback is large enough so I can read it well, even with one functioning eye.
Now looking forward to the next one!
I have a special physical shelf for Connolly's books because although I like reading from my tablet, his books are among the ones I want to look at when I'm in my study because even looking at the covers gives me pleasure. Fortunately the print of this paperback is large enough so I can read it well, even with one functioning eye.
Now looking forward to the next one!
February 28, 2025
A masterfully twisty, exceptionally riveting, new novel in John Connolly's out-of-this-world exciting Charlie Parker Mystery Series, THE CHILDREN OF EVE is Book 22. If you are a devotee of this Series, you already know what to expect, BUT: Mr. Connolly surpasses even the so-perfect past entries! If you've not yet encountered "the Charlie Parker Experience," oh! you are in for a TREAT of Surprise and Delight, Fear and Terror, Metaphysical and Psychological and Emotional Thrills! This Series is truly like no other; and I think reading the Series from first entry to Current, in consecutive order, would be truly paradisical.
Release May 6, 2025
Release May 6, 2025
August 1, 2025
The Children of Eve by John Connolly gives new meaning to the old adage, ‘nothing like a woman scorned.’ This was the first time Connolly had been able to really freak me out. I love Connelly because his books are never about a singular idea. He can pull in threads from seemingly unrelated disciplines and weave them into a rich tapestry of mayhem.
Connolly’s writing is top-shelf and he’s up there with very few peers. I came late to his writing and he quickly became one of my favorite authors. I am grateful to Emily Bestler Books for the advanced copy of The Children of Eve via NetGalley.
Connolly’s writing is top-shelf and he’s up there with very few peers. I came late to his writing and he quickly became one of my favorite authors. I am grateful to Emily Bestler Books for the advanced copy of The Children of Eve via NetGalley.
June 30, 2025
“Los mensajeros de la oscuridad” es la novena parte de la saga de Charlie Parker y, de verdad, cada vez lo tengo más claro, Connolly es una bestia escribiendo. No hay otro como él mezclando thriller, cosas sobrenaturales y ese dolor humano que a veces ni se nombra, pero que está ahí, todo el rato.
En este libro, Parker investiga la desaparición de un niño. Parece otro caso triste más, pero en cuanto empiezas a tirar del hilo, la cosa se enreda, se oscurece, y te mete de lleno en una historia que da escalofríos. Hay una madre a la que todos señalan, un padre raro raro, y un montón de secretos que no son solo familiares, sino mucho más turbios.
Lo que más me gusta de Connolly es que no necesita meter mil giros para engancharte. Lo hace con el ambiente, con lo que callan los personajes, con lo que no se dice pero se siente. Me tocó especialmente el personaje de Colleen, la madre. Está tan bien hecha que te enfada, porque es injusto cómo la tratan, pero a la vez es real. Es de esos personajes que te remueven por dentro.
Y Charlie Parker… es que me encanta. No es un superhéroe ni nada parecido, pero tiene algo que lo hace especial, no se rinde, no se calla, y no mira para otro lado. Y sus compis, Louis y Angel, me encantan también. Son ese equilibrio perfecto entre ironía, tensión y “te reviento si hace falta”.
En esta novela vas a encontrar partes oscuras. Hay escenas duras. Pero también hay verdad, hay sensibilidad, y hay una forma de contar las cosas que te atrapa sin hacer ruido. Y mira que no tiene pocas páginas, aún así es de esas novelas que se devoran sin que te des cuenta.
Si ya estás metida en la saga, este libro te va a seguir volando la cabeza. Y si no has empezado con Connolly… pues ya estás tardando. Yo ya no me bajo de este tren.
¿Conoces esta saga?
En este libro, Parker investiga la desaparición de un niño. Parece otro caso triste más, pero en cuanto empiezas a tirar del hilo, la cosa se enreda, se oscurece, y te mete de lleno en una historia que da escalofríos. Hay una madre a la que todos señalan, un padre raro raro, y un montón de secretos que no son solo familiares, sino mucho más turbios.
Lo que más me gusta de Connolly es que no necesita meter mil giros para engancharte. Lo hace con el ambiente, con lo que callan los personajes, con lo que no se dice pero se siente. Me tocó especialmente el personaje de Colleen, la madre. Está tan bien hecha que te enfada, porque es injusto cómo la tratan, pero a la vez es real. Es de esos personajes que te remueven por dentro.
Y Charlie Parker… es que me encanta. No es un superhéroe ni nada parecido, pero tiene algo que lo hace especial, no se rinde, no se calla, y no mira para otro lado. Y sus compis, Louis y Angel, me encantan también. Son ese equilibrio perfecto entre ironía, tensión y “te reviento si hace falta”.
En esta novela vas a encontrar partes oscuras. Hay escenas duras. Pero también hay verdad, hay sensibilidad, y hay una forma de contar las cosas que te atrapa sin hacer ruido. Y mira que no tiene pocas páginas, aún así es de esas novelas que se devoran sin que te des cuenta.
Si ya estás metida en la saga, este libro te va a seguir volando la cabeza. Y si no has empezado con Connolly… pues ya estás tardando. Yo ya no me bajo de este tren.
¿Conoces esta saga?
June 9, 2025
This is exactly why John Connolly is my favorite author. Right from the very first chapter the story grabbed me, and I loved it. Well for the most part.
Wonderful things happened. The return of Louis and Angel, even the Fulci’s make a brief appearance. Charlie’s involvement in the story is a little less than I would have liked but let’s face it he’s getting old, and his body has taken a lot of abuse over 22 books. Honestly Louis and Angel didn’t really do much more than show up in the story now and then.
But hold on, best of all, Jennifer and Sam are with us once again. With them the sinister and supernatural are starting to show up again, which should make the next book or two in the series hauntingly good.
What I didn’t like was that some of the chapters went into these long dragged-out moments describing money laundering, drug cartel processes, etc. I felt that they should have been presented in shorter higher-level overviews. It broke the flow of the great main story and knocked me off track a bit too much.
Overall, a great story, highly recommended. I did have to force myself not to plow through the book in a day or two as I wanted to enjoy it for as long as I could. So close to five stars that its where I landed it.
Wonderful things happened. The return of Louis and Angel, even the Fulci’s make a brief appearance. Charlie’s involvement in the story is a little less than I would have liked but let’s face it he’s getting old, and his body has taken a lot of abuse over 22 books. Honestly Louis and Angel didn’t really do much more than show up in the story now and then.
But hold on, best of all, Jennifer and Sam are with us once again. With them the sinister and supernatural are starting to show up again, which should make the next book or two in the series hauntingly good.
What I didn’t like was that some of the chapters went into these long dragged-out moments describing money laundering, drug cartel processes, etc. I felt that they should have been presented in shorter higher-level overviews. It broke the flow of the great main story and knocked me off track a bit too much.
Overall, a great story, highly recommended. I did have to force myself not to plow through the book in a day or two as I wanted to enjoy it for as long as I could. So close to five stars that its where I landed it.
May 17, 2025
This 22nd entry of the Charlie Parker series hits hard from beginning to end. The series always skirts right on the edge of the supernatural, drifting over more often than not. This one plants itself there and remains for most of the story.
April 23, 2025
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!
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!
February 8, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Children of Eve.
I am a fan of anything John Connolly but in particular the Charlie Parker series.
In his newest book, Connolly starts with a new approach and I began to wonder when Charlie would enter the plot. And he does .
Not disappointed as Parker gets involved in finding a missing boyfriend of an artist.
He’s left with no trace and asks Parker to find him.
As he begins to look for the missing man another storyline is being told. A group of unsavory people are looking for each other. One man is a crime lord in Mexico who is seeking a prized possession while two other men are in hiding as they took something from the crime lord. These two factions will fight each other for their own beliefs.
Who will win this battle while Parker is in the middle of the fight and is not aware of the consequences or impact this will cause for so many.
This book starts slow but quickly picks up as the bodies begin to fall and Charlie realizes he is involved with some very bad people who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
This is different from other previous books and I really like this because you begin to see how Parker is changing with age and how he has become more of a watcher. We see that Sam is getting older and how this scares him. He’s got a lot more to worry about including his own mortality.
Connolly connects with his audience like no other and never ceases to amaze me.
The part I hate the most is that I have to wait for the next novel to ensure my hero Charlie Parker survives to fight another day.
5 stars!
I am a fan of anything John Connolly but in particular the Charlie Parker series.
In his newest book, Connolly starts with a new approach and I began to wonder when Charlie would enter the plot. And he does .
Not disappointed as Parker gets involved in finding a missing boyfriend of an artist.
He’s left with no trace and asks Parker to find him.
As he begins to look for the missing man another storyline is being told. A group of unsavory people are looking for each other. One man is a crime lord in Mexico who is seeking a prized possession while two other men are in hiding as they took something from the crime lord. These two factions will fight each other for their own beliefs.
Who will win this battle while Parker is in the middle of the fight and is not aware of the consequences or impact this will cause for so many.
This book starts slow but quickly picks up as the bodies begin to fall and Charlie realizes he is involved with some very bad people who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
This is different from other previous books and I really like this because you begin to see how Parker is changing with age and how he has become more of a watcher. We see that Sam is getting older and how this scares him. He’s got a lot more to worry about including his own mortality.
Connolly connects with his audience like no other and never ceases to amaze me.
The part I hate the most is that I have to wait for the next novel to ensure my hero Charlie Parker survives to fight another day.
5 stars!
May 11, 2025
“Sometimes, that’s the way cases peter out: without a satisfactory resolution and with only a semblance of order restored.”
I knew it. I knew this would be the way I felt about the ending; damn it! I love the Parker series and will always buy the signed first edition as a faithful fan, but damn do I miss the action and thrills that used to be in these books. There was so much about Jennifer at the beginning that I was hopeful for good old supernatural Charlie Parker stuff, alas, no. Then the story itself, stolen children okay creepy, oh they’re dead? even creepier. oh, they’re just mummies and nothing happens with them. they’re just some cartel guys good luck charm. la senora? okay she’s creepy. oh, she just appears and kills, no chase, no struggle, no tension. then she dies. and the ending especially, zetta seats the child in her ugly metal chair sculpture and laughs in a crazy way…….everyone goes home. even the Fulci’s didn’t do anything! the best and worst part for me: the Black Angel hints. without a doubt my most favorite book of all time so i was ecstatic to see some mentions of Parker’s other self, his half, his forgotten story. but all we got were a handful of breadcrumbs and the feeling the same skinny scattering will occur over far too many books to come. sigh. #disappointed.
I knew it. I knew this would be the way I felt about the ending; damn it! I love the Parker series and will always buy the signed first edition as a faithful fan, but damn do I miss the action and thrills that used to be in these books. There was so much about Jennifer at the beginning that I was hopeful for good old supernatural Charlie Parker stuff, alas, no. Then the story itself, stolen children okay creepy, oh they’re dead? even creepier. oh, they’re just mummies and nothing happens with them. they’re just some cartel guys good luck charm. la senora? okay she’s creepy. oh, she just appears and kills, no chase, no struggle, no tension. then she dies. and the ending especially, zetta seats the child in her ugly metal chair sculpture and laughs in a crazy way…….everyone goes home. even the Fulci’s didn’t do anything! the best and worst part for me: the Black Angel hints. without a doubt my most favorite book of all time so i was ecstatic to see some mentions of Parker’s other self, his half, his forgotten story. but all we got were a handful of breadcrumbs and the feeling the same skinny scattering will occur over far too many books to come. sigh. #disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
private detective Charlie Parker's cases usually run a fine line between violent criminal actions and creepy supernatural happenings .
This carries this on.
The case centres on missing children...from Mexico...but the children are dead...and are very valuable to someone back home.
"People" including a very strange Woman who has a thing for tearing out hearts..are sent to retrieve them ...and the bodies being to mount.
Parker and associates...even his dead but not gone daughter become involved...as he is hired to find a missing boyfriend..not surprisingly eventually linked to the children.
It's necessarily creepy...with endless memorable characters.
This carries this on.
The case centres on missing children...from Mexico...but the children are dead...and are very valuable to someone back home.
"People" including a very strange Woman who has a thing for tearing out hearts..are sent to retrieve them ...and the bodies being to mount.
Parker and associates...even his dead but not gone daughter become involved...as he is hired to find a missing boyfriend..not surprisingly eventually linked to the children.
It's necessarily creepy...with endless memorable characters.
March 12, 2025
“The Children of Eve” is another thrilling hit by John Connolly in the Charlie Parker series. Charlie is hired by a female artist to find her ex-military boyfriend who has suddenly disappeared. At the same time, an American mobster has made the mistake of stealing priceless mummified children from the head of a Mexican cartel. The intensity of these vicious and violent criminals reaches a new level for Parker as he tries to find these children, stay alive, protect his daughter, and his usual group of investigative cohorts. We are all used to the eerie supernatural elements in Connolly's books but in this one the action is a bit more grisly and intense. Whether you are a long time fan or a soon to be new fan, this book will not disappoint!
Thank you NetGalley and Altria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Altria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 23, 2025
I received this book as an ARC from Atria books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Charlie Parker series continues to be so incredibly well done! Charlie is hired by a local artist to find her missing boyfriend, who was involved in a heist from a cartel boss, Blas Urrea. The stolen “items” are sought by multiple groups, at least one of which is terrifying. Jennifer has a large part in this book, as does Sam. It’s clear that something is awakening and looking for Jennifer and Charlie - the something from which Jennifer and Sam have sought to conceal themselves and their father. I can’t wait for the next installment!!! Highly recommend!!!
May 9, 2025
It's been 8 months since I last read a Parker novel, and the break did me good. I appreciated everything John Connolly put into the plot while refreshing myself on familiar characters' witty banter. It was everything I wanted and expected, and then some: the plot appealed to my love of art, antiquities, mesoamerican cultures, and the supernatural. Natch.
Charlie is asked to look into the disappearance of Wyatt Riggins, the shady boyfriend of a young, local artist. As usual, Parker falls down a rabbit hole involving the mafia, smuggling, drug trafficking, and not surprisingly, ritualistic murders. There's something about the titular Children that I should have guessed loooong before it was officially revealed, such that when it was spelled out, I was equally "oh, wow!" and "oh, duh."
As to the others, Charlie Parker is still dating Macy (yawn). Angel seems back to his old self after his multi-volume health crisis (thank God - he's essential to my pleasure in this series). A character way back from The Black Angel connects with Jennifer Parker. A now-teenaged Sam says she wants to follow in her dad's footsteps, worrying both her parents.
I look forward to the next novel, if not the year-long wait for it to publish.
Charlie is asked to look into the disappearance of Wyatt Riggins, the shady boyfriend of a young, local artist. As usual, Parker falls down a rabbit hole involving the mafia, smuggling, drug trafficking, and not surprisingly, ritualistic murders. There's something about the titular Children that I should have guessed loooong before it was officially revealed, such that when it was spelled out, I was equally "oh, wow!" and "oh, duh."
As to the others, Charlie Parker is still dating Macy (yawn). Angel seems back to his old self after his multi-volume health crisis (thank God - he's essential to my pleasure in this series). A character way back from The Black Angel connects with Jennifer Parker. A now-teenaged Sam says she wants to follow in her dad's footsteps, worrying both her parents.
I look forward to the next novel, if not the year-long wait for it to publish.
July 21, 2025
I have liked past Charlie Parker books but not this one. The book spends most of the time following a series of bad guys from their introduction to their demise. There is very little of Charlie and crew, and they are one step behind the bad guys the whole way. The Seeley character was an interesting villain. The whole supernatural woo-woo seemed like a forced overlay to the weird crime of stealing ancient artifacts that turned out to be magical good luck charms.
May 11, 2025
The issue with being a fan of any long running book series (as George R.R. Martin's ASOIAF readers will agree), especially a series with a core narrative running through, is that it's hard to not get frustrated by what feels like an author spinning his wheels. The even bigger issue is that most of the time Connolly's novels, regardless of their place in his bigger picture, are always good and well written. The same goes for The Children of Eve; the mixture of occult horror and mystery thriller, with well realised characters and a lead in Parker who may be the best in modern fiction. It's hard to be impersonal when reviewing, especially when it's an author and sequence of books that hold such a place in one's heart. My main issue, and it may be distinctly only my issue, is that no matter how enjoyable the plots have been in the past few books, nothing has come close to the double tap of The Woman In The Woods and The Book Of Bones, ones which dealt directly with what can be considered the backbone narrative as well as expanding upon the mythology Connolly has created over the past two decades. The Children of Eve then is a fine thriller, I just find myself more interested in the chapters which link into what has come before and add a chain to what will surely come down the road. I'm waiting for the return of The God of Wasps/The Buried God, to find out about the end game and what Charlie (and his dead daughter Jennifer) have to do with the coming climax. I shall state again, I'm aware this is a "me" issue, but despite my impatience I'm still filled with a sense of satisfaction when I close the book, even as I hope next time for a little bit more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2025
He can’t really put a foot wrong. These books are terrific.
This one takes the underlying story along, whilst telling a satisfying story in its own right.
The only trouble is, these are over too quickly, to be followed by the required space until the next instalment.
A slightly different ending as well.
This one takes the underlying story along, whilst telling a satisfying story in its own right.
The only trouble is, these are over too quickly, to be followed by the required space until the next instalment.
A slightly different ending as well.
May 20, 2025
Probably my lowest rating of a Parker book... It's still a good read, no doubt about it, and I wouldn't want people to shy away from it but I just did not enjoy it as much as the other books in the series.
People who know me know I am a massive fan, but I am left largely disappointed by what I felt was an underwhelming story.
The main issue is below
People who know me know I am a massive fan, but I am left largely disappointed by what I felt was an underwhelming story.
The main issue is below
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