Bad Men (2003)

by John Connolly

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▾LibraryThing recommendations

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Showing 1-5 of 15 (next | show all)

I enjoyed this stand alone novel by John Connolly.

His characters are well drawn and believable. The setting on a small island off the coast of Portland, Maine, gives extra suspense that the bad men are arriving and there is little escape for the innocent.

The protagonist, Joe Dupree, is a giant of a man and the protector of the island's secrets. He's very believable and the kind of character who the reader becomes fond of and wants to see succeed.

There was a massacre on this island many years ago and the spirits of the dead are able to rise up when something of an evil nature is going to happen again.

There are a number of surprises that add to the entertainment and overall I felt the book highly entertaining. (

)

mikedraper | Feb 18, 2013 |

Well written book, did scare me towards the end and great build of momentum. Really enjoyable read, one of John Connolly's easier to read books. I was hooked after the first chapter. This story really grabs you and sucks you in, if you like a good murder/crime fiction with a bit of realism about it, this is the story for you. Nice bit of mystery about it. (

)

AineMcG | Oct 3, 2011 |

Had a hard time with the beginning, but once I sorted out the characters and why there were so many of them, I enjoyed the novel. (

)

JoAnnSmithAinsworth | Oct 16, 2010 |

This is the fourth “thriller” I’ve read by Connolly and in my opinion the best one yet. As some of the other reviewers have stated the story is previously covered ground but the author weaves a nice plausible story.

The setting for the story is definitely creepy and real enough with characters that develop sufficiently to grab your attention and plenty of action to move the story along. The big finale of the book worked and while anticipated was well done. This was the first thriller that I’ve read by Connolly in which the ending didn’t seem rushed or hurried with a finality which was less then satisfying.

Overall, this was a good read with a the nasty “crunch” you expect from Connolly. Recommended for anyone that enjoys killers, action, and ghosts. (

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copefiend2 | Aug 10, 2010 |

Too violent, scarry for me (

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pharrm | Jan 16, 2010 |

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Series (with order)

Canonical title

Bad Men

Original title

Bad Men

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People/Characters

Important places

Dutch Island, Maine, USA

Important events

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Epigraph

Dedication

First words

Moloch dreams. (Prologue)
The giant knelt down and watched the gull's beak open and close. (The First Day)

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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

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Connelly, Michael

Coben, Harlan

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Flipback (13)

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Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0743487850, Mass Market Paperback)

BAD MEN

On the Maine island once known as Sanctuary, policeman Joe Dupree is the guardian of its secrets, keeper of its memories. He knows that Sanctuary had been steeped in carnage once, centuries ago, when its settlers were betrayed to their enemies and slaughtered. Now, a strange, otherworldly evil is about to descend again....With rookie officer Sharon Macy, Joe stands guard against a bloodthirsty band of men set on murder, robbery, and retribution. But unleashing the fury of the ghosts of the past will have unimaginable consequences for any who spill innocent blood on Sanctuary's shores.

Includes an excerpt from The Black Angel, John Connolly's return to the world of detective Charlie Parker -- coming soon in hardcover from Atria Books.

(retrieved from Amazon Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:35:25 -0400)

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▾Library descriptions

In 1693, the settlers on the small Maine island of Sanctuary were betrayed to their enemies and slaughtered. Since then, the island has known three hundred years of peace. Until now. For men are descending on Sanctuary, their purpose to hunt down and kill the wife of their leader and retrieve the money that she stole from him. All that stands in their way are a young rookie officer, Sharon Macy, and the island's strange, troubled policeman, the giant known as Melancholy Joe Dupree. But Joe Dupree is no ordinary policeman. He is the guardian of the island's secrets, the repository of its memories. He knows that Sanctuary has been steeped in blood once; it will tolerate the shedding of innocent blood no longer. Now a band of killers is set to desecrate Sanctuary and unleash the fury of ghosts upon themselves and all who stand by them.… (more)

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