Nothing but one senseless killing after another. ( )

Not really a Charlie Parker book, although it is part of the series, it is really about Parker’s sometimes sidekick Louis, his entire background and why he is the way he is.
If you like the series this book is a must, with a lot of essential background ( )

I read a lot of books, I like fantasy, romance and some non-fiction
I work as a librarian, I'm an avid knitter. I collect Dragons, fountain pens, notebooks and filofaxes. And Yarn, lots and lots of yarn.
Assassins ahoy
1:52 pm 18 October 2017
The Reapers - John Connolly
peripherally a Charlie Parker story, this is more about Louis and Angel; mostly about Louis and his past and what happens when that catches up with them both.

A wealthy recluse sends Louis and Angel on a mission to a town where things aren't as they seem and where they find themselves in serious danger. Charlie Parker has to come to their rescue but things are quite perilous and survival won't be easy. This will make and break relationships.

Not so much of the supernatural but a lot of assassins and killers being brutal to each other. I liked Willie, the mechanic and his story drew me in (as I'm sure the author intended).

There was a great piece: "When the three men had gone, Brooker sat silently at his kitchen table while his wife rolled dough behind him, and tried to ignore the waves of disapproval that were breaking upon his back." (p. 336 in my edition) I liked the imagery.

There were some very gory parts to this... not for the squeamish, the relish some of the characters had for killing was chilling. ( )

This was a great read. Finally we find out a bit more about Louis and Angels backstory. The book really belongs to them but Parker is there for them at the end. In a way the story is a sad one as you get to see the fallout of Louis’s, Angels and Parker’s actions on those who come in contact with them. Friend and foe alike. ( )

When I started reading this book, after a few pages I wanted to give it up. It was simply not the kind of a book I would enjoy. However, there was something in the Connolly's writing that kept me reading one more page and then another and suddenly I was hooked. I do admit that even after I finished it I had my doubts about the story. I didn't like the brutality, so many people killed in such an easy fashion. But I loved the author's style. He is simply a great narrative who knows how to describe his characters. I particularly liked how he spent so much time describing minor characters who only a few sentences later ended up dead. And there was this brilliant subtle humour which made the otherwise brutal story seem human. At the end I actually trully enjoyed reading this book. ( )