The Wolf in Winter: A Charlie Parker Thriller
(Libby/OverDrive eAudiobook)

The town of Prosperous, Maine, seems almost too good to be true: everyone appears happy and financially secure, and the town itself feels untouched by economic downturns or, indeed, any disruptive influences. When Charlie Parker, the private investigator haunted by the deaths of his wife and daughter, winds up in Prosperous, looking for the missing daughter of a dead man, he soon learns that the residents really don't like it when a stranger shows up in town, and that they're willing to go to extreme lengths to protect their town's secrets. As usual for this series, the book has a strong supernatural element, but it's not really a supernatural thriller: it's more of a traditional thriller with some especially dark elements (if you're unfamiliar with the series, imagine a Jack Reacher novel told as an urban horror story). Connolly's writing is gripping, as always the man is a real stylist and fans of the Charlie Parker series are sure to give this one an enthusiastic response.--Pitt, David Copyright 2014 Booklist

Connolly's absorbing 12th Charlie Parker novel (after 2013's The Wrath of Angels) finds the PI, based in Portland, Maine, still on the hunt for the serial killer known as the Collector, with his sidekicks-and comic relief-Angel and Louis in tow. Meanwhile, the seeming suicide of one of the city's better known homeless men, Jude, diverts his attention. Before Jude's death, Parker was intent on tracking down his estranged, wayward daughter, Annie, to try to reestablish a connection. The investigative trail leads to the wealthy, isolated town of Prosperous, Maine. Sparks-and bullets-fly when Parker starts poking his nose into the deeper secrets of Prosperous, where he finds out fast that some secrets are worth killing for. A compellingly flawed hero and a detail-rich plot make for another satisfying read, though the strong supernatural vein won't appeal to every crime fiction fan. Agent: Darley Anderson, Darley Anderson Literary. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Connolly's latest novel features private investigator Charlie Parker (The Wrath of Angels), whose work often involves beings not wholly of this earth. After the apparent suicide of a homeless man who had been searching for his daughter, Parker looks for her in the Maine town of Prosperous, home of an ancient church and a strange historical religious sect. The community appears to be just as prosperous as its name and its residents seems to be extremely fortunate in both business and longevity, but Parker discerns that there is something not quite right. His inquiries ultimately lead to the involvement of his sometime business partners-and even enemies-in the business of Prosperous, with unexpected consequences. VERDICT This dark thriller is sure to please Connolly's fans, although newcomers might want to read the previous books in the series (starting with Every Dead Thing) before attempting this one. [See Prepub Alert, 4/21/14.]-Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Parker, Connolly's scarred and battered private detective, continues on the trail of his main quarryThe Collectorbut swerves to take a job offered by a homeless man in his 12th outing.This time, Parker, who's an easy touch, takes on the mission of finding the long-lost daughter of a dead homeless man. Jude, a dandy professorial type by street standards, was found hanged, his demise chalked up to suicide by local police. But one of Jude's friends tracks down Parker and convinces him that a man who was so eager to find his estranged former-junkie daughter would not have taken his own life. Parker agrees and traces Jude's trail back to the malevolent town of Prosperous, Maine, a place where dark secrets flourish and outsiders are escorted to the town's limit, if they're lucky. Parker soon discovers that the town board will go to great lengths to prevent outsiders from discovering the root of the community's prosperity and that an odd and very old church brought stone by stone from England holds the key to many of its mysteries. But the price that Parker pays for that knowledge is heavy in this part-detective, part-supernatural thriller. In addition to superb writing, Connolly brings a consistent intelligence to his work, never shortchanging or, even more important, underestimating his readers. Parker, a conflicted man whose personal life is a train wreck, and his quirky but deadly sidekicks, gay hit men Angel and Louis, make an unlikely but lethally successful triumvirate in their relentless journey toward putting a vicious killer, The Collector, out of business. The author's singular voice guides readers on that journey in a tale that never stops entertaining.While it helps to have read previous Parker novels, it's not a prerequisite for enjoying this witty and imaginative journey into the darker natures of men and things that go bump in the night. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The town of Prosperous, Maine, seems almost too good to be true: everyone appears happy and financially secure, and the town itself feels untouched by economic downturns or, indeed, any disruptive influences. When Charlie Parker, the private investigator haunted by the deaths of his wife and daughter, winds up in Prosperous, looking for the missing daughter of a dead man, he soon learns that the residents really don't like it when a stranger shows up in town, and that they're willing to go to extreme lengths to protect their town's secrets. As usual for this series, the book has a strong supernatural element, but it's not really a supernatural thriller: it's more of a traditional thriller with some especially dark elements (if you're unfamiliar with the series, imagine a Jack Reacher novel told as an urban horror story). Connolly's writing is gripping, as always—the man is a real stylist—and fans of the Charlie Parker series are sure to give this one an enthusiastic response. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Connolly's latest novel features private investigator Charlie Parker (The Wrath of Angels), whose work often involves beings not wholly of this earth. After the apparent suicide of a homeless man who had been searching for his daughter, Parker looks for her in the Maine town of Prosperous, home of an ancient church and a strange historical religious sect. The community appears to be just as prosperous as its name and its residents seems to be extremely fortunate in both business and longevity, but Parker discerns that there is something not quite right. His inquiries ultimately lead to the involvement of his sometime business partners—and even enemies—in the business of Prosperous, with unexpected consequences. VERDICT This dark thriller is sure to please Connolly's fans, although newcomers might want to read the previous books in the series (starting with Every Dead Thing) before attempting this one. [See Prepub Alert, 4/21/14.]—Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg

Connolly's absorbing 12th Charlie Parker novel (after 2013's The Wrath of Angels) finds the PI, based in Portland, Maine, still on the hunt for the serial killer known as the Collector, with his sidekicks—and comic relief—Angel and Louis in tow. Meanwhile, the seeming suicide of one of the city's better known homeless men, Jude, diverts his attention. Before Jude's death, Parker was intent on tracking down his estranged, wayward daughter, Annie, to try to reestablish a connection. The investigative trail leads to the wealthy, isolated town of Prosperous, Maine. Sparks—and bullets—fly when Parker starts poking his nose into the deeper secrets of Prosperous, where he finds out fast that some secrets are worth killing for. A compellingly flawed hero and a detail-rich plot make for another satisfying read, though the strong supernatural vein won't appeal to every crime fiction fan. Agent: Darley Anderson, Darley Anderson Literary. (Oct.)