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Charlie Parker #23
A River Red with Blood: A Thriller
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26Two intertwined disappearances leave a rural community in shock in the latest gripping Charlie Parker novel from New York Times bestselling author John Connolly.
In a darkly brilliant thriller set in Maine’s rural Kennebec River Valley, the body of a young runaway from a “troubled teens” school has been found in the water, seemingly drowned, while a teenage girl has gone missing, believed dead. Now it is up to one man, private investigator Charlie Parker, to find the connection, and bring two evils—one new and one ancient—to an end…
In a darkly brilliant thriller set in Maine’s rural Kennebec River Valley, the body of a young runaway from a “troubled teens” school has been found in the water, seemingly drowned, while a teenage girl has gone missing, believed dead. Now it is up to one man, private investigator Charlie Parker, to find the connection, and bring two evils—one new and one ancient—to an end…
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 5, 2026
6 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
John Connolly
217 books7,965 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 3, 2026
A masterpiece. After several installments of not getting too much new in terms of progression with the lore, this one paid off in full.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 Stars ⭐️
I went back and read my last few reviews from this series and laughed to myself because most of them started with some variation of "I'm not sure how to review this series" - Of course, that is paraphrasing but it's funny because that was how I was going to start this one (before I went back and read the prior reviews).
The reason that I think I start with that is because this series is TRULY one of the most unique and original storylines, while also being so blatantly different from any other out there - and trust me, I read A LOT of books. There are the normal storylines following Charlie's PI cases, but there is also a HUGE overarching storyline of supernatural involvement that has been unfolding little by little with each new book. And it is NOT your usual perception of something easy like maybe ghosts. No, we get to see real EVIL, angels (and NOT the good kind), and yes, sometimes ghosts as well.
We have learned early on that Charlie's murdered daughter Jennifer, is at the center of the things that are happening, and now we are learning that Charlie, Loius and Angel have a connection that transcends the norm. What that is - that is something that we are beginning to understand more and more with each new book. But Mr. Connolly excels in creating such CHILLING, spine tingling, and let's be honest...creepy atmospheres, while at the same time pulling you in and getting you to want to keep going in order to try to finally understand what is going on.
We have followed Charlie Parker for YEARS as he had evolved and grown, but Charlie is a man who has dealt with immense trauma - you could even say he is a magnet for pain.
In this book, Charlie takes on a case from a client of one of his attorney friends dealing with the death of the son of one of his inmate clients. It takes the investigation to a type of reform school that the boy had been sent to - The Spero. The Spero is NOT a good place.
At the same time, we get an alternate storyline centering around a group of men who have been playing what they call "The Game. " This is in essence where they kidnap, rape and murder women on a certain schedule with certain rules. Are the two lines of investigation related? That is what he is going to find out.
This was another winner and I liked the fact that we are finally getting more and more information regarding the relationship - and possibly "prior" relationships between our favorite trio of friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on June 2, 2026.
I went back and read my last few reviews from this series and laughed to myself because most of them started with some variation of "I'm not sure how to review this series" - Of course, that is paraphrasing but it's funny because that was how I was going to start this one (before I went back and read the prior reviews).
The reason that I think I start with that is because this series is TRULY one of the most unique and original storylines, while also being so blatantly different from any other out there - and trust me, I read A LOT of books. There are the normal storylines following Charlie's PI cases, but there is also a HUGE overarching storyline of supernatural involvement that has been unfolding little by little with each new book. And it is NOT your usual perception of something easy like maybe ghosts. No, we get to see real EVIL, angels (and NOT the good kind), and yes, sometimes ghosts as well.
We have learned early on that Charlie's murdered daughter Jennifer, is at the center of the things that are happening, and now we are learning that Charlie, Loius and Angel have a connection that transcends the norm. What that is - that is something that we are beginning to understand more and more with each new book. But Mr. Connolly excels in creating such CHILLING, spine tingling, and let's be honest...creepy atmospheres, while at the same time pulling you in and getting you to want to keep going in order to try to finally understand what is going on.
We have followed Charlie Parker for YEARS as he had evolved and grown, but Charlie is a man who has dealt with immense trauma - you could even say he is a magnet for pain.
In this book, Charlie takes on a case from a client of one of his attorney friends dealing with the death of the son of one of his inmate clients. It takes the investigation to a type of reform school that the boy had been sent to - The Spero. The Spero is NOT a good place.
At the same time, we get an alternate storyline centering around a group of men who have been playing what they call "The Game. " This is in essence where they kidnap, rape and murder women on a certain schedule with certain rules. Are the two lines of investigation related? That is what he is going to find out.
This was another winner and I liked the fact that we are finally getting more and more information regarding the relationship - and possibly "prior" relationships between our favorite trio of friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on June 2, 2026.
February 22, 2026
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Atria in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I’ve always loved the Charlie Parker series by John Connolly, but A River Red with Blood really reminded me why this series continues to stand out in the crowded world of crime fiction.
From the first few pages, the novel pulls you into its dark, unsettling atmosphere. Connolly has always had a talent for blending hard-boiled detective storytelling with something more ominous and almost supernatural, and this book is no exception. Charlie Parker remains one of the most compelling protagonists in modern crime fiction, he is haunted, morally complex, relentless, yet still deeply human. That balance is part of what keeps me coming back to the series.
What makes A River Red with Blood especially powerful is its mood. The setting feels alive oppressive, tense, and layered with secrets. Connolly’s prose is sharp and lyrical at the same time. He doesn’t just describe violence; he makes you feel the weight of it. The emotional undercurrents of grief, guilt and vengeance run as strongly as the mystery itself. It’s not just a crime novel; it’s a meditation on consequence and darkness.
I also love how the recurring characters continue to evolve. The long-running relationships in the Charlie Parker series give the book real depth. There’s history there and Connolly respects it. Nothing feels disposable. Every action has weight, especially for readers who’ve followed Parker through earlier novels.
Another strength is pacing. The tension builds steadily, with moments of quiet dread punctuated by sudden bursts of brutality. Connolly never rushes, but he never drags either. The investigation unfolds in a way that feels both methodical and unpredictable.
If I had to offer a personal opinion beyond pure praise, it’s this: the book leans heavily into its darker elements and readers who prefer straightforward procedural crime stories may not enjoy this. The Charlie Parker novels often blur the line between crime fiction and something more mythic or supernatural. For me, that’s a strength. It gives the series a unique identity.
Overall, A River Red with Blood is a powerful entry in an already exceptional series. It reinforces why Charlie Parker remains such a compelling figure and why John Connolly continues to be one of the most distinctive voices in crime fiction. If you’re already a fan of the series, this book won’t disappoint. And if you’re new to Charlie Parker, it’s a gripping and intense place to start.
I’ve always loved the Charlie Parker series by John Connolly, but A River Red with Blood really reminded me why this series continues to stand out in the crowded world of crime fiction.
From the first few pages, the novel pulls you into its dark, unsettling atmosphere. Connolly has always had a talent for blending hard-boiled detective storytelling with something more ominous and almost supernatural, and this book is no exception. Charlie Parker remains one of the most compelling protagonists in modern crime fiction, he is haunted, morally complex, relentless, yet still deeply human. That balance is part of what keeps me coming back to the series.
What makes A River Red with Blood especially powerful is its mood. The setting feels alive oppressive, tense, and layered with secrets. Connolly’s prose is sharp and lyrical at the same time. He doesn’t just describe violence; he makes you feel the weight of it. The emotional undercurrents of grief, guilt and vengeance run as strongly as the mystery itself. It’s not just a crime novel; it’s a meditation on consequence and darkness.
I also love how the recurring characters continue to evolve. The long-running relationships in the Charlie Parker series give the book real depth. There’s history there and Connolly respects it. Nothing feels disposable. Every action has weight, especially for readers who’ve followed Parker through earlier novels.
Another strength is pacing. The tension builds steadily, with moments of quiet dread punctuated by sudden bursts of brutality. Connolly never rushes, but he never drags either. The investigation unfolds in a way that feels both methodical and unpredictable.
If I had to offer a personal opinion beyond pure praise, it’s this: the book leans heavily into its darker elements and readers who prefer straightforward procedural crime stories may not enjoy this. The Charlie Parker novels often blur the line between crime fiction and something more mythic or supernatural. For me, that’s a strength. It gives the series a unique identity.
Overall, A River Red with Blood is a powerful entry in an already exceptional series. It reinforces why Charlie Parker remains such a compelling figure and why John Connolly continues to be one of the most distinctive voices in crime fiction. If you’re already a fan of the series, this book won’t disappoint. And if you’re new to Charlie Parker, it’s a gripping and intense place to start.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The body of seventeen-year-old Scott Theriault is drifts down a stream days after he ran away from a behavior-modification facility. Scott’s father’s convinced his son’s death was no accident and PI Charlie Parker knows the pain of losing a child. Parker, our soft-charging protagonist’s daughter, Jennifer was brutally murdered twenty years earlier. The gruesome event was formative in this long running series, and Parker is naturally drawn to cases involving children.
In a parallel plot we learn of a group of men who play, “The Game’’, an amusement which includes the kidnap, rape and murder an out-of-state woman at random. We are offered a bit of their sick background, how there used to be four in this Game, but rules were broken and a player was eliminated by the others. Now two of the men worry a third might have murdered off schedule and jeopardized their safety. Also, a young woman named Mallory Norton recently disappeared and the reader is left to assume she might be connected to the twisted Game and the missing boy, Scott Theriault.
The real-world setup is done well, our bad guys are drawn with fierce authenticity, but this is a Charlie Parker novel, so supernatural elements are also at play. Charlie’s dead daughter has loosely guided him for years, but she has never, before now, appeared to Angel and Louis, Charlie’s closest friends. Angel sees Jennifer's spirit waiting for him by a lake and just to raise the stakes a bit more, Louis discovers he has a contract out on his life, possibly a chit called in from beyond the grave.
If this seems like a lot for an opening, don’t worry, Connolly hybridizes the hard boiled detective genre with a strong hand at the tiller. Once the plot takes off it becomes a masterful police procedural. The author clearly became an expert on federal agents use of high tech methodology to solve crime.
This will satisfy fans of the series and lovers of Maine. I would have liked to see a few more curve balls in the finale but the ending closes most of the loops opened in the gripping first half of the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a review copy.
In a parallel plot we learn of a group of men who play, “The Game’’, an amusement which includes the kidnap, rape and murder an out-of-state woman at random. We are offered a bit of their sick background, how there used to be four in this Game, but rules were broken and a player was eliminated by the others. Now two of the men worry a third might have murdered off schedule and jeopardized their safety. Also, a young woman named Mallory Norton recently disappeared and the reader is left to assume she might be connected to the twisted Game and the missing boy, Scott Theriault.
The real-world setup is done well, our bad guys are drawn with fierce authenticity, but this is a Charlie Parker novel, so supernatural elements are also at play. Charlie’s dead daughter has loosely guided him for years, but she has never, before now, appeared to Angel and Louis, Charlie’s closest friends. Angel sees Jennifer's spirit waiting for him by a lake and just to raise the stakes a bit more, Louis discovers he has a contract out on his life, possibly a chit called in from beyond the grave.
If this seems like a lot for an opening, don’t worry, Connolly hybridizes the hard boiled detective genre with a strong hand at the tiller. Once the plot takes off it becomes a masterful police procedural. The author clearly became an expert on federal agents use of high tech methodology to solve crime.
This will satisfy fans of the series and lovers of Maine. I would have liked to see a few more curve balls in the finale but the ending closes most of the loops opened in the gripping first half of the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you for the opportunity to preview A River Red with Blood.
Wow. One of Connollys best work ever.
The is novel brings together a cast of characters from his entourage to villains and even those whose lives are not determined yet.
Charlie Parker is a flawed man with a personal agenda which is to stand and fight those wanting to harm him and those he loves. He is a private investigator.
The novel starts with the death of a young man and a missing girl. Charlie is called upon to look into the death by the boys father who is an inmate in prison.
At the same time we meet some older men with their own agenda. Kill and main women as part of a game they play to satisfy their lust for the obscene.
Connolly pulls a thread to connect the dots and lulls the reader into one of his finest books in the series.
Of course Louis and Angel are front and center as well as a few others which also makes this novel deep and compelling.
My only issue is to have to wait another year or so until Parker’s adventures come to pass.
This is well written and satisfying for a fan. If you never read a Charlie Parker novel you are in for a treat because there are many to sink into.
Start by reading the first book and keep going.
5 stars!
Wow. One of Connollys best work ever.
The is novel brings together a cast of characters from his entourage to villains and even those whose lives are not determined yet.
Charlie Parker is a flawed man with a personal agenda which is to stand and fight those wanting to harm him and those he loves. He is a private investigator.
The novel starts with the death of a young man and a missing girl. Charlie is called upon to look into the death by the boys father who is an inmate in prison.
At the same time we meet some older men with their own agenda. Kill and main women as part of a game they play to satisfy their lust for the obscene.
Connolly pulls a thread to connect the dots and lulls the reader into one of his finest books in the series.
Of course Louis and Angel are front and center as well as a few others which also makes this novel deep and compelling.
My only issue is to have to wait another year or so until Parker’s adventures come to pass.
This is well written and satisfying for a fan. If you never read a Charlie Parker novel you are in for a treat because there are many to sink into.
Start by reading the first book and keep going.
5 stars!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This review is my own. Charlie Parker investigates the death of a boy at a “troubled teen” school, and he, once again, confronts the honeycomb world and its dark secrets. Sabine Drew is drawn into Parker’s world again, and together, they confront an old enemy. Angel and Louis are uncharacteristically melancholy, though with reason. I am honestly at a loss for words. Connolly is a storyteller without equal. This was an excellent entry in the series, and I already preordered my copy of the published novel!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know what else to say but WOW! It did start of slow but as the story unfolded it got more and more intriguing. The characters are ones you would never think would do all of those vile actions.
As weird as this may sound my favorite part was the ending (chapters 110. 111). It creeped me out.
This book is part of the Charlie Parker series but can definitely be read as a stand alone. I will definitely be looking at his other books.
As weird as this may sound my favorite part was the ending (chapters 110. 111). It creeped me out.
This book is part of the Charlie Parker series but can definitely be read as a stand alone. I will definitely be looking at his other books.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews