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Bad Men
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 blood no longer. Now a band of killers is set to desecrate Sanctuary and unleash the fury of its ghosts upon themselves and all who stand by them.
On Sanctuary, evil is about to meet its match.
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 blood no longer. Now a band of killers is set to desecrate Sanctuary and unleash the fury of its ghosts upon themselves and all who stand by them.
On Sanctuary, evil is about to meet its match.
534 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
336 people are currently reading
2143 people want to read
About the author
John Connolly
220 books7,931 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 341 reviews
December 16, 2025
Напрегнат психотрилър, с добро развитие и пълноценна история.
Малко встрани от историите за Чарли Паркър, но Джон Конъли си е майстор и романът е много добър!
Харесаха ми и описанията на природата в този отдалечен и изолиран край на северен Мейн.
P.S. Както подсказва заглавието, книгата е много мрачна и с доста насилие в нея.
Малко встрани от историите за Чарли Паркър, но Джон Конъли си е майстор и романът е много добър!
Харесаха ми и описанията на природата в този отдалечен и изолиран край на северен Мейн.
P.S. Както подсказва заглавието, книгата е много мрачна и с доста насилие в нея.
June 1, 2021
He who has not yet read this dark poet has missed a treat.
5 stars.John Connolly really shines in this standalone story. Even better than my favorite in the Charlie Parkers series, The Woman in the Woods.
5 stars.John Connolly really shines in this standalone story. Even better than my favorite in the Charlie Parkers series, The Woman in the Woods.
August 13, 2012
Exceptional as one might come to expect from Connolly, this is actually a semi stand alone book, although still set in Maine, it does tie into the Charlie Parker series and features a couple of cameo appearances by Parker himself. This thriller had plenty of action and a fair share of supernatural elements in addition to great writing, as always. I think what sets Connolly's books apart and well above the rest is his ability to write characters, the subtle terrifying evil of the titular ones and the sheer goodness of the good men and women, the quiet grace with which they carry themselves through life. Connolly writes about the subtleties of human kindness and decency that could melt a seasoned misanthrope's heart and make one wish and hope for the world where good can in fact triumph over evil, although at high cost, where ghosts could be given purpose or put to rest and a semblance of justice can and should be expected. Highly recommended.
February 13, 2025
Super book. Would have read even faster if not distracted by having to pull caterpillars off my Sprouts. Didn’t realise this wasn’t a Charlie Parker until started reading. He actually turns up on a page in a cameo. But the build up to the mayhem at the end was fast paced. Time to read another methinks...as soon as my wife finishes it.
November 10, 2018
A lot of murder, rape, torture, spousal abuse and general unpleasantness. I don't enjoy being in the minds or presence of sadistic people. The story jumped around too much and did not progress coherently. Charlie Parker and gang are missing. This book can be skipped since it doesn't advance the series. At 450 pages, it's also too long. Although even 100 pages of this mess would be too much.
August 30, 2018
Ένα ακόμα βιβλίο που διαβάζω για δεύτερη φορά, κι αυτό μάλλον λέει από μόνο του πόσο μου είχε αρέσει.
Το 4ρι πάει συγκριτικά με τα υπόλοιπα βιβλία του Κόνολι, εξακολουθεί και είναι πολύ πολύ δυνατό.
Στα μεγαλύτερα + του βιβλίου, είναι η πολύ ωραία πλοκή, η οποία αναπτύσσεται παράλληλα σε πολλά σημεία, με αποτέλεσμα να αναγκάζεσαι να διαβάζεις συνεχώς λίγο παρακάτω για να δεις τι θα κάνουν όλοι στην ''επόμενη γύρα''.
Επίσης, στα μεγάλα + πάει και το κλειστό και απομονωμένο νησί, αφού είναι το απόλυτα αρμοστό μέρος για μια τέτοια ιστορία.
Ήταν πολύ ωραίο επίσης που διαβάσαμε και μια τέτοιου είδους ιστορία από τον Κόνολι χωρίς τον Τσάρλι Πάρκερ (ή έστω σχεδόν χωρίς αυτόν αφού κάνει μια πολύ ωραία γκεστ εμφάνιση!)
Φυσικά, στα μείον του βιβλίου μπορεί να πάει ακριβώς το ίδιο... η απουσία του Τσάρλι Πάρκερ. Μας έλειψε!
Στο σύνολό της, λοιπόν, είναι μια περιπέτεια ''α-λα Πάρκερ'', με συχνές εμφανίσεις μεταφυσικών στοιχειών, που δύσκολα δεν θα αρέσει στους φίλους του είδους.
Το 4ρι πάει συγκριτικά με τα υπόλοιπα βιβλία του Κόνολι, εξακολουθεί και είναι πολύ πολύ δυνατό.
Στα μεγαλύτερα + του βιβλίου, είναι η πολύ ωραία πλοκή, η οποία αναπτύσσεται παράλληλα σε πολλά σημεία, με αποτέλεσμα να αναγκάζεσαι να διαβάζεις συνεχώς λίγο παρακάτω για να δεις τι θα κάνουν όλοι στην ''επόμενη γύρα''.
Επίσης, στα μεγάλα + πάει και το κλειστό και απομονωμένο νησί, αφού είναι το απόλυτα αρμοστό μέρος για μια τέτοια ιστορία.
Ήταν πολύ ωραίο επίσης που διαβάσαμε και μια τέτοιου είδους ιστορία από τον Κόνολι χωρίς τον Τσάρλι Πάρκερ (ή έστω σχεδόν χωρίς αυτόν αφού κάνει μια πολύ ωραία γκεστ εμφάνιση!)
Φυσικά, στα μείον του βιβλίου μπορεί να πάει ακριβώς το ίδιο... η απουσία του Τσάρλι Πάρκερ. Μας έλειψε!
Στο σύνολό της, λοιπόν, είναι μια περιπέτεια ''α-λα Πάρκερ'', με συχνές εμφανίσεις μεταφυσικών στοιχειών, που δύσκολα δεν θα αρέσει στους φίλους του είδους.
July 1, 2014
I can honestly say that I have never read a "bad" or even "mediocre" book by John Connolly, to date. BAD MEN is a stand alone novel (although Charlie Parker does make a couple of cameo appearances). A group of ruthless men are on the hunt for a woman who betrayed her husband, their "leader". Throughout the entire tale is an underlying supernatural story of a massacre that happened on the island centuries before....in fact, the characters brought back to the island now seem to share an uncanny link to those from history....
The isolated island atmosphere scenes are incredibly vivid, and the supernatural link felt especially powerful here. In an area such as that, it's almost too easy to believe that these things could be happening.
I found this to be an outstanding, fast-paced novel, cementing John Connolly's status as one of the most consistently best writers in the business.
Highly recommended!
The isolated island atmosphere scenes are incredibly vivid, and the supernatural link felt especially powerful here. In an area such as that, it's almost too easy to believe that these things could be happening.
I found this to be an outstanding, fast-paced novel, cementing John Connolly's status as one of the most consistently best writers in the business.
Highly recommended!
November 11, 2016
Bad Men equals bad plot, bad writing and bad characters.
I really wanted to like this book but, halfway through, I started getting uneasy. The story was confusing, head hopping between dozens of different characters, many of whom were so flat out crazy it wasn't possible to believe that people this sick could walk down a street without sending every dog into freak out mode. The paranormal stuff wasn't adding up and made even less sense as the book progressed.
Six sociopaths, including one cannibal, break their boss Moloch out of prison so he can track down his wife who, they hope, is still holding the money she stole from him. Money worth around three quarters of a million dollars. Money she stole 3 years before. Money they're not even sure she still has. Okay, split that 7 ways and then decide if your share is worth killing two cops and leaving a trail of bodies across several states.
Not that the police or FBI seem especially adept in this story. Except for getting killed in a prison break so obvious I bet they teach it in Police work 101, the cops are absent despite running a nationwide man hunt.
This allows everyone to get to Sanctuary island in the middle of a blizzard to recreate a slaughter that happened back in 1691 and no, that one isn't well explained either.
Basically, this book was a mess. I expected better from John Connolly.
I really wanted to like this book but, halfway through, I started getting uneasy. The story was confusing, head hopping between dozens of different characters, many of whom were so flat out crazy it wasn't possible to believe that people this sick could walk down a street without sending every dog into freak out mode. The paranormal stuff wasn't adding up and made even less sense as the book progressed.
Six sociopaths, including one cannibal, break their boss Moloch out of prison so he can track down his wife who, they hope, is still holding the money she stole from him. Money worth around three quarters of a million dollars. Money she stole 3 years before. Money they're not even sure she still has. Okay, split that 7 ways and then decide if your share is worth killing two cops and leaving a trail of bodies across several states.
Not that the police or FBI seem especially adept in this story. Except for getting killed in a prison break so obvious I bet they teach it in Police work 101, the cops are absent despite running a nationwide man hunt.
This allows everyone to get to Sanctuary island in the middle of a blizzard to recreate a slaughter that happened back in 1691 and no, that one isn't well explained either.
Basically, this book was a mess. I expected better from John Connolly.
September 26, 2020
Back and forth on whether to go 4 or 5 stars on this, really it could’ve gone either way, so I’ll settle on a solid 4.4
First I gotta say, I’m so glad I discovered John Connolly, and I foresee a long literary relationship with the guy. This book was extremely satisfying as a fan of Stephen King and crime novels like John Sandford, as it’s somewhat a mix of the two, though this one leans very heavily on the horror; in fact I would without a doubt consider this a horror novel.
Joe Dupree is an awkward giant of a man with a long and deep rooted family history on Dutch Island, Maine aka Sanctuary. The island hasn’t felt right lately, and ghosts of the past, his past and the islands, are bubbling up as a vicious snowstorm and some very Bad Men are coming straight towards him. There’s not much more to say without giving things away-just read this book.
I have a few mild gripes I suppose. There were a lot of characters, and while it wasn’t a big issue, Connolly probably could’ve cut a couple to make it a little easier on the reader, but overall it wasn’t a big issue. My main gripe is that I wish we had gotten to know Joe Dupree a little better. I found him intriguing and likable; I just wanted a little more time getting to know him! We spend a lot of time getting to know the antagonist though, and being with him is a brutal place to be.
This book is filled with terrifying shit. Scary people, and some otherworldly ghouls. I know which I thought was worse, but I’ll let each reader be their own judge. Connolly’s prose is smooth, effortless, and even a little fancy. Reading this has put me right on track to see what Charlie Parker’s story is, as he had a cameo here and I already like him.
Definitely recommended to horror and thriller readers alike. If you’re a fan of crime novels, you may find it a little heavy on the supernatural but it will without a doubt be enjoyable. Horror readers will feel right at home, as will Stephen King fans.
First I gotta say, I’m so glad I discovered John Connolly, and I foresee a long literary relationship with the guy. This book was extremely satisfying as a fan of Stephen King and crime novels like John Sandford, as it’s somewhat a mix of the two, though this one leans very heavily on the horror; in fact I would without a doubt consider this a horror novel.
Joe Dupree is an awkward giant of a man with a long and deep rooted family history on Dutch Island, Maine aka Sanctuary. The island hasn’t felt right lately, and ghosts of the past, his past and the islands, are bubbling up as a vicious snowstorm and some very Bad Men are coming straight towards him. There’s not much more to say without giving things away-just read this book.
I have a few mild gripes I suppose. There were a lot of characters, and while it wasn’t a big issue, Connolly probably could’ve cut a couple to make it a little easier on the reader, but overall it wasn’t a big issue. My main gripe is that I wish we had gotten to know Joe Dupree a little better. I found him intriguing and likable; I just wanted a little more time getting to know him! We spend a lot of time getting to know the antagonist though, and being with him is a brutal place to be.
This book is filled with terrifying shit. Scary people, and some otherworldly ghouls. I know which I thought was worse, but I’ll let each reader be their own judge. Connolly’s prose is smooth, effortless, and even a little fancy. Reading this has put me right on track to see what Charlie Parker’s story is, as he had a cameo here and I already like him.
Definitely recommended to horror and thriller readers alike. If you’re a fan of crime novels, you may find it a little heavy on the supernatural but it will without a doubt be enjoyable. Horror readers will feel right at home, as will Stephen King fans.
August 31, 2016
Moloch dreams. Dreams of a slaughter. Dreams of a Sanctuary, that is anything but. A place with a history of violence. A place with a future of violence.
Marianne dreams, as well. Dreams of running. Dreams of being chased by her past. Dreams of escape.
It is all going to come together on the island, where there are forces greater than either of them can imagine that have awakened and are hungry. Hungry for vengeance.
John Connolly does it again with another excellent supernatural thriller. This one is paced very well and has a smooth flow of plot. The characters are thoroughly fleshed out and there is plenty of story to keep you engaged until the last page. Solid 4+ Stars! Highly Recommended.
Marianne dreams, as well. Dreams of running. Dreams of being chased by her past. Dreams of escape.
It is all going to come together on the island, where there are forces greater than either of them can imagine that have awakened and are hungry. Hungry for vengeance.
John Connolly does it again with another excellent supernatural thriller. This one is paced very well and has a smooth flow of plot. The characters are thoroughly fleshed out and there is plenty of story to keep you engaged until the last page. Solid 4+ Stars! Highly Recommended.
May 7, 2014
Bad Men was thoroughly engaging from the first page until the last.
There really weren't very many moments that let up from an unrelenting pace driving us to a final showdown of human vs the supernatural; both equally determined to come out on top.
The villain of this read, Moloch, was steadfast in his goal of obtaining his wife and dishing out his brand of vengeance along the way. I felt that things never really varied and that there was no real conflict put in his path to at least make him stumble.
The author has a way with words and his characters are true to life.
Bad Men is a great way to spend an evening or two.
Recommended.
There really weren't very many moments that let up from an unrelenting pace driving us to a final showdown of human vs the supernatural; both equally determined to come out on top.
The villain of this read, Moloch, was steadfast in his goal of obtaining his wife and dishing out his brand of vengeance along the way. I felt that things never really varied and that there was no real conflict put in his path to at least make him stumble.
The author has a way with words and his characters are true to life.
Bad Men is a great way to spend an evening or two.
Recommended.
November 19, 2018
A little while ago I read Ghost Road Blues, a book about a small town with a dark past being visited by both man-made and supernatural evils, with the current ills echoing those of the past. It's a decent read, but I felt it could have been done better.
That's where this book comes in.
This is the first of Connolly's adult novels I've read, but I expected good things, having enjoyed his short stories and his YA trilogy. The prose is excellent and the book is constructed beautifully, bouncing between storylines in ways that always felt right. The supernatural aspects are focused on ghosts as opposed to the messy Monster Mash that GRB and others indulge in.
It's not perfect. Some of the dialogue clunks, one or two of the criminals could have been taken out of the story with no damage done, but it is very good. Joe Dupree is a great character and the island of Sanctuary is awesome.
I'll be reading more Connolly soon, hopefully starting the Parker novels. Looking forward to it.
That's where this book comes in.
This is the first of Connolly's adult novels I've read, but I expected good things, having enjoyed his short stories and his YA trilogy. The prose is excellent and the book is constructed beautifully, bouncing between storylines in ways that always felt right. The supernatural aspects are focused on ghosts as opposed to the messy Monster Mash that GRB and others indulge in.
It's not perfect. Some of the dialogue clunks, one or two of the criminals could have been taken out of the story with no damage done, but it is very good. Joe Dupree is a great character and the island of Sanctuary is awesome.
I'll be reading more Connolly soon, hopefully starting the Parker novels. Looking forward to it.
September 10, 2009
3.5 bintang untuk karya John Connolly ini. Saya selalu suka kisah di mana aksi2 berlangsung cepat. Apalagi ada cerita hantunya. Jadi kebayang kalau dibuat filmnya. Membuat saya bernyanyi2 sendiri...
Engkau jagoanku (Betmeeen...)
Engkau idolaku (Betmeeen...)
Aku suka kamu (Betmeeen...)
Kau penumpas kejahatan
dan pembela keadilan
gagah perkasa
(Betmeeen...)
Sayang aku masih kecil
Tapi kau membuat aku
Ingin cepat dewasa
... (lupa)
Dan setelah aku tamat sekolah
Kuingin jadi betmeeen... betmeeen...
betmeeen... betmeeen... betmeeen...!!!
*kayaknya salah sontrek nih. Tapi biar deh, karena saya teringat masa ingin jadi jagoan seperti "betmen" penumpas kejahatan yang dilakukan oleh "bad men" *
Makasih ya Mbak Uci... (pesan sponsor)
Engkau jagoanku (Betmeeen...)
Engkau idolaku (Betmeeen...)
Aku suka kamu (Betmeeen...)
Kau penumpas kejahatan
dan pembela keadilan
gagah perkasa
(Betmeeen...)
Sayang aku masih kecil
Tapi kau membuat aku
Ingin cepat dewasa
... (lupa)
Dan setelah aku tamat sekolah
Kuingin jadi betmeeen... betmeeen...
betmeeen... betmeeen... betmeeen...!!!
*kayaknya salah sontrek nih. Tapi biar deh, karena saya teringat masa ingin jadi jagoan seperti "betmen" penumpas kejahatan yang dilakukan oleh "bad men" *
Makasih ya Mbak Uci... (pesan sponsor)
June 11, 2013
En el año 1693, en la pequeña isla Santuario, junto a la costa de Maine, unos colonos fueron cruelmente masacrados. Con el transcurrir de los años, esta isla se ha ido repoblando, pasando por una época pacífica. Ahora, trescientos años después de aquellos hechos, la isla volverá a ser asolada por una banda de asesinos que andan tras la pista de una mujer y su hijo pequeño. Aunque tal vez sea la propia isla la que los atrae hacia sí, buscando satisfacción. Y es que las presencias sobrenaturales que se ocultan en los bosques de la isla no tolerarán una nueva matanza.
’Malvados’ (Bad Men, 2003), es una novela independiente del ciclo del detective Charlie Parker, aunque tiene un par de apariciones, meramente anecdóticas. Sin ser la mejor novela de John Connolly, ésta contiene todos los ingredientes “marca de la casa”: un escenario opresivo, con ambientes lóbregos e inquietantes; así como una prosa brillante, con ese estilo denso y descriptivo, capaz de transmitir la tensión del momento. En cuanto a los personajes, destaca Joe Dupree, el jefe de policía de la isla, pero se pude decir que es una historia coral, donde tienen voz hasta los secundarios, algo que para mi gusto resta un tanto de fuerza al libro.
Resumiendo, se trata de una buena historia, violenta y oscura, que recuerda un tanto a Stephen King en los pasajes sobrenaturales de la isla. No está mal, pero no llega a la altura de las novelas de Charlie Parker.
’Malvados’ (Bad Men, 2003), es una novela independiente del ciclo del detective Charlie Parker, aunque tiene un par de apariciones, meramente anecdóticas. Sin ser la mejor novela de John Connolly, ésta contiene todos los ingredientes “marca de la casa”: un escenario opresivo, con ambientes lóbregos e inquietantes; así como una prosa brillante, con ese estilo denso y descriptivo, capaz de transmitir la tensión del momento. En cuanto a los personajes, destaca Joe Dupree, el jefe de policía de la isla, pero se pude decir que es una historia coral, donde tienen voz hasta los secundarios, algo que para mi gusto resta un tanto de fuerza al libro.
Resumiendo, se trata de una buena historia, violenta y oscura, que recuerda un tanto a Stephen King en los pasajes sobrenaturales de la isla. No está mal, pero no llega a la altura de las novelas de Charlie Parker.
August 18, 2011
I love John Connolly, but I think I might have to stop reading his books. It shouldn't come as a shock to me every time I crack open the pages of a Connolly book and read something so horrifying that my brain can't process it. 80% of the time I am reading one of his books, my heart is racing and, 100% of the time, all of the lights in my apartment are on.
This book is similar to Connolly's Charlie Parker books (Parker even makes a cameo appearance), and it had the same dark feel and supernatural elements. My opinion of this book is that Connolly wanted to kill off some characters the readers care about, which he seems reluctant to do in the Parker novels. I was stunned by how ruthless Connolly was in this novel, but I suppose it would be best to keep in mind that readers should expect the unexpected from him.
This book is similar to Connolly's Charlie Parker books (Parker even makes a cameo appearance), and it had the same dark feel and supernatural elements. My opinion of this book is that Connolly wanted to kill off some characters the readers care about, which he seems reluctant to do in the Parker novels. I was stunned by how ruthless Connolly was in this novel, but I suppose it would be best to keep in mind that readers should expect the unexpected from him.
June 9, 2021
I finished the book, but I don't think I got anything good out of it. Wished I had DNF it. It was to messy and not at all enjoyable or exciting read.
January 12, 2016
My copy of this book has the quote "With Bad Men there's no chance of indifference."
Unfortunately that's exactly the feeling this one left me with.
This is the only John Connolly book I've read that I can say that of and the first I haven't given at least 4 stars.
I'll no doubt soon return to the brilliant Charlie Parker series but this one seems equally highly rated and to me was underwhelming.
Unfortunately that's exactly the feeling this one left me with.
This is the only John Connolly book I've read that I can say that of and the first I haven't given at least 4 stars.
I'll no doubt soon return to the brilliant Charlie Parker series but this one seems equally highly rated and to me was underwhelming.
May 22, 2009
Baca buku ini sensasinya seperti ini: Suasana yang menipu, tenang tapi mencekam...tenang mencekam...tenang mencekam...oke, mungkin kita bisa nyambi minum jus lemon dengan hiasan payung kecil di gelas dulu...baca komik...tidur siang...waks! kembali suasana menjadi tenang mencekam...tenang mencekam dan DUAARRR!!! BADAAAAAAAAAI...
Pyuuuh...*ngelap keringat* akhirnya!
Dan Review g tetep :
Oh, N O ! ! !
Hahah!
Thx buat penghuni radal atas pinjaman bukunya!
Pyuuuh...*ngelap keringat* akhirnya!
Dan Review g tetep :
Oh, N O ! ! !
Hahah!
Thx buat penghuni radal atas pinjaman bukunya!
September 7, 2017
3.50 Stars
I have only read one book by John Connolly - the first in his Charlie Parker Series. So I thought I'd revisit Connolly, since his thrillers are on the darker side.
And Bad Men is certainly dark, foraying into Horror and the Supernatural. That both pleased and dismayed me. Connolly begins the novel with a dream of actual happenings on the fictional Maine Island called Dutch Island. But 350 years ago the Island was known as Sanctuary. And a former resident leading a pack of bad men slaughters all of the residents on the island. The dreamer realizes he was actually there. The dream is too real. Are they memories or just a vivid dream?
On the Island itself, some strange things are happening. Some deaths, evidence of break-ins, and sightings of a "grey" girl. The moths, too. The melancholy gentle giant, Joe Dupree knows all too much that something is about to happen. He is the law enforcement the island has, besides another rotating officer from the mainland.
Dupree is also close to a woman and her son. Marianne Elliot claims she's a widow, but she is hiding something from Dupree and Sanctuary residents. Soon more bad men will arrive and blood will flow on the island once more.
The novel begins with a fierce pace and never lets up. Connolly never gives the reader a chance to breathe, and I definitely needed to. The novel is gritty and very dark, maybe a little too much.
I have only read one book by John Connolly - the first in his Charlie Parker Series. So I thought I'd revisit Connolly, since his thrillers are on the darker side.
And Bad Men is certainly dark, foraying into Horror and the Supernatural. That both pleased and dismayed me. Connolly begins the novel with a dream of actual happenings on the fictional Maine Island called Dutch Island. But 350 years ago the Island was known as Sanctuary. And a former resident leading a pack of bad men slaughters all of the residents on the island. The dreamer realizes he was actually there. The dream is too real. Are they memories or just a vivid dream?
On the Island itself, some strange things are happening. Some deaths, evidence of break-ins, and sightings of a "grey" girl. The moths, too. The melancholy gentle giant, Joe Dupree knows all too much that something is about to happen. He is the law enforcement the island has, besides another rotating officer from the mainland.
Dupree is also close to a woman and her son. Marianne Elliot claims she's a widow, but she is hiding something from Dupree and Sanctuary residents. Soon more bad men will arrive and blood will flow on the island once more.
The novel begins with a fierce pace and never lets up. Connolly never gives the reader a chance to breathe, and I definitely needed to. The novel is gritty and very dark, maybe a little too much.
Read
November 5, 2018dnf. Once I realised this book was about ghosts I stopped reading. No problem with that, it's just not my reading taste.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2009
This is my first Connolly novel. I know he is a popular mystery writer—just look at his wall of books at Borders—but I didn’t know what to expect. To my surprise I found his writing to be articulate and beautifully detailed. I was also surprised at the intense level of violence. Not shocked, mind you, Chuck Palahniuk is one of my favorite writers, so this has a long way to go before ever reaching ‘shock’ level. It was just the sheer bravura of death and destruction that caught me off guard.
I have to give the author credit. He is not afraid to kill characters off. And there are a lot of them. So many, in fact, for the first few dozen chapters you’re not sure just what the hell is going on. Just when you get to know the small isolated Maine island Sanctuary (with copious details of its deadly history) the story switches to Florida, then the Carolinas, then all over the place and every character has a back story. The author, to a fault, doesn’t introduce anyone without immediately expounding their history which is usually brutal—even if the character is killed in the same chapter. I didn’t do a body count as I read along, but it was in the dozens. I have to say I got a little annoyed with story after story, death after death.
But he ties it all together and finally, when about two dozen of the main characters finally meet on the creepy island there is a big ‘ah-hah’ moment and the story kicks into high gear. Connolly is pretty good with the sinister detail as the story turns supernatural. You are waiting for it to happen—and when it does, he is at his best. I am not sure if his other novels have the ‘Dean Koontz’ effect or not but I picked up a couple more at the flea market and am willing to try some others.
If you put up with a lot of extraneous wasted character development the end is worth getting too. Well, isn’t it always? No, maybe not always.
I have to give the author credit. He is not afraid to kill characters off. And there are a lot of them. So many, in fact, for the first few dozen chapters you’re not sure just what the hell is going on. Just when you get to know the small isolated Maine island Sanctuary (with copious details of its deadly history) the story switches to Florida, then the Carolinas, then all over the place and every character has a back story. The author, to a fault, doesn’t introduce anyone without immediately expounding their history which is usually brutal—even if the character is killed in the same chapter. I didn’t do a body count as I read along, but it was in the dozens. I have to say I got a little annoyed with story after story, death after death.
But he ties it all together and finally, when about two dozen of the main characters finally meet on the creepy island there is a big ‘ah-hah’ moment and the story kicks into high gear. Connolly is pretty good with the sinister detail as the story turns supernatural. You are waiting for it to happen—and when it does, he is at his best. I am not sure if his other novels have the ‘Dean Koontz’ effect or not but I picked up a couple more at the flea market and am willing to try some others.
If you put up with a lot of extraneous wasted character development the end is worth getting too. Well, isn’t it always? No, maybe not always.
July 22, 2021
Demasiados muertos. Ese sería mi resumen de este libro.
Primero los puntos negativos, que tiene bastantes. Demasiados muertos, que si bien es cierto que una de las partes de la trama gira en torno a un grupo de asesinos, el número de muertos que aparecen en la novela me parece excesivo y varios de ellos mueren sin ningún sentido ni propósito para la trama. Los personajes son todos y cada uno puro cliché, desde la mujer que huye tanto de su exmarido criminal como de la policía, hasta el poli bonachón, el asesino despiadado y atormentado, etc, etc, ¡todos! Por último no me convenció demasiado la inclusión de los elementos sobrenaturales en la trama.
Ahora lo puntos positivos. El primero sería la trama, que si bien no es demasiado original, es atrayente y el libro se lee con bastante rapidez porque, además, cuenta con capítulos cortos. El policía bonachón juega su papel muy bien y es uno de los mejores personajes, junto con el asesino fugado.
Pese a la supuesta falta de inteligencia de los criminales, éstos se las ingenian para ocasionar una cantidad inimaginable de daños, pero acaban siendo víctimas de su propia maldición.
No me arrepiento de haberlo leído, pero si hubiese sabido lo que me iba a encontrar, probablemente habría pasado.
Primero los puntos negativos, que tiene bastantes. Demasiados muertos, que si bien es cierto que una de las partes de la trama gira en torno a un grupo de asesinos, el número de muertos que aparecen en la novela me parece excesivo y varios de ellos mueren sin ningún sentido ni propósito para la trama. Los personajes son todos y cada uno puro cliché, desde la mujer que huye tanto de su exmarido criminal como de la policía, hasta el poli bonachón, el asesino despiadado y atormentado, etc, etc, ¡todos! Por último no me convenció demasiado la inclusión de los elementos sobrenaturales en la trama.
La isla había permanecido tranquila durante mucho tiempo.
Ahora, algo la había despertado.
Ahora lo puntos positivos. El primero sería la trama, que si bien no es demasiado original, es atrayente y el libro se lee con bastante rapidez porque, además, cuenta con capítulos cortos. El policía bonachón juega su papel muy bien y es uno de los mejores personajes, junto con el asesino fugado.
Una persona más inteligente que Terry habría podido concluir que sus ambiciones criminales superaban con creces el talento de que disponía para realizarlas, pero, como la mayoría de los delincuentes, Terry no era particularmente inteligente.
Pese a la supuesta falta de inteligencia de los criminales, éstos se las ingenian para ocasionar una cantidad inimaginable de daños, pero acaban siendo víctimas de su propia maldición.
No me arrepiento de haberlo leído, pero si hubiese sabido lo que me iba a encontrar, probablemente habría pasado.
February 16, 2017
omg how do I put this? There's too many characters in this book and John Connolly talked about them all. And it was intense! I wasn't bored at all with his descriptions on each characters and their backgrounds. And he managed to make a story where everything looks or sounds so dark and gloomy. How did you do it Mr Connolly? Ok, a lot of people probably would disagree with me because the story walks so slow. Yes, I said walks. Connolly built the story slowly to create an atmosphere of something sinister and cruel. It's a story about Bad Men. Men. As in plural. And a mysterious island with a dark past. Can't talk about it more because it might contain spoilers. When these Bad Men came to the island to seek something, the intensity rose. The Past and Present entwined to each other and set in motion to clear the pathway for Future. With many sacrifices. If you happen to visit the island, don't go to the Sanctuary.
P.S.: The island is a fiction sadly. But you'll want to believe it's there. Because Connolly describe it so well with the terrain and its history.
P.S.: The island is a fiction sadly. But you'll want to believe it's there. Because Connolly describe it so well with the terrain and its history.
November 18, 2008
I only made it to page 123 of this book before finally giving up. I just didn't care about the story. I found it rambled on and on about stuff I didn't care about, and my mind would wander while reading so I didn't know what was going on. I don't feel I'm missing out on anything by not finishing this one.
November 13, 2017
The main reason I wanted to read this book is because I'm curious about Sharon Macy; the police woman sometimes mentioned in Charlie Parker books and it seems that they have history.
In Bad Men, Macy is a rookie cop, and I get to know a little about her past and family. And it is enough for me to say "No, she's not a suitable partner for Parker."
Bad Men tells a story about a haunted island named Sanctuary/Dutch Island. Long time ago, all of its residents are slaughtered, and their ghosts are restless because the culprit got away. Now every time there's an evil/corrupt man in the island, the ghosts get rid of him/her one way or another.
Then a group of killers arrive on the island...going after someone who betrayed their leader and took their money. They have no idea what's waiting for them...
Rather than Macy, Bad Men focuses more on Joe Dupree or Melancholy Joe, the main policeman on Sanctuary. The Dupree family has always been the guardian of the island since a long time ago.
I like Joe. Really like him. And my heart breaks for him, because what happens to him is not fair :(
No, I don't need to read more stories about Sanctuary.
It's enough to know that when you got some bad men chasing you, just go to Sanctuary and it will take care of them for you :p
**Thank you Mas Jun for securing this book for me at Big Bad Wolf :)**
In Bad Men, Macy is a rookie cop, and I get to know a little about her past and family. And it is enough for me to say "No, she's not a suitable partner for Parker."
Bad Men tells a story about a haunted island named Sanctuary/Dutch Island. Long time ago, all of its residents are slaughtered, and their ghosts are restless because the culprit got away. Now every time there's an evil/corrupt man in the island, the ghosts get rid of him/her one way or another.
Then a group of killers arrive on the island...going after someone who betrayed their leader and took their money. They have no idea what's waiting for them...
Rather than Macy, Bad Men focuses more on Joe Dupree or Melancholy Joe, the main policeman on Sanctuary. The Dupree family has always been the guardian of the island since a long time ago.
I like Joe. Really like him. And my heart breaks for him, because what happens to him is not fair :(
No, I don't need to read more stories about Sanctuary.
It's enough to know that when you got some bad men chasing you, just go to Sanctuary and it will take care of them for you :p
**Thank you Mas Jun for securing this book for me at Big Bad Wolf :)**
October 30, 2019
This book kind of reminded me of a cross between Hex and Harbor, mostly for the setting but partially for plot. It's an island with a tight knit group of inhabitants, with the island having a long and bloody history. As history often repeats itself, it's important to the book to understand the violence that once occurred there. Even though this version of the book comes in at over 500 pages, I wouldn't have minded more depth into both the history and present day events for the island. That's a fairly light criticism, because I do felt that I had a good understanding of both as well as most of the characters who lived on the island. It was interesting and therefore I want more of it.
I did have a little bit of trouble keeping track of the 'Bad Men', as there are a fair amount of them. They're all bad, hence the name, but they all have different quirks to their badness. There's no shortage of bad deeds and Connolly makes this clear during sections from any of the 'Bad Men' perspectives.
What was great about this, and part of why it reminded me of those 2 great books I mentioned earlier was how Connolly took a fairly normal story but added other elements to it, in order to turn it into something more extraordinary. Yes, it is a story about 'Bad Men' but it's a lot more than just a story about 'Bad Men'. Yes, it's a story about an island and the people who live there, but it's a lot more than that too.
I can't say that I'm a fan of Connolly's Parker series. I truly wish that he would write more books that didn't have to do with Charlie Parker. I know people love the character and the series, but The Book of Lost Things and his two short story collections are absolutely fantastic. Bad Men didn't blow me away quite as much as The Book of Lost Things, but it was still an excellent read and I found myself having a hard time putting it down. I finished it in two days, which should tell you how interested I was. If he ever writes anything else outside of the Parker series, I will 100% make sure that I read it. He's a great writer and has excellent ideas.
I did have a little bit of trouble keeping track of the 'Bad Men', as there are a fair amount of them. They're all bad, hence the name, but they all have different quirks to their badness. There's no shortage of bad deeds and Connolly makes this clear during sections from any of the 'Bad Men' perspectives.
What was great about this, and part of why it reminded me of those 2 great books I mentioned earlier was how Connolly took a fairly normal story but added other elements to it, in order to turn it into something more extraordinary. Yes, it is a story about 'Bad Men' but it's a lot more than just a story about 'Bad Men'. Yes, it's a story about an island and the people who live there, but it's a lot more than that too.
I can't say that I'm a fan of Connolly's Parker series. I truly wish that he would write more books that didn't have to do with Charlie Parker. I know people love the character and the series, but The Book of Lost Things and his two short story collections are absolutely fantastic. Bad Men didn't blow me away quite as much as The Book of Lost Things, but it was still an excellent read and I found myself having a hard time putting it down. I finished it in two days, which should tell you how interested I was. If he ever writes anything else outside of the Parker series, I will 100% make sure that I read it. He's a great writer and has excellent ideas.
October 12, 2013
Dutch Island, also called Sanctuary Island, off the coast of Maine is a small tight-knit community. Police Officer Joe Dupree is the law enforcement on the island. The worst violations he ever sees are teenagers breaking curfew and the harmless antics of the town drunk. He likes the relative peace and quiet, because he is one of the few that knows the dark history of the island, of the incident in 1693 in which the original settlers of Dutch Island were brutally raped, tortured, and murdered by a savage group of evil men. He knows, too, the history of how his great-great-great grandfather and two other men, who were away on the mainland on the day of the massacre, spent the rest of their days hunting each of the men responsible and exacting their own brand of vengeance. History has forgotten. Dupree wants to forget, but the island remembers. And the island is getting restless. When strange tragic events begin to happen with more frequency, Dupree and the handful of other inhabitants cursed with the knowledge of Dutch Island's bloody history gird their loins. Something bad is coming their way. His name is Moloch.
John Connelly's novel "Bad Men" is a nail-biting horror thriller in the tradition of the best of Stephen King. It's Connelly's first stand-alone novel, a break from his long-running detective series featuring Charlie Parker (although Connelly can't help but include a significant cameo). Dark, graphic, and beautifully written, "Bad Men" is the psycho killer story turned on its head, as the unstoppable evil killer finds himself facing a much more powerful, older, and more vengeful entity. This book is seriously intense and almost impossible to put down. If you love good thrill-a-minute horror stories in the Stephen King/Peter Straub/Dean Koontz vein, you must read "Bad Men".
John Connelly's novel "Bad Men" is a nail-biting horror thriller in the tradition of the best of Stephen King. It's Connelly's first stand-alone novel, a break from his long-running detective series featuring Charlie Parker (although Connelly can't help but include a significant cameo). Dark, graphic, and beautifully written, "Bad Men" is the psycho killer story turned on its head, as the unstoppable evil killer finds himself facing a much more powerful, older, and more vengeful entity. This book is seriously intense and almost impossible to put down. If you love good thrill-a-minute horror stories in the Stephen King/Peter Straub/Dean Koontz vein, you must read "Bad Men".
August 31, 2015
“Bad men” es un libro fuera de la serie principal con personajes únicos e historia conclusiva. La forma en la que Connolly describe las situaciones, las escenas, los entornos y los personajes es muy parecida, sino igual, que su serie principal. El único “pero” que puedo darle a esta novela es que los capítulos se hacen extensos y que dentro de cada capítulo hay demasiados puntos de vistas. Dentro de una escena describe la situación desde uno de los personajes, luego salta a otro personaje describiendo la misma escena y luego vuelve al personaje anterior. Quizá está bien contar la historia con diferentes puntos de vistas, de hecho le da trasfondo y personalidad a cada personaje, pero se me hace muy pesado que corte una escena a la mitad para cambiar de personaje. A pesar de todo, es fácil de leer porque no hay nada que rellene la historia. Todo lleva a un punto en el que concluye y no hay nada entremedio que entorpezca el flujo del relato.
Por otro lado, los personajes son interesantes, aunque si tengo que escoger uno preferido, escojo a Willard. Me hubiera gustado que se hubiera hablado más de él, pero al ser un personaje secundario, se queda un poco fuera de la línea principal. El resto de los personajes están muy bien implementados unos con otros. Connolly no abandona su estilo en toda la novela, aunque esta es más policiaca que negra e introduce muchos más elementos paranormales de lo que suele hacer normalmente.
En definitiva, es un libro que merece ser leído, sobre todo porque la historia que cuenta sobre el pasado del lugar en el cual se desarrolla, está inspirada en una historia real. El prólogo es muy atrayente y está muy bien redactado, y las escenas paranormales me gustaron bastantes. En pocas palabras, le doy cuatro estrellas de cinco.
Por otro lado, los personajes son interesantes, aunque si tengo que escoger uno preferido, escojo a Willard. Me hubiera gustado que se hubiera hablado más de él, pero al ser un personaje secundario, se queda un poco fuera de la línea principal. El resto de los personajes están muy bien implementados unos con otros. Connolly no abandona su estilo en toda la novela, aunque esta es más policiaca que negra e introduce muchos más elementos paranormales de lo que suele hacer normalmente.
En definitiva, es un libro que merece ser leído, sobre todo porque la historia que cuenta sobre el pasado del lugar en el cual se desarrolla, está inspirada en una historia real. El prólogo es muy atrayente y está muy bien redactado, y las escenas paranormales me gustaron bastantes. En pocas palabras, le doy cuatro estrellas de cinco.
March 23, 2014
Ok I will put my hand up and admit that this was a real page turner for me. I started it yesterday and rapidly was drawn in to the story so much so that I wound up reading it to the very end and I would not stop till I had - and it's been a while since I have felt that way about a book.
Ok the story is quite a simple one - historic tragedy - restless souls - modern day repeat of events - restless souls rise once more. Ok so why the high praise if that is basically it - well I think this book was not about the creativity of the storyline as you can see, but how it was delivered. The sheer build up to it, the anticipation - especially of the delivery of the "bad men" of the title just drew you in. There was no doubt no ambiguity over who or what was going to happen but still you wanted to see how far it would all go. There are books you can quickly see where they are heading and it spoils it for you - this book, well from reading the rear cover you can pretty much guess it all, but you don't care you just want to see how it happens rather what or if it will happen. And this is where the praise comes from, I think it is hard to write a book where you have to keep the readers interest and connection to the book, its harder still when that said reader knows where the book is going and thinks they know what will happen.
Ok the story is quite a simple one - historic tragedy - restless souls - modern day repeat of events - restless souls rise once more. Ok so why the high praise if that is basically it - well I think this book was not about the creativity of the storyline as you can see, but how it was delivered. The sheer build up to it, the anticipation - especially of the delivery of the "bad men" of the title just drew you in. There was no doubt no ambiguity over who or what was going to happen but still you wanted to see how far it would all go. There are books you can quickly see where they are heading and it spoils it for you - this book, well from reading the rear cover you can pretty much guess it all, but you don't care you just want to see how it happens rather what or if it will happen. And this is where the praise comes from, I think it is hard to write a book where you have to keep the readers interest and connection to the book, its harder still when that said reader knows where the book is going and thinks they know what will happen.
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