A Song of Shadows

Charlie Parker #13

by John Connolly

Still recovering from his life-threatening wounds, private detective Charlie Parker investigates a case that has its origins in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War.

Parker has retreated to the small Maine town of Boreas to regain his strength. There he befriends a widow named Ruth Winter and her young daughter, Amanda. But Ruth has her secrets. Old atrocities are about to be unearthed, and old sinners will kill to hide their sins. Now Parker is about to risk his life to defend a woman he barely knows, one who fears him almost as much as she fears those who are coming for her.

His enemies believe him to be vulnerable. Fearful. Solitary.

But they are wrong. Parker is far from afraid, and far from alone.

For something is emerging from the shadows . . .

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Horror, Mystery Thriller, Supernatural

449 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2015

About the author

John 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.

Reviews

[Nicholas Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of the Charlie Parker thrillers since the beginning; John Connolly works in a genre of one. They can be very dark and explore the sometimes blurry edges of right and wrong, but I’m a fan.

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easily the best Charlie Parker book since The Lovers (#8). It was, for me, a perfectly balanced Parker book: mystery, the supernatural, vengeance, visceral horror, intellectual horror, and, surprisingly, a nice amount of dry humor. There's a bit where the Falci Brothers pick Parker up that had me giggling. But most of it was witty asides (seriously; who makes jokes about the Reformation?):

“Pastor's here,” she said. “And Father Knowles.” Bloom turned to see the two men waiting at a polite distance. She could see only one car, though. They must have decided to travel together. Martin Luther would have had an embolism."

I can't honestly say Connolly's writing surpasses expectations, because my expectations for what he is able to do are quite high. In this book, Parker is recooperating in a house by the seashore, and we get to experience the salty air and cold sand of a late spring beach. It's a small town--not a village, mind you--so we experience the bookstore, the cafe, the police station (naturally), pieces of the public life.

The plot is one that could have been loaded with triggers, but is handled, in my estimation, with sophistication and nuance. The levity I mentioned is needed, because the plot ends up involving issues surrounding Nazis. I was--appropriately--exposed to just some of the horrors of Nazism in school, and I find the way that it has been used as a construct of evil in much of popular culture to be offensive in simplification and omnipresence. Part of the discussion is the value of prosecuting war crimes, as well sharing one of the lesser-known war-time Nazi crimes.

"Baulman took an instant dislike to Ross. He had the eyes of one who was never disappointed because his expectations of humanity were too low to allow for it."

Interestingly, narrative is rarely from Parker's point of view, but that works out just fine. State Trooper Walsh makes an appearance for a bit; as does Sam, Parker's daughter; a neighbor girl, Amanda; the local Realtor; a couple of people whom we know from the start are villains; the local police chief; and so on. Somehow, though this technique usually drives me to distraction, the story managed to retain front and center.

Just an excellent installment in the series, but as always I'd say this is not the place to begin (you could start at The Lovers, which does have Parker's parents' backstory). This series is really built on Parker's development and to pick it up at a random point misses a lot of the nuance that makes it so meaningful. 

"Rachael kissed him on the cheek, and the affection of the gesture filled him with a tender sadness. The night before was lost to them now: It had been a small consecration, a minor epiphany, and no more than that, but sometimes such moments are all that we are given, and they are enough to fuel us, and give us hope that, somewhere down the line, another might be gifted."

[Magdalena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Parker has through his lawyer Aimee Price rented a house in Boreas to spend some time away to recover from the ordeal that almost cost him his life in the last book. But soon darkness will fall upon the peaceful little town of Boreas and a dead body will wash ashore on the beach at Mason Point. The police think it's suicide, but Charlie Parker suspects something is amiss with the case. Also, his neighbor, a mother with and daughter also new to the town, seems to be hiding something. Why did she move to the town?

The Charlie Parker series is one of my favorite series and when I started to read this book I took my time reading it because I really wanted to prolong the reading experience. Usually, I try to read a book fast, but there are some books that I feel I don't want to rush.

Charlie Parker is recovering from the attack at his home that almost killed him. He has rented a house close to Brook House Clinic for rehabilitation. He has no inclination to investigate anything. He is just trying to get well, but faith has other plans and soon he must once again go against those who want to do harm. But he isn't alone, he has his old friends Angel and Louis by his side. Now he must face some real monster, monsters that for the last decades has been hiding in plain sight...

This is a dark story, but there are some lighter moments like the Fulci brothers making an appearance or the banter between Angel and Louis. Sweet moments between Charlie and his daughter Sam, who is much more like Charlie than he knows when it comes to the paranormal stuff surrounding him. And, here we have an aspect that I really like about this series, the paranormal part is what makes this series something a bit more special. The paranormal part is subtle and I love it. It's part of Charlie's life, his dead daughter and wife are still with him and I think it adds an extra flavor to the series. This could be an excellent series even without the paranormal part, but with it; it's even better I think.

I loved the book and I'm looking forward to reading the next one to see what Charlie Parker will take on after this.

I received this copy from Atria/Emily Bestler Books through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say as I slowly put this book down and try to described my experience with it and the rest of the series?!

✔️ It's brilliant.
✔️ It's a favorite series of mine.
✔️ Each book is just better than the last.

Let me put it to you this way...

Have you ever read a series or book that just takes you home?
The characters are wonderful, the writing is just f'ing amazing and the plots are so well developed that you can't put the book(s) down?

Charlie Parker by John Connolly is that series for me.

I've read a lot of series in my almost 45 years of reading and this one keeps getting better with each book that I read.

I'm so happy that my friend Latasha and Terry took this journey with me to read the Charlie Parker series.

We are all fans of Charlie, Louis and Angel and can't wait to get to the next book as soon as we are finished with the one that we are reading!

In this case, A Song of Shadows involves a broken down Charlie Parker coming into contact with the mystery of a dead man on the beach and the secrets that evil people will hide for their past atrocities during WWII and during the Holocaust.

This is not easy reading and is dark and gut wrenching at times.
But it's worth it because this is what reading a book is suppose to make you feel and remind you about the evil that humans do to other humans.

Can't wait to get to the next one!

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now Available in the U.S.!

I loved this book!

Charlie Parker is recovering from near fatal injuries and as such, is reflecting on his life and the decisions he has made. Rehabilitating at a house in Boreas, Maine he becomes interested in a body that washes up at a nearby beach and so begins this story which I'll call Charlie and the Nazis.

The portions of the book that I loved best, (other than the always entertaining Angel, Louis and Fulci Brothers), were the parts regarding Charlie's daughters. Series followers are already familiar with Jennifer and Sam but this book reveals that Sam has a secret, a dangerous one, and I cannot wait to find out more about where it comes from and how it is to be used. Jennifer made a promise to Charlie in "The Wolf in Winter" and in this volume, she keeps her promise. Charlie's girls hold sway over his emotions and I think Connolly's writing shines brightest when dealing with Parker's feelings toward them.

In short, this is yet another hit from Mr. Connolly. We've got a damaged Charlie, two daughters, Nazis, Nazi hunters, concentration camp survivors and all the old standbys including Cambion and The Collector. Everything you love about this series is here, plus some.

A Song of Shadows receives my highest recommendation. To fans of truly excellent writing, crime thrillers, mysteries and horror, go get yourself some new Charlie Parker at the end of this month! You won't regret it. (Available in the U.S. September 29, 2015.)

*I received a free e-ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. *

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every book I have read by this author (okay I am a BIG fan) but this has to be the best yet. Just about every character who matters makes an appearance especially Louis and Angel who are personal favourites of mine. At number thirteen in the series you could be forgiven for thinking that Connolly might be running out of ideas but instead he has come up with a whole new scenario which promises even better things to come. And if you are a reader of this series you know I don't use the term "things" lightly. Charlie has a new purpose in life and as for Sam..... well read it and see. I absolutely cannot wait for number fourteen.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty unbelievable that Charlier Parker is on his 13th outing, seems like only yesterday I picked up “Every Dead Thing” rather randomly and became an immediate and lifelong fan of this author and of this series in particular. 13 may be unlucky for some but not in this case because “A Song of Shadows” has a beautiful quality about it, following as it does the emotional and traumatic events of “A Wolf in Winter”, a book that had me distraught for weeks. In a good way.

A bit of background for anyone who has not yet started these… Charlie Parker is a private investigator, who lost his family to the serial killer known as The Travelling Man. Each book takes Charlie one step closer to the end game (sob, I feel it coming now I really do, one time in my reading life I hope I’m wrong and there are another 20 books on the way) whilst each one also has its own self contained storyline. Even so I would highly recommend that you read these in order without missing a step – the richness and depth of the mythology that John Connolly has created here is pitch perfect both in construction and prose, with each novel leading you slowly towards something I still cannot yet imagine – as such the complete experience is better served as a sequence of events.

Looking at “A Song of Shadows” then, here we find Charlie recuperating from the violent attack he suffered, watched over as ever by the elusive Louis and Angel, he moves to a small town to take the time to heal. Living next door is Ruth Winter and her daughter Amanda – Ruth hides a dark secret with its roots firmly in the past. Of course Charlie gets involved. It is who he is.

I read this in a day, such is the addictive quality of the writing and the story unfolding – often taking time out to take a step back, I’m not sure why exactly but these stories always get right to the heart of me. It may be crime fiction with a twist but it is also poetic, haunting and highly emotional. Always. The sheer wonder of Charlie Parker’s world ends up giving me just as much pain as pleasure emotionally speaking, I am wrung out by the end of them, this one was no different. It is why I love them and will read to the bitter end (please don’t end) because books that touch the soul are rare – and books with this subject matter that do so are even more unusual.

The ongoing mythology of the series takes a huge step with very few words in this instalment – another huge strength of the writing is the author’s ability to get a world of meaning, passion and anticipation into a few small sentences – as well as dealing with Ruth’s issues, Charlie has his own family to consider. This thread of the tale was truly terrific, although of course it also made me mad as all heck that now I have to wait again. I’m really not good at waiting. I don’t like it. It makes me grumpy.

All our well loved characters are back, including a brief cameo from my personal favourite “bad” guy – the interactions and conversations are electric as ever, the relationships solid and developing. I may take this opportunity to mention that I really hope that Mr Connolly might give us another novel somewhere in there that gives Louis and Angel their own tale of woe (see The Reapers) because these two marvellous men certainly deserve that and I’m sure there is a lot left unsaid for this pair.

Overall this was fantastic. I always think it cannot possibly hit me any harder but each time it does – beautifully written, literary genius and without doubt my favourite series in the history of the world ever. So highly recommended that highly recommended doesnt even cover it. If you have not read these yet you are missing something incredible. Don’t do that. Life is too short.

[Zoeytron · Rating 4 out of 5]

'We all trail our histories behind us. . .'

This was my first acquaintance with John Connolly's famous detective. Pleased to meet you, Charlie Parker, with your haunted eyes, and your unusual daughters with their otherness.

Great characters inhabit the shadows of 'this miasma of darkness. . .' Cambion the leper, a sadistic torturer who has the tables turned on him as the disease itself eats him alive, even as he is gently tended to by a woman who reeks of cats, mothballs, cookies, and piss. The Collector, the Hunter, Nazis masquerading as benign old folks, and the Jigsaw Man all fit in here. It is an intricate plot that pays off nicely. Deal me in for more of Charlie Parker.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

After putting down number 12, I immediately downloaded number 13 and began to read...

The multiple POV in the beginning third of the book made me fear that I was going to be disappointed again. It was then that I realised my main issue with some of the books in this series stems from my relationship with Parker. I guard my time with him like a jealous lover, begrudging those who demand my attention when it could be with him. I want to know what he's thinking and what he's doing. He is more than just the nucleus of the story or of the series, he's the question to which I need an answer. What are you Parker? Not only that, who are you now? These recent events have changed you, I can see it. Your friends have noticed, so I am not alone. I very much think your enemies will be the ones to feel the consequences very soon. The answer I seek seems on the verge of being discovered, but i'm less sure of what it will be, or even was I hope it to be.

The sense of convergence that was so stark in A Wolf in Winter is further developed in this novel. It seethes with the unhuman, the many shadows. The Hollow men, Jennifer, the ghostly victims of Nazi brutality- all reach into the human world with the power to influence real events. Little by little, loose ends are being tied up. Tidy and satifactory ends presented with a little bow and a lot of blood. Some brief appearances from old friends and adversaries rattle the very bones of the story. Yet if there is a sense of moving forward to a conclusion, it is because lesser evil is being revealed to have much greater behind it. In these most recent books, Connolly seems to manage a perfect blending of old and new, interlinking the major people and events in Parker's life to form a complex, but purposeful narrative that gives the series even more direction and hints at an intriguing future.

Charlie Parker moves in a world where the darkness that surrounds him is deeper and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. But now he is no longer satisfied with being lost within it. The next book, out in April 2016, is called A Time of Torment. It makes me wonder whose torment is coming? Wherever and whenever he arrives, Parker will not be there as a beacon of shining light in the darkness. Like a brutally efficient surgeon, his solution to malignancy is simply to remove it. Connolly keeps developing his character in ways that make Charlie as intriguing as the man we met in Every Dead Thing. I cannot wait to see what comes next.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A private investigator, assassins (some of whom are friendly), Nazis, the holocaust, ghosts and the supernatural, an age old struggle between good and evil… 13 books in and this series still feels fresh, still surprises me, and still the mythos grows.

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Много добра история за Чарли Паркър.

Но съм дълбоко разочарован от няколко неща, които издателство Прозорец е допуснало.

След 12 излезли книги, част от имената в книгата са променени драстично:

Ейнджъл е станал Анхел
Скарбъро - Скарбъроу
братята Фулси - Фулчи

Даже да са по-удачни като превод, можеше да си направи труда преводачката да провери, как са били преведени в някоя от предните книги. Мен това ме дразни изключително много.

След страница 300 изненадващо започва изобилие от смислови и правописни грешки, на редактора явно му е писнало да провери цялата книга... До степен, че има цял безсмислен абзац.

Надявам се, че това няма да е прецедент и че няма да се повтори в следващата книга от поредицата!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

received it today, strangely enough its release coincides with the New Nesbo and Kerr concerning Bernie. Which one do I read first? I feel so spoilt for choices.

Once again Connolly has delivered a dark tale in his Charlie Parker series that shows that the man does know how to deliver a story that scares you, disgusts you, amazes you and pulls you heartstrings all in the same novel.

Charlie Parker is recovering from the ordeal he went through at the end of last novel, and he turns out to be a magnet for trouble. He does not actively looks it up but who he is and what he stands for is a guarantee that Trouble finds him wherever, whenever and whoever.
This tale is about the darkness of the Nazi refugees that still live in our gardens and the book does its best to relay the reasoning for pursuing them until they are all gone. At the same time the message that evil never dies but continues to live on in those that believe and have faith is becoming more clear with each book. the inclusion of the role of the church in this book made me think of my GR friend Lew Weinstein he would undoubtely know a lot more about it.

All the characters are back and everything they do is faithfull to what they are and reading about them makes you feel comfortable when visiting old friends. That said the dynamic of the relationships and characters is clearly changing and the big cliffhanger at the end of the book makes me mighty curious about the next novel.

Not the best book to read first if you start with John Connolly and his Charlie Parker books, but a solid promise that the series is still very brilliant with the 13th book.

Well advised, new to it start with the first book and go on a brilliant 13 book rollercoaster.

[Paul Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘You don’t have to stay,’ she told the dead daughter. ‘I’m here now. I’ll keep him safe.’

A Song of Shadows is the thirteenth in the Charlie Parker series which has long been my favourite and a new release is in my eyes a prominent day in any literary calendar.

Now the series as a whole generally comes down to two types of books, you have the ones that bounce ahead in Charlie's story arc and you have the ones that step sideways, usually a highly entertaining break but doesn't really progress toward where we all want to get to. More recently The Burning Soul and The Whisperers spring to mind.

So which does A Song of Shadows fit into, well I'd have to say for the main part it's a step sideways but there's a couple of extremely significant events regarding Charlie's family, specifically his daughters. Yes both of them, the start of an absolutely chilling relationship that adds another major plot line, not that this series is in dire need of more darkness and shadow but its more intrigue on top of everything else. Past friends like Epstein the rabbi and his beautiful guardian, The Collector and Cambion the Leper all make brief but substantial appearances, it’s all here and those players are not even the primary source of danger.

The story well it's all about recovery and rehabilitation as Charlie fights to get back to his former self after the injuries sustained in the last outing. He picks Boreas to anchor down in and Charlie is of course a gravitational pull to all that is dark and evil in this world and that's what makes him immensely popular with anyone able to pass breath and delve into his completely enslaving life. It’s not all darkness, of course there is the usual humour around the Fulci's, Angel and Louis all mixed with considerable menace. Take the slow driving Louis and the exasperated Angel.

'You want me to get out and walk in front with a red flag?’ ‘Yeah, would you? Then I could run you over.’ ‘You couldn’t accelerate fast enough to run me over. By the time you got up to speed, I’d have died of old age.’

Charlie befriends a widow in the house next door and a new case practically jumps out of the closet at him, one with its origins going all the way back to the Second World War and the atrocities surrounding a particularly horrific concentration camp. This did result in excessive information dumps about the Nazi's, their ill-gotten gains and fight to stay hidden under the radar, which diverted focus away from where you really want to be. You can easily live with that, however because the stories are exceptional.

This is all about Charlie and his daughters though, an excitingly dark twist to his future, tense, fraught with trepidation, and hats off to the direction John Connolly's now taking us in. Dark and Malevolent as ever but the ghosts of his past combine furtively with the things most precious in his life and its gripping.

'The detective’s relationship with his daughter was a construct of great complexity, of nuance and shadow. He could never see as much of her as he might have wished, and yet curiously he did not miss her as deeply as he might have done under other circumstances, for she was always with him. In that, he thought, she was like his first daughter, his dead daughter.'

Looking forward to the next already, hopefully this series never ends because it is that good and the last five lines just blew me away, absolutely chilling. I could easily give every book of this series five stars but in terms of enjoyment and the fact that the last two books were top draw this one I think is almost a reluctant four.

Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...






Merged review:

A Song of Shadows by John Connolly ‘You don’t have to stay,’ she told the dead daughter. ‘I’m here now. I’ll keep him safe.’
 
A Song of Shadows is the thirteenth in the Charlie Parker series which has long been my favourite and a new release is in my eyes a prominent day in any literary calendar.
 
Now the series as a whole generally comes down to two types of books, you have the ones that bounce ahead in Charlie's story arc and you have the ones that step sideways, usually a highly entertaining break but doesn't really progress toward where we all want to get to. More recently The Burning Soul and The Whisperers spring to mind.
 
So which does A Song of Shadows fit into, well I'd have to say for the main part it's a step sideways but there's a couple of extremely significant events regarding Charlie's family, specifically his daughters. Yes both of them, the start of an absolutely chilling relationship that adds another major plot line, not that this series is in dire need of more darkness and shadow but its more intrigue on top of everything else. Past friends like Epstein the rabbi and his beautiful guardian, The Collector and Cambion the Leper all make brief but substantial appearances, it’s all here and those players are not even the primary source of danger.
 
The story well it's all about recovery and rehabilitation as Charlie fights to get back to his former self after the injuries sustained in the last outing. He picks Boreas to anchor down in and Charlie is of course a gravitational pull to all that is dark and evil in this world and that's what makes him immensely popular with anyone able to pass breath and delve into his completely enslaving life. It’s not all darkness, of course there is the usual humour around the Fulci's, Angel and Louis all mixed with considerable menace. Take the slow driving Louis and the exasperated Angel.
 
'You want me to get out and walk in front with a red flag?’ ‘Yeah, would you? Then I could run you over.’ ‘You couldn’t accelerate fast enough to run me over. By the time you got up to speed, I’d have died of old age.’
 
Charlie befriends a widow in the house next door and a new case practically jumps out of the closet at him, one with its origins going all the way back to the Second World War and the atrocities surrounding a particularly horrific concentration camp. This did result in excessive information dumps about the Nazi's, their ill-gotten gains and fight to stay hidden under the radar, which diverted focus away from where you really want to be. You can easily live with that, however because the stories are exceptional.
 
This is all about Charlie and his daughters though, an excitingly dark twist to his future, tense, fraught with trepidation, and hats off to the direction John Connolly's now taking us in. Dark and Malevolent as ever but the ghosts of his past combine furtively with the things most precious in his life and its gripping.
 
'The detective’s relationship with his daughter was a construct of great complexity, of nuance and shadow. He could never see as much of her as he might have wished, and yet curiously he did not miss her as deeply as he might have done under other circumstances, for she was always with him. In that, he thought, she was like his first daughter, his dead daughter.'
 
Looking forward to the next already, hopefully this series never ends because it is that good and the last five lines just blew me away, absolutely chilling. I could easily give every book of this series five stars but in terms of enjoyment and the fact that the last two books were top draw this one I think is almost a reluctant four.
 
 GOODREADS PLEASE STOP DELETING MY FUCKING REVIEWS
 
 

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being shot at the end of the last book we re-join Parker trying to recover. This becomes difficult when a woman with deep dark secrets moves into the house next door to his new rental dwelling.

The story revolves around Charlie Parker investigating a case that has its origins in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War. Broken, but undeterred, private detective Charlie Parker faces the darkest of dark forces in a case with its roots in the second world war and a concentration camp unlike any other.

Recovering from a near-fatal shooting and tormented by memories of a world beyond this one, Parker has retreated to the small Maine town of Boreas to recover. Angel and Louis make an appearance but are keeping a discrete if distant eye on him.

Beautifully written as always and a worthy addition to this wonderful ongoing series. Copies of A SONG OF SHADOWS are now in bookstores throughout Ireland, many signed and with CD's. The US edition is to be released September 29 without the CD.

This copy is signed by John Connolly and comes with a CD "A Soundtrack to the Novels of John Connolly V 5" I recall previously that "The Black Angel" also came with a CD. ALSO "The Unquiet" the 2008 Parker novel had "A Soundtrack To The Novels Of John Connolly, Volume II" in the book.

[Jon Recluse · Rating 5 out of 5]

After barely surviving an attempt on his life, Charlie Parker goes to ground in the small town of Boreas, Maine, to quietly recuperate off the grid. When his neighbor's young daughter Amanda comes to his aid when his strength fails him, Charlie is drawn to the girl and, even as his instincts tell him that something is troubling her mother Ruth, he befriends them both.
As always, his instincts prove correct.
When the body of an obsessed amateur Nazi hunter washes up on the beach, Charlie takes an interest, and finds himself following a web of death that reaches back to the final days of World War II, a mysterious "prison camp" called Lubsko....and the sole survivor of the evil lurked there....an evil that has also survived, and has set it's sights on Ruth, Amanda.....and Charlie.

As cliched as the material sounds, remember that this is John Connolly. This isn't your daddy's Nazi thriller. There are no mad, semi-immortal masterminds within these pages. These are elderly, broken, desperate men.....men who believe that they have outlived the onus of the crimes they committed during the war.....and are perfectly willing to embrace that evil again when their secrets are threatened.
And let us not forget that signature darkness that weaves through the entire series. There are revelations here......and a warning that will chill you to the bone, and have you pacing the floors awaiting the next book. I know I will.

Highly recommended.

This was an eARC from Netgalley

[Gerhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the anaemic The Wolf in Winter – where John Connolly resorted to the risible authorial gimmick of leaving the reader unsure if Charlie Parker lives or dies – A Song of Shadows hit me like a bolt out of the blue.

This is the strongest Parker novel in a long, long time, and probably the best after The Killing Kind. More importantly, it reinvigorates this long-running series. Book #13 sees Connolly hit a mother lode similar to that he mined in Every Dead Thing: a rich vein of terror, horror and existential angst that builds up to something far more than the sum of its parts.

Similar to The Wrath of Angels, Connolly chooses a historical backdrop on which to hang his tale. Here though the history lesson does not overwhelm the ongoing story of Parker’s discovery of his true nature, and the end game towards all the disparate pieces are now grimly moving.

In focusing on the atrocities of the Third Reich in its concentration camps – and in particular at Lubsko, about which I knew nothing until I read this book – Connolly found a subject matter to ignite his anger.

A Song of Shadows is a very angry book, as well as being resolutely grim and dark. The theme of the Nazis and their moral culpability in the Holocaust is a perfect lodestone for the moral ambiguity embodied by Charlie Parker himself. (This is not to detract in any way from the horror of the events in the Second World War. Instead, Connolly is highly empassioned about the nature of good and evil, and there is much food for thought here as a result).

What is quite startling here is how Connolly embraces this duality of Parker, which is something he has hinted at before but always ended up skirting. I got the feeling, especially with The Wolf in Winter, that Connolly was balancing the commercial considerations of a highly successful (and profitable) series against his instinct as a writer to head into uncharted territory.

A Song of Shadows is a perfect marriage of these difficult elements. Connolly seems to have a renewed energy and urgency that translates into a cracking read that I devoured in two days. There are a couple of narrative sleights of hand that are breathtaking (and carried out with such deftness that I was strongly reminded how technically assured a writer Connolly can be).

The ending, is quite simply, jaw-dropping. (It does tie-in quite neatly with The Burning Soul, so this is definitely not an entry point for first-time Connolly readers). But what an assured and thrilling denouement to one of the best books in Connolly’s oeuvre to date. Long live Charlie Parker and his many demons.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Evil” is a pretty strong word that gets thrown around a lot, without much thought as to what it actually means. By definition, the word means “anything that is morally reprehensible and completely antithetical to a moral good”. All humans---regardless of race, religion, or creed---would universally agree that certain crimes like murder and rape are evil.

There is another definition, however, that is somewhat more controversial, depending on one’s faith and belief in Judeo-Christian theology; that is, of course, the concept of “Evil” as a supernatural cosmic force, the counterpoint to the force of “Good” as embodied and personified by God, the deity. Your own belief in this capital-E Evil is dependent on your belief in God. You simply can’t believe in one without the other.

John Connolly, the author of the Charlie Parker detective series, entertains this theme constantly, but it is in “A Song of Shadows”, the thirteenth Parker novel, that he tackles the concept of evil vs. Evil head-on.

It is perhaps appropriate that “A Song of Shadows” is about Nazism. Specifically, it is about former Nazi war criminals---those who actually oversaw and controlled the systemic genocidal slaughter of Jews at various concentration camps---who escaped, changed their identities, and led relatively uneventful lives here in the U.S.

Connolly doesn’t hide his beliefs about the concept of evil, and he never has. If you’ve read a Connolly novel, you can clearly glean a very strong belief in the supernatural, God, an afterlife. It is, in fact, a vital and explicit component of his narrative. His character, Parker, may not always have a good relationship with God, but he never doubts that He exists. This belief is handled so convincingly, it’s hard to believe that Connolly himself doesn’t believe.

In the book, Parker is recuperating from his near-death experience in the last book, “The Wolf in Winter”. He has set up residence in a quiet Maine town called Boreas in a beachfront house where he can quietly let his wounds---both physical and psychological---heal.

His closest neighbors are also new to town: a single mother named Ruth Winter and her daughter, Amanda. Parker is drawn to Amanda because she is roughly the same age as his daughter, Samantha. She also reminds him somewhat of his dead daughter, Jennifer, who still watches over him.

When a body washes up on shore, Parker instinctively knows that something bad is going to happen. His instincts, as always, are correct.

It is not long before Parker is sucked into a convoluted conspiracy involving evil old men bent on protecting themselves from discovery by the U.S. and Israeli governments. Parker is soon beset on all sides by powerful super-wealthy evil forces, Neo-Nazi hitmen, and the supernatural entities that have hounded him for years. Everyone thinks he is vulnerable, like a wounded dog, but wounded dogs can be extremely vicious if backed into a corner.

Connolly outdoes himself with every new Parker novel, and these last couple novels have really upped the ante. Parker finds himself at a crossroads in his life, and in this book, he must make a choice that will find him on a path of no return.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 13th Charlie Parker book, but it is only the second one that I've read. I also read "The Wolf in Winter", the 12th book in the series. I'm sure that I would have benefited from having read more of the series, but I thought that this book worked fine as a standalone. Parker has rented a beach house in a small Maine town while he recuperates from serious injuries. However the private detective can't keep from getting involved in a mystery involving a dead body on the beach, a missing boy, a sadistic assassin, war criminals, neo Natzis and Parker's mostly invisible daughter (always referred to as "my dead daughter", which I found somewhat disconcerting). Parker also has a living six year old daughter Samantha who lives with her mother but visits him in Maine. I'm sure that more will be learned about Samantha in future books.

I like Parker and I enjoyed this complex story with a hint of the supernatural. The banter of Parker's colleagues was amusing, and I don't usually like banter. These books have a lighter touch than some humorless crime series. I may have appreciated the banter more because the narrator of the audio book, Jeff Harding, was very good.

I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher, however I wound up borrowing and listening to the audiobook from the library.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the brutal events at the close of The Wolf in Winter, Charlie Parker rents a property in the small beach side Maine community of Boreas, in an effort to heal his wounds in peace. However, knowing Parker, trouble seems to follow him no matter where he lays his head.

Parker’s neighbours, Ruth and Amanda Winter, are in hiding, although they refuse to admit it to Charlie. Evil men whose origins are rooted in the operation of a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War have their eyes set on the Winter’s demise. Does Parker have enough left in the tank to protect them or will the years of abuse put upon his body finally prove to be too much?

The thirteenth book in Connolly’s acclaimed Charlie Parker series is upon us (well, upon the UK anyway – North American release is set to hit shelves on September 29th, 2015). First thing you’ll notice is that unlike the majority of the Parker series (The Reapers being a Louis/Angel novel), it’s written from the viewpoint of a narrator rather than through words of Charlie himself. While this was jarring at first, it quickly became clear that Connolly had a much grander vision in mind, something that would be difficult to do through the eyes of Parker alone. Using this style, Connolly crafted a rich history as well as compelling characters that combined to keep me glued the whole way through.

Seeing as Parker is taking some much needed “me-time”, Connolly threw in more than enough characters to pick up the slack for his signature sleuth. Louis and Angel aren’t far from Parker’s doorstep as they keep a watchful eye over their friend and as always, they provide some laugh out loud moments through witty dialogue that has become a trademark of the Parker series.

What would a Parker book be if it didn’t have a few dangerous men lurking in the shadows? A villain dubbed The Jigsaw Man? Sign me up. And while these evil cronies aren’t the scariest adversaries Parker has had to combat, they’re certainly some of the more desperate ones. These men have spent years running from their past so with their anonymity threatened, you can bet they’re going to fight back.

For the longest time, The White Road had been my favourite Parker book, but I think A Song of Shadows may have eclipsed it. The events at the conclusion of A Song of Shadows have reinvigorated the series showing readers that Connolly has a lot left in the tank.

Also posted @ Every Read Thing.

[SUSAN *Nevertheless,she persisted* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of this author,his writing and this series. The writing is intelligent,well paced and the characters are always in character. Parker,the Fulci brothers,Louis and Angel...an amazing cast.
This book is filled with twists,turns,and things otherworldly.

Charlie's is recuperating from a near fatal attempt on his life,in a small town in Maine. A body washes ashore and the games begin. Murder,Nazis,Nazi hunters....this book will grab you and not let up until the final sentence.


A lot of the information and storyline is based on fact. Some of these facts are hard to digest and what makes them more unimaginable,our government was complicit.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fuckin' love this series. Plus, it's getting crazy with his daughter Sam. Man, this is going to get wild! Can't wait for the next one!

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say here except I loved this! We get to follow Charlie after the events of the last book which has left him with having to have physical therapy. His favorite duo (Louis and Angel) along with his attorney make arrangements to have him recuperate in Boreas, Maine. The town itself has an interesting history and cast of characters. I liked everyone we meet (mostly) and thought that this would have been an interesting place for further adventures of Charlie Parker. We have Charlie coming to some key decision points in his life and also realizing that his six year old daughter, Sam is not like other girls (something readers have known for a while). Great read especially after I thought the last book was kind of lackluster.

I liked some of the answers we get about Samantha and "the other daughter" in this one. Charlie has also changed slightly, but is no more focused on making sure those who are evil and have done so are brought to justice. I was a bit worried about the whole Nazi plot in this one, but Connolly did great research and it shows off in this one. I also gasped a bit when we start getting to some reveals in this one about some of the characters.

I also love that Charlie's "romance" with Liat is not ignored in this one and loved the little bit of interactions we get with those two. Also we get to see Charlie and Rachel again and honestly I think that these two have come to some sort of understanding with each other. Rachel hasn't seemed angry towards Charlie in like 3-4 books at this point.

We also get the character of Amanda who will break your heart something good while reading this one. I wonder if she pops up in future works.

The writing in this one was really good. Connolly manages to capture a part of Maine that always feels dark and foreboding. I also liked the flow and how it better incorporates what is going on with a lot of characters in this one. No one felt like they were taking away from the main plot in this one.

I really loved the ending on this one and feel bad that The Collector was not given the opportunity to make a really bad person pay. It was still nice to see him show up though. Also it's great to see that Charlie is making a different path for himself. Now we just have to see how this all works out in the end.

[Nev Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of my reviews recently have been of books written by people I have never heard of. I absolutely love finding new authors and being able to share what they do. Every year though, in April, I look forward to one thing happening. The next Charlie Parker instalment. A Song of Shadows is John Connolly’s 13th (some, including me, would argue 14th) book about the life of ex-cop / ex private investigator / ex loads of other things, Charlie Parker. I always look forward to it coming out. I’ve just finished it. Now I’m depressed again because I’ve probably got another year to wait on the next one. The highs and lows of being in total awe of this man’s writing!

Charlie Parker is recovering from his near fatal shooting in his own home. He is recuperating in a rented house in the small Maine town of Boreas. He befriends his troubled neighbour Ruth Winter and her daughter Amanda. Ruth is frightened. Parker doesn’t know why but he has a feeling it has something to do with a body that has just washed up on a beach.

The body has some interesting connections. It looks like the man was a hunter. A hunter of Nazi war criminals. A series of events that follow once again entrap Parker in a situation he just can’t let go of. While trying to recover from his injuries and deal with ghosts of his past and present, he sets out to help figure out decades old connections and get to the bottom of what actually happened in a place called Lubsko during WWII and more importantly, who can answer for the crimes.

Now before I start in earnest, I will confess, the Charlie Parker series is probably my all-time favourite. Ever. Period. The End. To which end my review could probably read like this – Loved it. Buy it. The end. Now that I am a “blogger” (is that how you say it? Bloggite? Bloggist?) and reviewer, my true objective self must come out. OK then, honesty rules.

If you are looking for an old school Parker novel where he runs all over the country in a high energy show that is full of high octane chases and huge blockbuster explosions, this is not it. Is that a disappointment? In a way it is yes but you got to remember, the man is recovering after nearly being killed.

What do we have then? It’s beautiful. Ab-so-lutely beautiful.

A Wolf in Winter was super powerful. When it ended, I think everyone knew that times were going to change for Parker. He was going to change as a person. His priorities, lifestyle and commitments would change. A Song of Shadows doesn’t possess the same type of “power” that Wolf did but it is immensely powerful in its own unique way. Not so much of the supernatural but, reading between the lines, it sets us up perfectly for the continuing story. Very moving at times and also quite harrowing this is definitely slower paced but in a way it’s a welcome break.

Most stories that are in a series where the “hero” has been badly injured in the last book, start the following book where he or she is fully recovered and raring to complete three triathlons in a week and save the world while he is tightrope walking across the Grand Canyon eating doughnuts. This doesn’t. Parker’s injuries still have him mostly incapacitated. I loved this. It slows the whole pace of the story right down and makes us realise that he isn’t super human or immortal after all. Or is he? Connolly’s writing just sucks you in. From page one the book just makes you feel like you’re wrapped in your favourite jumper, snuggled on your favourite seat with not a care in the world and no desire to do anything other than finish the book in one sitting. It is virtually impossible to put down.

As for the rest of the characters in this one – a lot of old favourites come back. It wouldn’t be the same without Angel and Louie. Thankfully they haven’t changed one bit. Louie is still as cool, calm and collected as he was before. Angel is……well he is Angel. They are characters that should never ever be excluded from Connolly’s books. FBI agent Ross is back as is MCU man Walsh. You will also recognise other faces as well that Parker has met on his extensive travels including two that will make you laugh out loud when they appear.

You may have noticed I haven’t told you about the story? I don’t want to. I don’t want to spoil it for you.

OK then. When a body is found on a beach it looks like suicide. Some more bodies show up and all of a sudden it looks like they could be connected. Parker gets drawn into it as normal and is soon into it up to his neck. It centres on the German community in and around Boreas and particularly some individuals who may or may not have been involved with war crimes in WWII. Once again Connolly shows he isn’t scared to write about events or storylines that have proved controversial or painful in the past, present or future.

I could go onnnnnn and onnnnnnnn. This is what I would call a “link” book. A Wolf in Winter was a Powerball of a story that could have gone either way in the end. A Song of Shadows slows the pace and I suppose could sort of stand by itself. Until the end. What Mr Connolly does to us in the last chapter verges on the criminal. You will read the last paragraph in this book with your jaw trailing the floor. You will close the book and your jaw will still be trailing the floor. When you gather yourself again, you will curse Mr Connolly for leaving you hanging. You will be unbelievably excited at the prospect of what could be coming next in the story. You will probably join me, rocking in the corner, totally depressed that you have to wait probably another year for the next part.

If you haven’t read any in this series then I triple urge you to get started with Every Dead Thing and join the millions of us in the John Connolly fan club. If you have been following the series then you must must must get A Song of Shadows. You will not be disappointed

Come one John! Get writing!!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Each one of these books that I start, I wonder will it be as good as the last one. And each time, it is! Such good stories, so well told. And now, new possibilities are raised in this book, escalating the overall storyline to new levels. I can’t wait to get to the next one.

[Charlie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

La canción de las sombras
Otra excelente novela de John Connolly con su personaje Charlie Parker en su entrega numero 13. Después del anterior libro donde estuvo apunto de morir, Parker se traslada a un pueblo para recuperarse de sus heridas, un sitio, donde nadie lo quiere porque donde este hombre va siempre trae la muerte y destrucción.
Dicho y hecho, nada más llegar empiezan a ocurrir asesinatos y desapariciones. En este caso, como la portada del libro delata, la sospecha cae sobre unos supuestos nazis que están siendo investigados por su pasado en los campos de concentración alemanes.
El tema, a mi parecer, está un poco cogido por los pelos, porque, como el mismo Connolly escribe, los dos sospechosos hacían casi 200 años entre ellos, o sea, no sé a qué viene montar una trama con esta gente a estas alturas después de más de 70 años.
Sea como sea, la novela está contada como suele acostumbrar este autor, la trama principal muy bien documentada y, además, es que escribe muy bien.
Soy seguidor de esta serie desde el principio, mi juicio está condicionado porque me encanta Connolly y su personaje. Esto es novela negra llevada un poco más allá, Parker no es como los demás detectives de las clásicas novelas negras.
Parker tiene un aura sobrenatural que aparece cuando toca, no abusa Connolly de esto, pero es lo que hace la diferencia con los demás héroes de novela negra.
En toda la serie de novelas hay algunas que son claves para entender el personaje, en esta serie el primer libro (Todo lo que Muere) es donde empieza la leyenda de este hombre y tenemos luego una serie de libros magníficos hasta llegar a (Los amantes) donde se desvelan muchas incógnitas y supone un cambio importante.
En este que estoy reseñando también hay un cambio crucial y va a suponer una evolución en el personaje, algo que se intuía en el anterior libro, se confirma aquí. Los autores cumplen años y sus personajes también, las facultades físicas disminuyen para Parker, pero aumentan otras que lo hace implacable.
Si os animáis con esta serie negra os recomiendo empezar por el principio, además pillareis a Parker en plena forma.

[John McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and for me ,one of the best in the series.
A Song of Shadows sees Charlie Parker much diminished physically as he recovers from events in the previous book. He becomes involved in an investigation involving Nazi war criminals and comes to a chilling realisation regarding his daughters .
The Charlie Parker books are an absolute must read and quite frankly, I'm running out of superlatives to describe them.

[Latasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! The story pulls you right in. The suspense is there, the intrigue, the mystery. Charlie is trying to recover but old habits die hard. When a body washes up, that's all it takes. He gets wrapped up in the mystery and instead of recovering, he's detecting once again. What he uncovers is awful. And what's even worse is that this stuff really happened.
I loved the mystery of this one and the comedy relief was much needed but really funny, too. I would like to thank my friends, Terry and Ginger, for reading this one with me. This has been a great journey with them, Charlie Parker, Louis and Angel. I can't wait for the next one.

[Rob Twinem · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 13th book in the long running Charlie "bird" Parker dark crime series. The great concern about reading the latest offering from John Connolly is to ask the question...is this a step too far? is it not time that Charlie Parker was put into retirement? does the author not run the risk of simply boring the reader with a character, indeed list of characters that quite simply have no more to say or offer? However let it be said here now that "bird" is alive and tweeting! and A Song of Shadows is another remarkable achievement from an author who seems to go from strength to strength.

The central theme of this story is the unveiling and uncovering of Nazi war criminals living in the United States. Bruno Perlmans body is washed ashore in the town of Boreas, his family had been interned at a concentration camp called Lubsko. What is the connection between him and Marcus Baulman, Ruth Winter and her mother Isha? This is an exceptionally well researched novel that probes deep into both America and Germany's attitude to war criminals guilty of genocide and how they should be dealt with (or not)

We see a very subdued Charlie Parker who is recuperating in Boreas (having almost died in his previous outing) and at first his contribution to the story is incidental making the acquaintance of Amanda Winter (Ruth's daughter) on one of his early morning exercise outings along the beach. "His presence in Boreas was incongruous, given his reputation. It was like having a grenade rolling around, one you had been assured was defused but hadn't had time to check out for yourself". What is remarkable in this story is that John Connolly has kept our interest in Parker very much alive even thought he has tended to dwell more on the central issue, the unmasking of war criminals and by doing this Parker receives the readers utmost sympathy in his battle back to full health with of course the help and guidance of his personal body guards the mysterious and dangerous Louis and Angel together with a welcome appearance from The Fulcis, and a cameo role for “The Collector of Souls”

What sets Connolly’s books apart is the adding of a dark element to Parker’s persona. Parker blames himself for the murder of his wife and daughter Jennifer and you cannot help but feel that he will be relieved when it is time for him to join them. He has many visions and often daughter Jennifer appears before him, is she real or a product of his disturbed mind. In A Song of Shadows we once again meet Parker’s second daughter Sam who appears to have inherited the family trait of talking to the dead and in one memorable scene has an encounter with Jennifer…….

“The dead daughter had returned, standing at the end of Sam’s bed, her head bowed so that her hair might conceal the ruin of her face. Sam felt sorry for her, the way she felt sorry for anyone who was forced to endure a form of disability or physical disfigurement. She also understood that it had to be this way for the girl. When she crossed over to this world, she took the last form in which she had inhabited it when she was alive. Her beauty was for another place”

So where does Charlie Parker go from here, can we expect a 14th outing? In the final pages surprisingly Parker secures his own future (I will not disclose how but it comes about from an unexpected source) and that for all JC fans can only be great news. This is storytelling of the highest order, intelligent well researched and a joy to read and I highly recommend!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The 13th installment in the Charlie Parker series continues to maintain not only the quality but also the compelling excitement at a level that very few other author ever reaches. When I start one of the Charlie Parker books, similar to a Stephen King novel, I have to clear the decks. Make sure that I don’t have any evening plans. Turn off the phone. Find a quiet place. Because once I start it will be pretty much non-stop reading until the last word. 13 books into the series and it is still like that. Is there any series as good as this one? If so, I would like to hear about it because I doubt it.

Not only is A Song of Shadows a fantastic story in its own right, adding further depth to the stories that have slowly deepened to profound levels in the first 12 books in the series, but Connolly reveals a new direction to come and even hints at a final epic showdown on the horizon. The pieces are being assembled. The final lineup card is being formed. And it promises to be spectacular; I am sure equal parts satisfying and devastating. Even though it was midnight when I finished A Song of Shadows, if I had the next in the series I would have started it—at least the first few chapters.

If you can handle the darkness, it doesn’t get any better than this. Not only are the novels entertaining, riveting even, but they are about something—the Heart of Darkness in the human soul and the sacrifices that must be made in order to bring justice and fight for good against evil. Charlie Parker knows that to defeat evil you often win because you are more ruthless than your enemy. He gets results. He is feared because he is relentless and willing to do whatever is required to triumph over his enemy. No apologies. No quarter. No excuses. No equal.

5 stars.

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Parker, para recuperarse de sus heridas, se traslada a Boreas, un tranquilo pueblo costero de Maine. Pero no todo va a ser tan idílico cuando un cuerpo aparece en la playa, cerca de donde él vive. Pronto se sabe que el fallecido es judío, algo que parece estar relacionado con las vecinas de Parker, una madre y su hija. De nuevo Parker se verá envuelto en problemas.

‘La canción de las sombras’ (A Song of Shadows, 2015), del escritor irlandés John Connoly, nos vuelve a acercar un nuevo libro, y ya son trece, de este gran personaje que es Charlie Parker. Se pueden leer de manera independiente, pero cuando se tienen detrás todas las historias, se disfruta más y mejor. El aspecto sobrenatural de nuevo está presente, aunque no me acaba de convencer la vertiente que está siguiendo. La parte de los nazis, aunque interesante, se me hizo algo pesada. En resumen, me ha parecido una novela entretenida, muy bien escrita (o traducida), como es habitual, y poco más.