Hailed internationally as a page-turner in a league with the fiction of Thomas Harris, this lyrical and terrifying bestseller is the stunning achievement of an “extravagantly gifted” (Kirkus Reviews) new novelist. John Connolly superbly taps into the tortured mind and gritty world of former NYPD detective Charlie “Bird” Parker, tormented by the brutal, unsolved murders of his wife and young … young daughter. Driven by visions of the dead, Parker tracks a serial killer from New York City to the American South, and finds his buried instincts — for love, survival, and, ultimately, for killing — awakening as he confronts a monster beyond imagining…
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Gritty, intense, violent, with incredibly well-drawn characters. A supernatural element too. Great start to a superb series.
Every Dead Thing is the first book in John Connolly’s Charlie Parker Thriller series. Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker is a former NYPD detective. His wife and daughter were murdered by a serial killer known only as The Traveling Man. Parker’s former partner asks him to investigate a thirty year old cold case involving a missing girl. The process ignites a desire to find The Traveling Man who has the m.o. of torturing his victims and stealing their faces. This is an excellent, truly gripping novel, but warning, there are graphic descriptions of torture and murder.
This book jumps right in, Bird’s poor family all through a few other cases to full circle. This book is all straight action thriller and a hint (ok, maybe a bit more) of gore. On to the next book in the series! (That’s saying something since I didn’t want to start a series right now)
A bit too gory for my taste and most of the characters seem two-dimensional. There were a whole lot of law enforcement jurisdictions and officers from each one. I’d have preferred fewer peace officers and more development of the ones remaining. The criminals were fewer and better developed.
Since I wrote the paragraph above for Goodreads, I’ve read all (18 I think) books of the Charlie Parker series. Some characters and events carry over from one book to the next, although each book can be read as a stand-alone. I’d recommend starting with this one and working your way forward through the series, as it is truly wonderful. The hero and his friends (and enemies) continue to develop and evolve, so the stories never become stale or formulaic. Very highly recommended!!!
Just love the Charlie Parker books
Rereading John Connolly’s first Charlie Parker novel, Every Dead Thing, for the first time in 20 years. It still amazes me that this was his first novel. Also, when I first read it, streaming platforms didn’t exist. Now, the episodic flow of the narrative seems like a no-brainer for a streaming series. Seriously, why hasn’t this happened yet?
Charlie Parker is a tortured but relatable hero. The loss of his family puts him a little in the box, but the way they died and the journey he takes because of it are great to read. For me, the highlight of this whole series is Angel and Louis. The relationship they have the one they begin with Parker is something that keeps me coming back to these books
The single best debut novel I ever read. Amazing characters and humor combine with nuance and great setting to make a stunning debut and a stunning series starter. This is noir at its best with a supernatural twist that is light enough to intrigue but not alienate those not into a lot of speculative elements while adding chills and mystery that aids the ambiance and increases the tension. Just a stunning book and a great series. Highest recommendation.
Amazing. I’m one of his biggest fans. This is the first in the Charlie Parker series. His characters are unique & unforgettable. You won’t be disappointed.