Book review: Charlie Parker returns in a dark, violent case that is more than it seems

John Connolly's 'The Instruments of Darkness' is definitely a book to read this summer

John Connolly’s new installment of the Charlie Parker series delivers a thrilling yet grounded, believable story. Picture: Getty Images

• The Instruments of Darkness 
• John Connolly 
• Hodder & Stoughton, €15.99  

Lovers of crime and murder mystery will be happy to read that Charlie Parker is back. 

Since author John Connolly first introduced readers to Parker 25 years ago, the former NYPD cop — turned private detective — has appeared in no less than 20 books.

Back in 1999 Parker was working for the NYPD. When his wife and daughter were murdered he was stricken with grief and guilt. 

He quit his police job and became a private detective. 

Ever since he has lived and worked in a world of nasty but believable characters who are most frequently found in the state of Maine, and occasionally in other states as well.

The strength of the Parker books is that author, John Connolly has created a really credible hero, albeit with many human flaws and a penchant for leaving a trail of destruction, as well as convincing plotlines and evil criminals that keep the reader turning the pages just to keep up with the pace of the plot. 

The Instruments of Darkness is yet another Connolly triumph.

The story begins in the city of Portland when a mother, Colleen Clark, is charged with the abduction and possible murder of her only child, Henry. 

Some days later Colleen’s husband, Stephen finds a blood-stained blanket hidden under the spare wheel of Colleen’s car. 

The husband joins the growing numbers of the public who are convinced that Colleen Clark has committed the appalling crime of infanticide.

Colleen is adamant that she is innocent. She hires Moxie Castin as her defence attorney. 

Castin in turn asks Charlie Parker, his trusted private detective, to investigate the case.

Both Castin and Parker believe she is innocent. After all, who would abduct and murder their child, and then hide the incriminating evidence in their car? 

Simply claiming innocence however, is never going to save Coleen. 

There is an election for State Governor in the offing, and the current state attorney, Paul Nowak is lining himself up as a candidate. 

The state attorney sees the murder as an opportunity to enhance his reputation, as well as his election chances in what appears to be an open and shut case.

Neither Nowak nor his assistant Erin Becker, who sees the election as an opportunity for promotion, like Charlie Parker. 

There is too much history between the three and, much to the chagrin of attorney’s office, Parker always seems to emerge from his investigations reasonably unscathed, if not smelling of roses, reasonably.

Parker’s investigations in to the Henry Clark murder brings the reader in contact with some weird and evil characters who inhabit not only the city of Portland but other towns of Maine. 

His inquiries take him far beyond the murder of a child with threads spreading to a far greater web of violence and murder that touches on the spiritual underworld.

Yet the story loses nothing from this brush with the occult. 

Every thread of the plot is believable, and this is what engages the reader from the beginning until the last thread is tied on the last page.

If you have never read a Charlie Parker murder story, The Instruments of Darkness is a great book to begin with. 

As with all Connolly’s books on the rough, tough detective with a surprising soft centre, the book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone read, or the latest instalment of the entire gripping series.

  The Instruments of Darkness is definitely a book to read this summer.

By the way, unless you know someone in Maine already, and that person knows Maine well, take your holidays somewhere else. You have been warned.