'I became very fond of UCC': John Connolly on his latest novel and his PhD studies in Cork

A River Red With Blood brings the Charlie Parker series up to 23 instalments, and the author has also found the time to further his academic career on Leeside 

John Connolly was at UCC for a PhD in creative writing. Picture: Ivan Gimenez Costa

As one of Ireland’s most successful authors, John Connolly has nothing left to prove. He has won every crime-writing accolade worth mentioning and his series featuring the detective Charlie Parker has been a fixture on bestseller lists around the world for more than two decades.

He has also pursued many other literary projects, from the dark fantasy Lost Things series to an acclaimed biography of Stan Laurel. The Dublin author could be forgiven for putting his feet up and enjoying the fruits of his success but he is busier than ever and still happy to hit the road to meet readers. When we speak, he is swotting up on his Spanish ahead of a visit to the country to promote his latest Charlie Parker novel, A River Red With Blood, the 23rd in the series.