The Nameless Ones: Private Investigator Charlie Parker hunts evil in the nineteenth book in the globally bestselling series (Charlie Parker Thriller 19)

If you thought that a John Connolly Charlie Parker book without Parker would be light on the supernatural elements that have made this book so special, or that it may even go easy on the gore, think again. Whilst we may not have that added 'something', that air of uncertainty that surrounds Parker and all that he touches, but his daughter, Jennifer, who has long sought to protect and guide her father, seems to have a soft spot for his friends too. Haunting the dreams of both Louis and Angel, her presence in this book should probably be taken as a very bad omen. But just who it is bad for remains to be seen.There is a definite change in tone with this book, with a story that focuses on the past of Louis and Angel. With action that moves between Europe and the USA, this is a tale of rival gangs, of murder and of retribution. It is dark in all the ways you would expect from a John Connolly novel, but it also has a melancholic and contemplative tone that sees our two protagonists thinking about their pasts, and their futures, ones in which their mortality is very much on their minds. Seeking revenge for an old friend, the tension is high and the stakes even higher. The narrative flows with the authors detailed, almost lyrical style, bringing to life the history of the characters, both central and those on the periphery, and creating a setting that is so vivid you almost feel a part of the action. There are scenes in which the levels of violence are quite intense, not gratuitous the way it appears on the page, but no less clear in its portrayal. It is brutal, it is, at times, stark, but it is almost necessary in terms of the story, and certainly in keeping with the very nature of the circles in which Louis and Angel operate.Character is key in this book, and aside from our two anti-heroes, John Connolly has created a set of secondary characters who inspire loathing and a strange amount of empathy. In as much as one can feel empathy for people who operate on the wrong side of the law anyway. Many of the old favourites still appear, an ill fated attempt to harm Louis' friends resulting in a well needed cameo from the Fulci's. I love those guys. They are a really important part of the wider Parker family, and in spite of their imposing size, and often inept behaviour, they always bring a smile to my face. Then there. is Louis and Angel's tenant and downstairs neighbour, Mrs Bondarchuck. She always makes me chuckle, so at odds with Angel and Louis in terms of personality, but so completely in tune with them too. Some surprising revelations on that front, let me tell you ...Then there is the 'other'-ness of this story. Not just Jennifer but something more, something truly malign that is both obvious and hidden at the same time. A dark soul who is both terrifying and terrified, and that gives the bad guys that particular edge. It brings the archetypal John Connolly macabre to what could otherwise be a straightforward gang war. And believe me, this story is anything but straightforward.This is a book packed with tension and aggression. It is a dark and twisted tale of revenge, family and friendship. It is brutal and unforgiving, there are scenes that will make you uncomfortable, and scenes that will make you smile as a sense of justice is played out on the page. We are brought closer to Louis and Angel than ever, privy to the love and understanding that exists between them, that may not always be expressed but that adds true emotional depth to our journey together. It's another great story exploring the uneasy relationship between law and our duo's inimitable brand of disorder. Yes, I missed Parker, but I loved the darkness and the edge that this story provided. It really hit the spot in filling that Parker void. Definitely recommended.

Wasn't sure what to expect with this next instalment. It's hard to be critical of the writing, it's so good. This episode takes us away to Europe and as such is quite different to other books in the series. As others have said, not enough Parker, but overall a good read with some link to his daughter which may expand going forward (hopefully). Not the most gripping in the series but I still enjoyed it.

Another wonderful addition to the series! J.C really creates a ( dangerous ) world that you can immerse yourself in, the characters are so well written they are very believable.It's exciting, well-paced and plotted. You can't go wrong with this series.

Gets you hooked straight away and wanting to read as much as possible in one go, as always. Can't wait for the next in series

This is a fantastic addition to the long running Charlie Parker series, and this book is not a jumping on book, you realy need to start at the beginning, this one was mainly about Louis and Angels quest for revenge, this was a fantastic read and comes highly recommended.

I have read every book in this series and none of them were disappointing! Even though the book centres around Louis and Angel it didn't detract from the story telling. I am waiting for the supernatural subplot to be explained or developed however I am willing to wait. Which is unusual for me as I am very impatient usually. I would recommend this series. You should read every book in this series even though there are 20 books - treat yourself you won't be sorry.

As with all John Connolly books this was a very good read

Over the past 12 months or so - we've all had a bit of time on our hands haven't we?..I went back to the start of the Charlie Parker series. I had read them all, but in the early days I read them out of sequence, plus the Dirty South changed the dynamic a bit, so I wanted to read them all in the "Right" order.What struck me was the development of the characters and the writing, it really is an outstanding series.The main thing that always strikes me is the pace and the mood of Connolly's storytelling. It's beautiful, atmospheric, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, it really does take you on a journey.This latest offering has all of that, sure I get what some people are saying in that Charlie Parker isn't in the book much and that it mainly focuses on Louis and Angel. But that's alright by me. I don't think you can go through the series without accepting that those two characters are integral to the whole thing and the way this story went is logical in terms of tying up the thread of the previous couple of books. It felt like a continuation and now feels as though it has tied up those threads so it will be interesting to see where the story goes next.So I can't really understand people who were disappointed with the shortage of Parker, his influence ran through it and so did Jennifer's. He could have been brought into the main plot more, but I don't see what it would have added.All in all I was very happy with this story and it just confirms what a great writer John Connolly is.