Title: A RIVER RED WITH BLOOD
Author: JOHN CONNOLLY
ISBN: 9781399758475
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 406
Source: Jonathan Ball Publishers
In Maine’s rural Kennebec River Valley, the body of a young man who ran away from a “troubled teens” school has been found in the water, apparently drowned after breaking his leg. Meanwhile, a teenage girl, not connected to the school, has gone missing and only one man will be up to the task of solving the two linked disappearances.
Official Summary
14 September 2026
I cannot remember the last time I read a John Connolly book. I had forgotten just how much I enjoy Charlie Parker!
Once again, I have found myself completely wowed by this series. I love the combination of thriller and fantasy, with its strong religious undertones. It is such a unique mix, and Connolly manages to make it work brilliantly.
When a boy is found drowned after running away from school, his father, who is currently in prison, refuses to accept that his son’s death was an accident. He hires Charlie Parker to find out what really happened.
And, true to Connolly’s style, there is so much more to this story than the death of one boy.
There is a contract on Louise’s life, a murdered undercover police officer and a missing girl. Not to mention warnings from the other side that Charlie himself is in danger. There are plenty of threads to follow, and the story gradually becomes much bigger and darker than it initially appears.
While Connolly’s books are generally very busy, with various storylines seemingly running alongside one another, he manages to keep everything under control. I never felt lost or overwhelmed by the different threads, and the story kept me completely focused.
Amazingly, despite the fact that it has been a long time since I last read one of these books, I found myself quickly remembering the various characters and the roles they play. That is always a good sign of a series that has made an impression!
The backstory involving fallen angels adds a supernatural element to the story and is one of the things that makes this series stand out from other books in the genre. I suspect that reading the books I have missed would shed even more light on this fascinating part of the story.
I clearly need to make more of an effort to catch up on this series. The Charlie Parker books I have read so far have all been brilliant, and A River Red With Blood has reminded me exactly why I enjoy them so much.
So, it looks like I’m adding a few more books to my TBR. Not that I needed an excuse!
Also by John Connolly
The Wrath of Angels
In the depths of the Maine woods, the wreckage of a plane is discovered. There are no bodies. No such plane has ever been reported missing. But men both good and evil have been seeking it for a long, long time.
As the rival forces descend upon this northern state, the woods prepare to meet them, for the forest depths hide other secrets. Someone has survived the crash. Some thing has survived the crash. And it is waiting….
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
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 is the first review for the week and I have lots more to come. As always, thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. Your support is much appreciated. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
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