James Galvin

John Connolly’s new book, the Unquiet, should be hitting the shelves in Ireland this week. This will be the sixth in a series of mystery novels, from the former Irish Times journalist, centered around a haunted private investigator, Charlie Parker. Connolly has faced some flak or ‘breaking the rules’ of crime fiction, straying too close to the border of fantasy/horror in the vein of Stephen King.

The Charlie Parker novels are gripping and horrifying – always a great read. As the series developed, however, the supernatural elements became a bit too pronounced for my liking, and I sometimes found myself thinking that it was getting a bit ridiculous. I have no problem with the horror genre, and I’m a big fan of fantasy, but one thing that doesn’t go down well in crime fiction is the realisation that this is much too far-fetched. A murky gothic overlay enhanced the early half of the Parker series, but by the time the Black Angel came on the scene, it was so steeped in mysticism that I felt that JC had lost the run of himself.

I hoped that The Unquiet would see a return to a more orthodox style, but from the synopsis, I get the feeling that ancient, big-stomached shapeshifters smelling of earth and raw meat will yet again feature prominently.

Someone is funding Merrick’s hunt, a ghost from Parker’s past. And Merrick’s actions have drawn others from the shadows, half-glimpsed figures intent upon their own form of revenge, pale wraiths drifting through the ranks of the unquiet dead.

The Hollow Men have come . . .

John also hints at next years offering, “The Reapers”:

The next novel, to be published in 2008, will be called The Reapers. It’s pretty much an Angel & Louis novel, and I think it will be a little lighter in tone that most of the earlier books.

Read: the killer chooses not to drug his victims to prolong their torture, as he guts them alive.