TheReapers

John Connolly has to be one of the best authors around at the moment. From the first page of Every Death Thing, the Charlie Parker series has been superb reading.

The Reapers comes from a slightly different angle to the rest of the series, the emphasis isn't on Charlie, but on Louis and Angel.

The basic outline of the story is that years before Louis took a contract to kill a young man, which of course he managed with no problems. However, the man wasn't who he thought he was, and his father has spent years tracking down the man who arranged the hit, the killer and his driver. The driver was taken out in the bathroom of a bar, and now Louis is in the firing line.


The writing, as usual, is outstanding. John brings the characters to life and without being boring gives you enough detail so you feel like you really know them.

I've said in a previous review for another book, that you're not really supposed to admire people who kill for a living, but you can't help but admire Louis even in the earlier books. In this book you find out lot more about his past and it becomes far more apparent how past events shaped his life and his future.

There is also more to find out about Angel as well, although much of his past is well known from the previous novels, we find out more about what makes him tick and his inner thoughts and feelings. Angel is another man who's qualities you can't help but admire. He went through a terrible childhood, he's been subjected to some horrendous acts because of his association with Charlie, and was just a simple burglar (albeit not a very good one) before meeting Louis. Yet despite wanting a peaceful life, he has found love in Louis, and has stuck with him through thick and thin.

I normally don't like books that jump backwards and forwards throughout, but in this case it adds to the suspense of the book. We get to find out a little more about Louis' past, before jumping back to the present day.

The only thing I don't really like about the book is that Charlie very often is referred to as The Detective. Really Charlie deserves better treatment than to lose his identity and be referred to just as the Detective.

Because it doesn't centre around Charlie, the supernatural element is barely mentioned. This is shame, because it was one of the things that made John's books stand out amongst other crime based novels.

But that doesn't stop it being a real page turner. My hope is that John doesn't do a Scarpetta and take the characters any further. In my opinion one more book would complete the series, seeing the trio going out in a blaze of glory, rather than carry on until they became dull and boring.