The Dirty South: A Thriller (18) (Charlie Parker)

Charlie Parker can’t escape the shadows of his dark past. His Wife and Daughter were brutally murdered, his survivor’s guilt gripping him tighter than a vise. In 1997, Parker was on a mission, find the man who took everything from him, and destroy him. Parker has been receiving tips concerning murders with a possible connection to his suspect. He travels down to Arkansas and begins asking questions, and by doing so runs afoul of local law enforcement. The deaths, one of which was declared an accident, are inconvenient to a town with aspirations as a local contractor seeks to build there. However, not everyone with a badge discounts the deaths and asks Parker for help. Cargill, Arkansas is a town with a sordid past hoping to blot out their sins with wealth, some truths are best kept buried. But they never counted on someone like Parker.

The Dirty South is the latest in a long line of absorbing books by John Connolly. The journey of Charlie Parker has been long and winding, interspersed with terror, humor, and heart, but this newest addition serves as a perfect prequel to the Parker narrative. The characters are many but prove interesting in their own way, the story moves gracefully and builds with intensity until the powerful climax. Connolly provides an exclamation point to this year in Fiction.