Review: My Cousin Rachel

4 stars, but I highly, highly recommend this sharp, vivid classic. 

When young Philip Ashley's guardian travels to Florence for his health, he doesn't expect Ambrose to stay - nor does he expect to hear news of his marriage to a mysterious and distant cousin named Rachel. Mystified by this choice and by the idea of marriage altogether, Philip grows more and more concerned by Ambrose's letters and signs of declining health. When he travels to Florence to visit, he is too late - Ambrose has passed away, leaving cousin Rachel untethered and apparently alone. 

Philip returns home to England determined to find out more about cousin Rachel and her involvement, or lack thereof, in his beloved guardian's death. He invites her to stay at his inherited estate. But the more he gets to know Rachel, and the more she becomes involved in his life, the more his uncertainty - and interest - grows.

I'm of the opinion that the ending really makes this book - we spend the whole time circling, circling, circling the drain in an agonizing slow spiral and somehow she hits us with an immaculate gut punch of a throwback to the beginning - it's brilliant, genius, perfect. And there are so many clever details - literal seeds of doubt and dramatic gothic touches, like locked doors, buried letters, rattling carriages, black dresses... it's just a beautiful piece of work.

So - is Rachel guilty or innocent? Rumor has it even the author didn't know, but I think she's guilty. People are much, much more likely to be greedy, dishonest, manipulative, and good at acting than they are likely to be kind, gracious, or selfless. Maybe Rachel was a little bit of all of it, as Philip considers at one point - she contains multitudes! As does he! 

I'm trying to consider why this feels like a 4-star read for me, even with a UDD. I know many say it's du Maurier's most "technically" successful book from a plotting/pacing and character perspective. I can see that. I think I found it to be a bit of a feel-bad drag, maybe not as spooky or exciting as some of her other stories. I don't mind insufferable characters - and this book is full of them - but I think I am a bit sensitive about stories in which the protagonist is yanked about by hypocrites and ultimately not believed when he forms a thought for himself. I also didn't find it romantic, or full of romantic tension, as others have described. 

Still - what a fascinating thing to read. Like with all du Maurier books my heart was in my throat the whole time. It was like watching a slow motion train wreck. Philip offers an incredible - and incredibly awkward - headspace to occupy. Wild ride for sure.

My Cousin Rachel on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: A Song of Shadows (Charlie Parker #13)

I didn't enjoy this as much as The Wolf in Winter, but it's easy to call it a fantastic entry in Charlie Parker's story - by now, #13 in the series, John Connolly has sharpened his arsenal of storytelling weapons and deploys them very, very effectively. I've mentioned this before, but I like how the series deals with a variety of subjects - each mystery dives deep into something - and it inspires me to daydream about other possible settings for Charlie - the circus? Capitol Hill? Charlie Parker in Hollywood? Charlie Parker goes to Paris?

In this one: Nazis. Parker moves to a small seaside town in Maine to recover from serious injuries sustained in the last book, and - naturally - gets pulled into an investigation when a body washes up on shore. Navigating small town politics, his unfortunate and extensive personal traumas, and a growing awareness of what else is out there, Charlie pulls on threads that extend all the way back to one of the worst and most painful periods in human history. 

You can tell this book features a subject that interests Connolly greatly and his research is incredibly apparent. I was impressed with the ... maybe not nuanced, exactly, but the careful portrayal of Holocaust perpetrators in old age. Their stories are as fascinating as they are horrifying - Connolly does not shy away from the vivid and grotesque details of their crimes past and present, nor does he neglect to examine closely (and not always favorably) the way the world reacted - and continues to react. 

I liked the pacing and the balance in this one, too. I truly did not guess any of the twists and was very engaged start to finish. I was honestly a little confused here and there, trying to keep track of the characters and the details, but that could be thanks to pregnancy-fueled focus issues and fatigue. I'm very intrigued by where things are going next - I love that Charlie ends this one with a strong purpose.

Isn't it interesting to reflect back on Every Dead Thing? That book was super, super long and winding and sentence heavy... Charlie hadn't grown into his character's skin yet and there was such a 90s flavor to it. We've come such a long way! I'm thrilled there's more and I am thrilled to see where the story continues - even though I have a feeling it's going to be very, very dark. Bring it on.

A Song of Shadows on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: Falling Angel

4 stars. This was an absolutely fascinating, stylistic, colorful reading experience - a true mystery, a true New York noir, a true detective novel through and through. Super trope-y - which I loved - and very, very dark. In a fun way, mostly. I couldn't get enough, and I'm excited to check out the adaptation, and maybe the sequel (though I've seen mixed reviews on that one).

Private investigator Harry Angel is hired to track down an old famous singer by the name of Johnny Favorite, who disappeared after returning injured from the war. The more he learns, the more Angel gets caught up in black magic, the occult, and the true intentions of his dastardly, enigmatic client. The path to finding Johnny Favorite, apparently, is soaked in blood.

I did dock a star - the portrayal and treatment of women is supremely gross, and there's also a UAD (unnecessary animal death). I also couldn't help but find this book to be very pleased with itself. Not denying that it's a good twist - there was just something a little... smug about it.

But I really enjoyed so many of the successful elements: the crunchy, snappy, classic Noir dialogue; the vivid depiction of New York; the way each clue fell into place. I was really rooting for Angel, almost against my better judgement (my spidey senses started tingling about 80% of the way through). I've seen this described as a horror/noir hybrid, and... I want more, because the flavor was deeply compelling and satisfying to me.

Falling Angel on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: The Wrath of Angels (Charlie Parker #11

5 stars. Oh hell yeah, Connolly crushed this. We got a super dark thriller, we got the return of an epic villain, we got some grade A banter with Angel and Louis, we got a glimpse of Colonial horror (finally! the series is set in New England, after all!) and, best of all, we got some answers. Absolutely loved it.

Our poor dear detective Charlie Parker is hired by two acquaintances whose fathers have recently passed away - but not before sharing the details of a secret discovery made years before: the crashsite of a plane, deep in the woods, and with it, money - a lot of money, and a list of names. Parker immediately realizes the importance of this list, and enlists the help of his old friends to ensure he finds it before it falls into the wrong, evil hands.

John Connolly is building a truly impressive mythology here - one that is quite dark and scary. The pieces are falling into place and I'm so pleased to report that even 10+ books later my memory hasn't failed me in any major ways. I'm not quite sure how to explain this, but it feels like the author really, really tried with this one - with the plotting, the pacing, and the way the characters orbited each other. His efforts paid off.

I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of local folklore, here, and the way it intersected with the main plot. It lended a fresh, spooky edge to the setting as well as a very satisfying demise of a certain character. Sometimes Connolly's deep dives into character or place can be tedious; here it was fascinating and fun. 

Look - these books are a bit ridiculous, okay? A list of names - really? A sophisticated shadow organization with unlimited resources and they rely on hard copies? But I truly didn't mind. I loved that the list created this sort of dark treasure hunt vibe - a set-up for a terrific reveal.

I am excited to keep the series going. This should really be a TV series.

The Wrath of Angels on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: The Burning Soul (Charlie Parker #10)

3 stars. This one didn’t really capture me as much as the others. I really enjoyed the stuff about Randall and the exploration of identity and insanity, but I found a lot of the other through-lines tedious. And I actually predicted a couple of the twists, which hasn't happened before. That being said - zero regrets.

Private investigator Charlie Parker is asked by a lawyer acquaintance for help - a client of hers, with a secret murderous past, is being sent dark and threatening messages. There’s also a girl missing, and allegations abound in the small town from where she disappeared. 

Idk! Idk. I’m not done with this series at all - I’ve learned how comforting it can be to have a reliably familiar world to jump into over a long period of time. It was only a matter of time before I got to one that didn’t hit or click right. I just wasn’t hooked. 

I’m learning that when Connolly leans into religious horror - like demons or angels or super self-righteous villains - he really succeeds. When he leans into ghost stuff, trying to create tense or creepy haunt moments, he’s less effective. Just like in previous books, I found the appearances of Charlie’s daughter cheesy, and kind of random, and not as scary.

The book absolutely still crackles with tension, though, and showcases the strong sense of place so characteristic of John Connolly’s writing. That man really loves to describe a dive bar.

The Burning Soul on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: Shirley

4 stars. The author, in her acknowledgements, calls this book a "fictional exercise," which is a perfect descriptor - it almost feels that way, in turning the pages, like the book came out of time spent playing in the Shirley Jackson sandbox. I can't blame her - hello from deep down the Shirley Jackson rabbit hole - but I did have to shake off the urge to call it presumptuous. 

Rose Nemser, a young and expecting newlywed, moves in with her husband Fred to the Jackson/Hyman house in North Bennington. Fred and Stanley hit it off, professionally and academically, while Rose and Shirley inch their way towards a strange friendship. Caught up in the odd liveliness of the house and drawn to the turbulence of Shirley and Stanley's marriage, Rose attempts to navigate a maze of questions, mysteries, and discoveries from within the unusual and creepy Shirley Jackson universe.

If you can look beyond some truly crazy word choices (ratiocinations? concomitant?), this is a fairly quick read, and very engrossing. The plot unfurls thoughtfully and yes, it absolutely channels Shirley Jackson. My heart was in my throat for the last third of the story, I truly could not predict where it was going or how it would end. I was deeply disturbed by Rose's dream, by design, but I was bothered more personally by the depiction of marriage. The author also leans really grotesque (especially in her descriptions of Stanley), but it never feels too forced or overwrought. Just grotesque, because that's what it was, that's how it was, that's how it happened.

There is a central mystery to the story but overall I would call it more character-driven. It is, like everything associated with Shirley Jackson, a study in repressed rage. It is incredibly well-researched. I look forward to checking out the adaptation. 

Shirley on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: The Whisperers (Charlie Parker #9)

4 stars. Still going strong! While I'm not able to perfectly recall every detail, character, or important piece of background from each book in this series, I can recall enough to 1) recognize the familiar tropes, patterns, and twists and 2) start putting the big picture together, which is super exciting. And also, it's just really darn fun to encounter old friends in new ways. Callbacks are fan service for a reason! It’s been interesting to discover all the benefits of a long series when I kind of almost expected drawbacks.

The Charlie Parker books, like a lot of mysteries, don't unfold in a linear fashion, but this one really takes the scenic route, so forgive me for this awkward summary: a group of Iraq War veterans, probably at the behest of an organized evil, establish a smuggling operation for antiquities looted in Baghdad. Included among the stolen items is an unassuming box that attracts the attention of a cancer-stricken man, Herod, who is guided, after suffering a near-death experience, by a terrifying noncorporeal entity he refers to as The Captain.

The box lands, along with other goods, in a shuttered motel near the Canadian border, as planned. But each of the soldiers involved starts to fray at the edges: they hear voices, whispers. They withdraw, and act out of character. Several die by their own hands. Meanwhile, the box has attracted the attention of someone else - The Collector. And this is when Charlie Parker gets involved. 

I picked a hell of a week to read a book about the costs of war, but here we are. It tackles head-on the topic of PTSD, specifically the PTSD that plagued/plagues veterans of the Iraq War in the 2000s. Surprise, surprise - there was/is very little tangible support, or relief. It was a complicated conflict with complicated outcomes, many of which we are still learning. And perpetuating, literally today. America is infuriating, often. But John Connolly specifically states in the intro that he didn't want The Whisperers to be preachy (he sort of failed), so I don't want this review to be preachy either (I sort of failed also). 

Turning back to the story: I alluded to this above, but this one does seem, compared to the others, a little extra meandering and overstuffed. A little challenging to track. Someone should make a wiki for this universe! I would reference often! I docked a star for that. But I gave one back because I absolutely loved the moments of horror. Connolly leans in to the scary big time - we even get a creepy clown, as a treat - and I ate it all up.

It's strange to think that these books - intensely dark and disturbing as they are - are comforting, but they are. Almost a happy place. With this one I actually felt tempted to dive into the next one immediately, instead of reading a typical palette cleanser. The ending teases something really crunchy and awesome and I just know poor Charlie Parker has more monsters heading his way. I can’t wait to see how he fights them.

The Whisperers on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | Storygraph

Review: The Lovers (Charlie Parker #8)

4 stars. I was so excited for this one - finally, some answers about Charlie's origins! I always knew his father's backstory was going to be dark, and man, was it dark. But the lore clicked right into place. No awkward retconning to be found. And I was especially excited that this one leaned supernatural. After a quick break, the angels and demons are back and as formidable and mysterious as ever. 

“Not every wound needs to be poked and opened, and not every wrong needs to be reexamined, or dragged kicking and screaming into the light. Better just to let the wound heal, even if it doesn’t heal quite right, or to leave the wrongs in the dark, and remind yourself not to go stepping into the shadows if you can avoid it.”

Except when you've read 7 of these books and want more!! Aimless without his PI license, Charlie Parker gets a job at a local bar and decides to tackle his most personal case yet: his father's final days. As soon as he starts kicking up dust, however, he learns that his origin story - the story of his very identity - is not what it seems. Feeling cornered by a true crime writer with ill motives, and a pair of teenagers who seem hellbent on his destruction, Charlie must find the truth while staring down what haunts him most deeply: his past. 

I docked a star because of some... cheesiness. I can't think of what else to call it. The ghosts, the writing on Mickey Wallace's car window... I don't know how else to say it, but I sort of think incorporating Susan and Jennifer's spirits more subtly would've been more powerful. There's also the usual fatphobia and odd treatment of women. 

But this book - which is perhaps less action-packed and more story/character-based than some of the others - is as enjoyable as I've come to expect. While certain aspects were a little predictable, there were also some great twists. The increased focus/emphasis on the world of cops and the NYPD gave it a Tana French Dublin Murder Squad feel, which I didn't mind at all. 

Charlie's still Charlie. He needs to learn to lead with honey more often. That dude is pricklier than a pear. But I root for him so hard. I can't wait to see which rabbit hole he falls into next.

The Lovers on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Reapers (Charlie Parker #7)

4 stars. I know what to expect now from a Charlie Parker book - what to look forward to, and what to prepare for. Still, after seven of these, I'm as drawn to this world as I am tired of its drawbacks. Despite the draggy middle, weighted tangents, and the wavering, non-linear journey we have to take to get to the fucking point, I was addicted to The Reapers - I loved the fresh angle, the crunchy characters, and the sense of time and place. It got my heart pounding. 

Louis and Angel take the front seat here. Louis faces a dangerous double threat from his past - the father of one of his victims, and a fellow assassin whose betrayal years ago set off a vicious cycle of revenge and violence. With the help of Detective Parker and the familiar cavalry, Louis and Angel face impossible odds in a bloody confrontation, wrestling with their trauma and unforgivable sins along the way. 

I want to commend Connolly for - for the most part - giving a cushion to those of us with less than perfect memory. There are a lot of character and plot threads in each book, and any time I felt lost or confused here he filled in the gaps sufficiently. Even if he retconned a few things I wouldn't mind, because he keeps me afloat and able to grasp the rules - and the history - of the game. I suppose that's par for the course with a long series. I think it's worth mentioning.

There is, truly, so much good writing here. The dark humor, the intricate way he pieces together the puzzle, the honestly unpredictable elements, and of course, the disturbing nature of his antagonists. It's impressive and compelling and very True Detective-y. I miss the lush way he incorporates the supernatural - hoping for more of that in the future - but this is still a very good time, with a very satisfying ending.

It says something that even after spending all of my holiday gift cards on books (a very long and delightfully torturous process that I treasure once a year), I turned away from all of my new shiny objects and wanted to curl up in Charlie Parker's world instead. And I'm still eager for more.

The Reapers on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: The Unquiet (Charlie Parker #6)

3 stars. Not done with this series yet! Feeling really determined to keep it going. I would consider this one of the weaker installments so far, but I'm no less interested in the world this author has created and populated so lovingly with a crowd of dark, disturbing characters. 

Our poor Mr. Parker is hired by Rebecca Clay to help her deal with a stalker... a dangerous man asking questions about her father. Daniel Clay, currently missing, was a child therapist whose patients reported eerie similarities in their testimonies of abuse: being taken by men wearing bird masks. Was Daniel trapped in a web of coincidences, or was he a perpetuator? Where is he now? And this man harassing Rebecca - what is his end game? Charlie's investigation, as always, points to … the absolute worst.

This isn't the sort of writing where the words flow by quickly and your eyes fly down the page. It's dense, and detailed, and heavy. I'm now pretty accustomed to the way Connolly leans into place (with a lot of historical and geographical background about each setting), and character (side quests, tangents, episodic introductions). I missed the stronger supernatural aspects of previous books, but the subtle undertones in this one made it that much creepier. 

I still don't love his female characters, or his representation of queer and Black individuals. Charlie's sharp wit was also very dull in this one - his smartass hat felt ill-fitting, forced, and random at times. Awkward. Not at all funny, TBH. The "cleverness" in his banter with the bad guys was actually borderline annoying, maybe a little questionable or even offensive. But, I do love that Charlie Parker isn't a superhero - he operates very much in the dark for most of these stories, just like us. He makes mistakes. He's haunted, literally and figuratively, and despite his good intentions he isn't always... effective. He's interesting.

I would also mention that the plot and central mystery seemed very... convoluted. It's not that I had trouble following it all, per say... well, maybe I did. I always feel like I need a cheat sheet reading these novels and this one was no different. I also didn't read the accompanying short story, so I was missing some context. Still, the recognizable anchors - the familiar motifs - are all present and accounted for: cults, predators, ghosts. 

I'm looking forward to more. Maybe I'll even do a ranking.

The Unquiet on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads