• The Instruments of Darkness

  • A Thriller (Charlie Parker, Book 21)
  • By: John Connolly
  • Narrated by: Jeff Harding
  • Length: 14 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (15 ratings)

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The Instruments of Darkness  By  cover art

The Instruments of Darkness

By: John Connolly
Narrated by: Jeff Harding
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Publisher's summary

From the international and instant New York Times bestselling author John Connolly, the beloved and brilliant Charlie Parker series returns with a heart-wrenching crime only one man can solve.

In Maine, Colleen Clark stands accused of the worst crime a mother can commit: the abduction and possible murder of her child. Everyone—ambitious politicians in an election season, hardened police, ordinary folk—has an opinion on the case, and most believe she is guilty.

But most is not all. Defending Colleen is the lawyer Moxie Castin, and working alongside him is the private investigator Charlie Parker, who senses the tale has another twist, one involving a husband too eager to accept his wife’s guilt, a group of fascists arming for war, a disgraced psychic seeking redemption, and an old twisted house deep in the Maine woods, a house that should never have been built.

A house, and what dwells beneath.

©2024 John Connolly (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

What listeners say about The Instruments of Darkness

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Oh, the evil people do

John Connolly's writing is so good he could write about a meeting of the local water board and make it interesting. Fortunately, he uses his talent to write about characters so compelling you want to get to know them, albeit in a well-lit, crowded public place.

I'll skip the synopsis because you've probably already read it if you're considering reading the book. Instead, I'll explain why you should read it.

Parker straddles the line between good and evil. He is a good guy who sometimes uses evil to fight evil. He accepts this stain on his soul because he can't allow evil to win. It's already taken too much of what he loves.

Because of his unique talent for seeing what lies between the worlds of the living and the dead, Parker has friends in very high places. Well, maybe not friends exactly, but people who understand his value in dealing with things they prefer not to acknowledge exist.

For Parker, evil is insidious. It seeps into people and makes itself at home. Parker either finds it or it finds him. When that happens, people die, and evil is driven back from whence it came. And waits for its next vessel.

Other reviewers have suggested that this is a stand-alone book that can be read without first reading all the other books in the series. Doing so, however, would deprive the reader of learning about how the character of Charlie Parker evolved into who he is. It would mean the reader wouldn't understand his relationship with his dead daughter or his bond with Angel and Louis, whose ruthless reputations precede them in the criminal world. It also would deprive the reader of Connolly's brilliant, if somewhat disturbing imagination, coupled with his riveting prose. So, start with Every Dead Thing and work your way to this one. You'll thank me if you do.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Charlie Parker series

John Connolly is my favorite author, Jeff Harding is the perfect narrator and the Charlie Parker is the BEST! this latest release does not disappoint

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So good

Great story love continues and gets better, missed Sam and Jennifer in this one… love the wise cracks from Louie and Angel,Folchie brothers are awesome!!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

such a disappointment

the charlie Parker series has been in steady decline now for a while. instruments is no different..both the story and the Jeff harding performance are woeful in my view. Harding can't do women and his voice for Louis verges on caricature. more, this is a story without any major surprise. it has a so whatness about it that it never really leaves behind. sad to say but I wish that I hadn't bothered.

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