Book review: Ageing sleuth fights old and new demons

Irish Examiner

24-05-2025

Rarely do you set foot inside a bookshop without noticing the latest John Connolly novel.
The only name that might be more familiar to readers is that of fictional private investigator Charlie Parker, who is about to become even more widely known thanks to an upcoming on-screen adaptation.
In The Children of Eve, Parker may be getting on in years, but he can't resist taking on another intriguing and mysterious case, even if his bones creak more than they used to.
The PI's old wounds still haunt him 20 years later — namely, the brutal murder of his wife and young daughter — and the world only seems to grow bleaker: all the more reason, perhaps, Parker's skills remain in high demand.
'From what I've heard, you've been at Death's door so often, he's probably left a key under the mat for you.'
Zetta Nadeau, a quirky young artist from Maine waiting for her big break, turns to Parker for help with a troubling case.
Her ex-military boyfriend, Wyatt Riggins, has vanished into the night, leaving behind a suspiciously outdated phone containing just one message: RUN.
What initially appears to be a case of cold feet quickly spirals into darker territory, as Parker uncovers Riggins' connection to the kidnapping of four children who are all mysteriously linked to Blas Urrea, a Mexican cartel boss.
It doesn't take long for Parker to realise that Urrea will stop at nothing to get the children back, including hiring Eugene Seeley, a calculating and dangerous man with no qualms about getting his hands dirty.
Travelling with Seeley is a terrifying, unnamed woman who seems to take great pleasure in carving out the hearts of her victims, of which there are many.
'[Seeley] looked like someone a stranger might be inclined to trust: an asset for a salesman, even if you weren't convinced you wanted what he was selling.'
Possibly in over his head, Parker calls on old friends for help as they race against the clock to solve this complex case.
But, as is typical of the crime genre, nothing is ever as it seems.
Connolly juggles an intimidating number of perspectives during the novel and even introduces new characters right up to the story's climax, a difficult writing feat by any standard.
As a result, some of these newcomers feel more like a means to an end than fully fleshed-out characters, taking attention away from the protagonist.
Throughout the lengthy novel, parts of the story also tend to drift into filler-like side-quest territory, rather than adding any crucial elements to Charlie Parker's overall arc.
With exciting hints dropped throughout the plot of what's to come in future sequels — particularly focusing on the eerie, supernatural relationship between Parker's living and deceased daughters, one of whom exists in a shadowy realm bordering the underworld — The Children of Eve occasionally feels more like an optional spin-off than a must-read instalment.
But that's understandable given the length of the 22-book series, especially with each functioning as a standalone work.
Still, the novel will undoubtedly hook die-hard Parker fans and leave them eagerly asking what's next for their favourite private detective.
It also serves as an enticing entry point for newcomers, who won't hesitate to take a deep dive into Connolly's other works thanks to his immersive, clever writing.