The tone is a little more chaotic, with more of Parker’s dark humor shining through. I enjoyed the way this story ended.

The Sisters Strange is the longer of the two. Revolving around the theft of ancient coins, one of which has supernatural powers, Parker is pulled into the investigation by a person concerned about the sisters Strange: Dolors and Ambar. This book contains 2 novels, each of which could have been a standalone and, even though this book is part of the Charlie Parker series, the entire book stands alone from the series. I press him on the book’s length, a particular bugbear of mine in contemporary crime fiction (although the truth remains: it’s never too long if, as here, the writing is good enough). The two stories were fantastic. I'll confess that I may have enjoyed the last story more than the first, because it had a more supernatural bent to it. I do love that stuff!😜 The Furies: mythological snake-haired goddesses of vengeance, pursuers of those who have committed unavenged crimes. Now, private investigator C harlie Parker is drawn into a world of modern furies. In The Sisters Strange, the return of the criminal Raum Buker to Portland, Maine brings with it chaos and murder, as an act of theft threatens not only to tear apart his own existence but also that of Raum’s former lovers, the enigmatic sisters Dolors and Ambar Strange. And in The Furies Parker finds himself fighting to protect two more women as the city of Portland shuts down in the face of a global pandemic, but it may be that his clients are more capable of taking care of themselves than anyone could have imagined . . . Two novels in one from the master of the modern supernatural thriller.Five stars because omgoodness what a Charlie Parker novel this is! Or should I say two novels? Yes, what Mr. Connolly imagined as a novella - Sisters Strange - and wrote during the early part of the pandemic instead became a short novel! It's here! And followed by The Furies. Two novels in one book! Yay! Book #20 in the Charlie Parker series is comprised of two novellas: The Sisters Strange and The Furies.

The Furies” revolves around two women for whom Parker has taken on cases. The first is Sarah Abelli, who tragically lost her daughter, Kara. To add insult to injury, two men have robbed her of personal items that amounted to all she had left of Kara. Even though Sarah comes from a family with a criminal past that Parker is well aware of, it is important for him to retrieve her valuable possessions. He will get unexpected help when the specter of a little girl begins to haunt the culprits while they stay at the same flophouse as Buker did in the first story. I enjoyed both novellas, but I am ready for this series to finally move forward, as it has been at a standstill since the events of book 18. As always, Connolly’s writing is well-crafted, and I loved spending time with Parker, Angel, Louis, and other favorite characters. I am ready to see where this series is headed and cannot wait to find out in book #21. A Book of Bones is the end of a six-novel sequence, starting with The Wolf In Winter, and I knew if it had an English setting, it would enable me to close the circle. My earliest reading was English ghost stories, that tradition of MR James, E Nesbit, and I have a fascination with folk horror, the idea of the past being alive in the present and you can’t really set that kind of book in the United States. I’m interested in psychogeography, the idea that the landscape retains something of the people who pass through, you will stand in a place and almost hear the echo of voices. I wasn't the biggest fan of the 19th in the series, so I was pleased to find this 20th Charlie Parker story great! In The Sisters Strange, the return of the criminal Raum Buker to Portland, Maine brings with it chaos and murder, as an act of theft threatens not only to tear apart his own existence but also that of Raum’s former lovers, the enigmatic sisters Dolors and Ambar Strange.I just couldn’t engage with the first story, the longer of the two. It was well told, but kind of meh. I enjoyed the second one more. Fans of this series will probably enjoy The Furies, but I’m not sure it will attract many new aficionados. I always get excited when I see that John Connolly has a new book out in the Charlie Parker series! I love Connolly's beautiful writing. He has the heart of a poet who writes dark supernatural tales that put a smile on my face. I love how he combines genres: horror, mystery, supernatural, etc. In The Furies, Connolly takes a new slant and instead of writing a one story, he writes two novellas (The Sisters Strange and The Furies). Both were enjoyable, but I did enjoy the second one much more. If you go seeking ways to bring down hurt upon yourself, life will oblige you, because it has hurt in store for you anyway, but will happily welcome any assistance you're in the mood to offer. Better, then, not to oblige it any more than necessary. I'd like to have said that this was a lesson hard-learned, but it would suggest my education was in the past, whereas it was still ongoing. And in The Furies Parker finds himself fighting to protect two more women as the city of Portland shuts down in the face of a global pandemic, but it may be that his clients are more capable of taking care of themselves than anyone could have imagined . . . Quinn informs Parker about the occult connection to the investigation, which is evident when certain symbols are found not only at the murder scenes, but also in Buker’s room at a local flophouse along with a new tattoo on his forearm. The inevitable meeting between Buker and the Sisters Strange will occur. They know what he is about and are more than capable of handling themselves to overcome any threat he may pose. As skilled as Parker is at his job, he appears to be a mere bystander in this story.

The Furies, John Connolly’s latest novel, is actually two short novels: the titled novel and The Sisters Strange. Both demonstrate his strengths: Charlie Parker himself with his code of behavior; Charlie’s various, and quite varied associates who offer a wide assortment of aid in his work; a deep knowledge of the inner workings of New England and its criminal underworld; that ever present, but varyingly used, supernatural world; and of course his personal history which has colored his entire adult life. I preferred The Sisters Strange, but I enjoyed the entire book. The humor, combined with the excellent creation of atmosphere, is what keeps me reading these supernatural thrillers. The author also has a much broader vocabulary than most thriller writers. Parker’s colleagues Angel and Louis make only a few brief appearances in this book, but I was ok with that. Jeff Harding did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. 4.5 starsParker uncovers a case involving stolen priceless coins. One, specifically, has a fascinating history. If you believe in the legends, it predates mankind and was minted by a demon. A mysterious coin collector named Kepler claims it rightfully belongs to him, and he has no qualms about killing anybody to retrieve it. The last known person to possess it? Buker. The Sisters Strange, Parker fears, may be in way over their heads with this. Or are they? Empire (2015) – Paul and Syl must endure the terrible exile that her race has deemed just punishment for their love. But the conquest of Earth is not all it seems. There is another species involved—the Others—and the Illyri will kill to keep its existence secret. Light years from Earth and millions of miles apart, Paul and Syl must find a way to reveal the horrifying truth behind the Empire and save all that they hold dear from the hunger of the Others. Even at the cost of their own lives. Connolly is mostly known for his series of novels starring the anti-hero private detective Charlie Parker, a former police officer hunting the killer of his wife and daughter.