A Time of Torment

A Charlie Parker Thriller, Book 14

By: John Connolly

Narrated by: Jeff Harding

Dangerous and driven private investigator Charlie Parker returns in the latest gripping thriller of internationally best-selling author John Connolly's series, in which ungodly fears haunt a strange and isolated community.

Jerome Burnel was once a hero. He intervened to prevent multiple killings and in doing so destroyed himself. His life was torn apart. He was imprisoned, brutalized.

But in his final days, with the hunters circling, he tells his story to private detective Charlie Parker. He speaks of the girl who was marked for death but was saved, of the ones who tormented him and of an entity that hides in a ruined stockade.

Parker is not like other men. He died and was reborn. He is ready to wage war.

Now he will descend upon a strange, isolated community called the Cut and face down a force of men who rule by terror, intimidation, and murder.

All in the name of the being they serve. All in the name of the Dead King.

©2016 John Connolly (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

Read this book!

I downloaded this book the day it was released but before listening, I went back and listened to the previous 2 books (definitely recommend it). I finished 'A Time of Torment' yesterday and it's really been playing on my mind, which is a good thing.

I loved this and didn't want it to end. This is not a fast paced book; the story unwinds slowly and in great detail and no scene is wasted. The writing is very descriptive; The Cut gave me the heebie jeebies in the same way that Caleb Kyle in 'Dark Hollow' did (Parker certainly knows how to find isolated, corrupt communities and/or weirdos) and Paige's story gave me a lump in my throat. Parker's deadliness has been nicely built up in the previous books but until now, it's been more subtle. In this book, it's on full display; even the mention of his name is enough to send folks running for cover. Parker's relationship with The Collector just keeps getting better. Angel & Louis... I know they kill people and all but I just love them. And Sam... she's scarier than all of the characters put together.

This book has reminded me why I loved this series in the first place. I think I'm going to have to go back and listen to some of the earlier books to keep me busy until the next in the series comes out.

Excellent narration by Jeff Harding.

great love it can't wait for next charlie parker

great love it can't wait for next charlie parker books it is a fantastic series

Not quite up to par

If you could sum up A Time of Torment in three words, what would they be?

This one is not as good as the prior Charlie Parker books but still worth the read/listen.

supporting cast

I like the narrators voice. I am not so fond of his various character voices.

True Return To Form

To be candid, I am a big fan of John Connolly and the Charlie Parker series. I have enjoyed every entry in the series, although some have maybe lacked the punch and energy of his earlier novels. A Time of Torment, however, fires on all cylinders and serves as a huge reminder why this is my favorite thriller series. It heavily features Parker (and his tormented past), his remarkable sidekicks, Angel and Louie, a deeply mysterious faction of humanity (The Cut), and small-town drama at its finest.
Always a genre-bending author, Connolly carefully weaves the supernatural into (an often harsh) reality in a way that never dilutes the feeling of realism or the compelling nature of the story.
The narrator was wonderful as well, and I simply couldn't put it down (so to speak). This one is a winner.

Excellent

Clever, haunting and well written. Excellent performance as usual. Definitely recommend! One of my favorites in the Charlie Parker series.

Beyond expectations, and delivered.

Beyond expectations and please to have discovered a new alter, and a new narrator, looking forward to enjoying more.

Good with flashes of great

I love Charlie Parker stories. They are so well written. The only hiccups here was in the reading. And only once in awhile but the voice of Charlie would sound glib. He's anything but glib. Acerbic dry but it was off putting but only occasionally. Same for Angel- who can be glib but sounded shrill here. Still better than 99% of the other stuff out there

Great writing as usual, but . . .

I always wait anxiously for the next Charlie Parker novel. John Connolly's writing is among the best around today and can spoil readers for less talented authors. Charlie Parker is one of the most intriguing characters in modern fiction. When I recommend the series to friends, I always tell them to start with the first book to have the pleasure of watching Parker evolve.

Connolly also imagines some of the most diabolically evil characters to inhabit the pages of any book (and hopefully nowhere else). One has to wonder what it's like inside
Connolly's head and if he ever wakes up screaming. But, I digress.

The only reason I didn't give this five stars is because the story is more about Parker's adversaries than it is Parker. These are very bad people and they lead very bad lives. Sadly, Parker is little more than a minor character in the plot making all too brief appearances here and there. Angel and Louis drop by, but we get none of the banter between the three that was so much fun in earlier books. There's a cameo by The Collector at the beginning hinting at a tantalizing change in his relationship with Parker, but it doesn't bear any fruit later on.

I hope that in the next book we get more of all these things and the very interesting friendship between Parker's daughters, the one living and the one dead. Waiting, waiting waiting . . .

If you like this series you'll love this book.

When Louis is frustrated because he hasn't killed anyone in a while. Shit is classic.