The Lovers by John Connolly


== Plot synopsis ==
This is the eighth novel in the Charlie Parker series. He is a private detective who always tries to do the right thing. Most of the novels in this series have a slight supernatural element to them as the author explores the nature of evil, life after death and grief.

I believe this book was published both in print and audio form in 2009. It falls into the mystery / supernatural genres.


Parker's PI licence has been taken away from him. He now works in a small bar trying to make ends meet.

Having some spare time, he decides to investigate his own past and find out the circumstances around his fathers death. His father Will, a NYPD cop killed a young couple and then committed suicide when Parker was a teenager himself. He has no idea of why his father did what he did and his mother refused to talk to him about it for the rest of her remaining days.

During his investigation, he will find out more than the reason behind his father's death. He will discover the truth about his origins and the betrayal committed by his father, along with the lies he's been told by everyone close to him all his life.


He will also cross paths with two individuals whose only aim is to bring an end to his life . . .


== My thoughts ==
I have mixed feelings about this. It is ok but I didn't find it as interesting as some of the earlier novels.
There are certain sections that I enjoyed; in particular the ones where we get to see Will, Parker's father before he committed suicide and the circumstances that led up to it. I also liked learning about where Parker came from.
I wasn't as interested in the story that was set in the present. There are two individuals who are demons who have taken over the bodies of some humans who want to terminate Parker. Now I think about it, the plot reminds me a little of Terminator 2 but with a supernatural twist, instead of robots from the future.

By now I am used to the author using supernatural forces in his novels. Some aspects of this reminded me of an earlier novel called 'The Black Angel' in which there were two main demons but they were twins and not lovers, as in this.
I have to say I did like reading about the way the demons take over their human host's bodies like a parasite; slowly infecting their mind until they completely take it over. I also liked following one of the human hosts on her journey as she tries to outrun whatever is after her. She knows something is wrong with her but she can't explain what.

The pacing isn't very good I don't think which is the main thing. It picks up in certain sections then slows down again. The author could have trimmed down the novel in length and still managed to get in everything. I didn't feel there was as much going on as in earlier novels even though there are a few twists and turns along with a few red herrings to keep you guessing.


== Audio narration and availability ==
The audio CD is selling for £30.49 on the Isis Publishing site (www.isis-publishing.co.uk) though you should be able to pick this up from your local library.
Like most of the previous books in this series, this was read by Jeff Harding who's voice I am not a big fan of. However by now, I have gotten used to his voice and I can instantly recognise the voices of the main characters when he speaks any dialog for them.


== Summary and recommendation ==
I give this 3 stars. It's perfectly readable, though compared to some of the earlier novels, I would say this is somewhat lacking. I am now also used to the supernatural themes the author likes to explore so it is difficult to be surprised or interested in whatever the author throws at me in this novel.
The main thing I liked was learning about Parkers past and his family.