The Lovers, by Dublin-born crime writer John Connolly, is the eigth novel to feature former Police Detective and now former Private Eye, Charlie "Bird" Parker along with his occasional associates, the deadly and enigmatic Angel and Louis, who took centre-stage in The Reapers but whom, in turn, here take more of a back seat to all that occurs. Just as Reapers delved deep into the murky past of the former hit-man, Louis and to a lesser extent that of the reformed burglar, Angel, so The Lovers takes us straight into Charlie Parker's own back-story. Long before fans ever knew of him, Parker's father (also a cop) gunned down two unarmed civilians in a parking lot. Returning home, he confessed to his wife, Parker's mum, before eating his own gun in the garage outside. This much we have always known; what no one, including, Charlie, ever knew was why? Now, following the loss of his Private Investigator's license at the end of The Unquiet and the revelations revealed by the mysterious "Collector" that not both his parents were blood-related, Parker begins the hardest investigation of them all ~ an investigation into his own family and all that befell them to make Parker the man he is today. If he is indeed a man at all.......

But Parker is not the only one showing such an interest. A hack Crime-writer-turned true-crime author seeks to make Parker the subject of his next book whether Charlie wishes to co-operate or not; his intrest intrigued by the number of unsavoury characters that have crossed Parker's path recently, only to leave in a body-bag. And then there are the two mysterious figures that have dogged the lives of Charlie and his father for years known only in religious circles as "The Lovers". Who are they? Are they really more of The Fallen Angels they believe themselves to be and what do they have in mind for Parker and those around him? There is only one way to find out and trust this reviewer, it is going to get nasty!

If you have never read one of Connolly's books before, the revelations of Charlie's past, both ancient and more recent, flow thick and fast and may confuse new-comers to this series. Likewise the theological over-tones and more paranormal elements of the story that are becoming harder and harder to ignore might come across as being a little heavy-handed at times. But also, this latest novel could equally be seen as a great introduction to Charlie Parker's dark and troubled world and, with no new Parker books until next year at least, will give newer fans not just a taste of what to expect from Connolly's work but also ample chance to pick-up his back catalogue that begins with Every Dead Thing then speed-dials through to last year's The Reapers and this latest offering from someone who is rapidly becoming a very seriously disturbing writer!

The whole running theme of Good Verses Evil continues here in the same vein as it has through all Connolly's books and is just as murky and unrestrained as fans have come to expect. Parker is not a nice guy to be around at times, this much is true, and he has had his many and unrelenting faults in the past. Still it could seemsas though he may have been chosen to earn his redemption the hard way by striking a blow for some over-seeing controlling force in the universe against nefarious agents of evil that have existed possibly for millenia. Even if you are not religious, there is much in these novels that makes you think and question your faith and the evolution of mankind's society on Earth whilst still enabling the reader to discount everything if they wish, as the dis-illusioned ramblings of some overly obsessive cult or the delusions of one man still distraught over the destruction of one family and the seperation of another. His latest love, Rachel, turns up at several points in this latest narrative but it soon becomes clear that whatever was between them once is now over and whilst this is a shame, the shock return at this novel's climax of a character from one of Connolly's earlier novels leaves much room for speculation as to what lies in store for him next.....

Overall, this is Connolly's best Parker novel yet and, whilst it may feel to waiting fans as though not much of consequence actually happens here, still there is enough revelation of hidden skeletons in the closet and forgotten secrets to keep even the most critical of his readers at least temporarily satisfied. Connolly's next book is a stand-alone in the style of The Book Of Lost Things and Bad Men, neither of which I am a paticular fan of, so I will more than likely give this a miss. Connolly's next Parker book is due sometime in 2010, so I think I prefer to wait with baited breath and much anticipation for this instead.....

Horror crime fiction has never been written so excellently or imaginatively.......