The Reapers: A Charlie Parker Thriller: 7 (Charlie Parker, #7)

by John Connolly

They are the Reapers, the elite among killers. Men so terrifying that their names are mentioned only in whispers. The assassin Louis is one of them. But now Louis, and his partner, Angel, are themselves targets. And there is no shortage of suspects. A wealthy recluse sends them north to a town that no longer exists on a map. A town ruled by a man with very personal reasons for wanting Louis's blood spilt. There they find themselves trapped, isolated, and at the mercy of a killer feared above all others: the assassin of assassins, Bliss. Thanks to former detective Charlie Parker, help is on its way. But can Angel and Louis stay alive long enough for it to reach them?

• ISBN10: 0340936657
• ISBN13: 9780340936658
• Publish Date: 15 May 2008 (first published 1 May 2008)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 14 December 2012
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[wyvernfriend]

Assassins ahoy peripherally a Charlie Parker story, this is more about Louis and Angel; mostly about Louis and his past and what happens when that catches up with them both. 
 
A wealthy recluse sends Louis and Angel on a mission to a town where things aren't as they seem and where they find themselves in serious danger. Charlie Parker has to come to their rescue but things are quite perilous and survival won't be easy.  This will make and break relationships.
 
Not so much of the supernatural but a lot of assassins and killers being brutal to each other.  I liked Willie, the mechanic and his story drew me in (as I'm sure the author intended).
 
There was a great piece: "When the three men had gone, Brooker sat silently at his kitchen table while his wife rolled dough behind him, and tried to ignore the waves of disapproval that were breaking upon his back." (p. 336 in my edition) I liked the imagery.
 
There were some very gory parts to this... not for the squeamish, the relish some of the characters had for killing was chilling.
 
Falls into Murder most foul, probably serial/spree killer (several of those in the story); In the Dark, Dark woods. I intended it for American Horror Story, it's more the horrible things people can do to each other but I'm going to count it.

[empressbrooke]

At first the synopsis on the book's inside flap had me me worrying that this book would be Angel-and-Louis-less, but to my delight, they were the ones carrying the show for 90% of the book. Charlie Parker is a side-character here, mostly referred to as "The Detective" (even though we learn that he has lost his private detective's license). Despite focusing on my favorite characters in the series, though, this book lacks some of the excellent writing that Connolly usually delivers.