Excellent read as expected from John Connolly. I love the way character has changed over the course of the series, becoming more complex as we get closer to where the story is headed. Even though this is a series, you can read the book as a standalone and enjoy it as much as I did. Cannot wait for the next book!

I was all set for a good mystery story but the book began with the description of a “Grey Man” and how he hunted for young girls.

Then the story continued with a description of Eldritch, a lawyer, and how his son had almost died at birth. It went on to describe how “odd” the boy was.

After three chapters of dark and horrid descriptions but nothing about a mystery, I lost interest in the book.

***ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review*** I have put off reading this for a while as it is a big book for me and have not been into reading big page counts. While this is book #14 and it would have been better to read other books before this I think I was able to follow Charlie Parker's background. This book starts off slow and crescendos in the end... I actually liked the later part of the book as it moved at a slighted faster pace. I found myself thinking that this would make for a nice television movie. I will definitely read more of this series.

Usually I am good with the Charlie Parker series having read eight of the previous books, I have come to understand or think I have the character. This book for some reason I really could not get into and thought it was just me so after I read it once I spent some time away from it and came back again for a second reading and was left with the same feeling as I was with the first time. Disappointment, going back and rereading book 13 thinking maybe I was missing something I was still not following were the author was taking the reader. At least in the other books you could at least pick up something from the last book but I felt like none of that was in this book. I had no problem with the darkness of the character for that it where he had been going. A good story just not what I was expecting.

I had trouble getting through this book. The writing is good and I suspect it is simply a clase of me reading it at the wrong time for me. I may give it a second look in the future.

Charlie Parker is definitely an interesting fellow. The premise of the book, the way it's laid out, is a great foundation for a nice, chilly horror thriller, and it doesn't disappoint.

A Time of Torment is a dark, gritty novel. It was creepy and captivating. Annnd unfortunately, a little too dark for me. While I personally did not finish the novel, I know a lot of people are constantly on the hunt for a new dark read, and this book may just be perfect for them.

This book includes all the dark topics: stealing, rape, kidnapping, murder etc. It was just a little too much for me. DNF.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to download this title before it was archived

The mystery/thriller A Time of Torment was not my cup of tea. It proved to be very gruesome, bloody and way too violent. Charlie Parker, a private investigator, with a seedy past and his colorful cohorts Angel, Louis, and Fulci brothers. Together they take on West Virginia hillbilly cult who worship the “dead king”. Parker is hired by a client who disappears. Parker’s search for his client takes them to West Virginia and a meeting with inhabitants of “the cut”, a community that is violent, bloody and disgusting. I could not find any redeeming quality or redeeming beneficial reason for the evil actions of the characters to convey the storyline or plot. Proceed with caution or dive in with your eyes wide open if you like this sort of thing.

Perfect Titles for the Picture-perfect Sunnies

Whether its for Instagram, Pinterest or FB, here the perfect titles and picture-perfect sunglasses to be caught in!

Titles and Sunglasses – clockwise from left:

Hit the Ground Running (Hit the Ground Running Series Book 1) by Mark Burley and eyebobs’ “Phone It In”
A Time of Torment: A Charlie Parker Thriller by John Connolly and eyebobs “Case Closed”
HOLY WAR by Mike Bond and eyebobs “Board Stiff”

see the highly favorable "must read" review by East Coast Don in menreadingbooks.blogspot.com

John Connolly is one of my favorite authors . This novel does not disappoint and is thrilling until the end. The author has a gift for constructing thrilling plots that are both suspenseful and fun to read. Very well done.,

Suspenseful story line, with twisting subplots, delves in dark cults with many secrets that MUST be kept at all cost...

This is my first John Connolly book and now I want to read them all!! I felt this story started slow, but I stuck with it and am very glad I did! Once it pulled me in, I couldn't put it down! I love the mixture of paranormal and crime fiction!

Parker is an interesting guy and I'm sure reading any or all of the prior books would have helped me understand him better. In this book, he is up against a small community called The Cut. The Cut run and rule a small town. So Parker was not just up against The Cut, he wasn't getting any help from the town either.

I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading more in the series!

Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book sounded interesting but wasn't something I am normally drawn to. I'm sure it's a good read for people who prefer this genre. I can't say anything bad about it, my lack of interest was the only problem.

I've read a lot of self-published books and books by small press publishers since I started this blog and I can usually tell within the first few pages when I'm reading something by a less experienced author. Likewise, I can often tell within a page or two when I'm in the hands of a master and such was the case with John Connolly and <em>A Time of Torment</em>.

The opening chapter was subtle and melodic and tremendously disturbing, giving me a chill right down to the marrow in my bones. I was hooked and knew that this was a book I was going to enjoy. And I was correct.

Although this is the fourteenth book in a series, it is not necessary to have read all the previous books. The story itself is self-contained, though I suspect that we might get some character growth through the progression of the series.

Charlie Parker is a private investigator. He is patient, methodical, and fearless. Having back-up such as Angel and Louis helps the fearlessness.

In <em>A Time of Torment</em>, Parker is slowly brought in to a story of kidnapping, enslavement, and murder that reaches much farther back than Parker's involvement. A small, isolated community known as "The Cut" exists outside the long arm of the law and is tolerated by locals because The Cut's influence doesn't disrupt their own daily lives. But members of The Cut reach beyond the local community to kidnap young girls, enslaving them to become breeders for the men, and then killed after giving birth to the third or fourth child. This has been going on for a long time, ensuring the longevity of the community.

But there is strife inside the community as the younger generation is not satisfied with the pace and direction of the current leader. Catching Parker's interest can not be good for a community looking to stay off the grid.

While it's true that the readers don't need to read the previous books in the series to follow this story, there is a sub-plot involving Parker's daughters (one living, one dead) that likely won't make as much sense to the new reader (such as myself). But the story here is dark and disturbing and Connolly holds the reader's interest all the way through and builds the action, along with the story, delicately but with power - like a spider's web. I look forward to going back and starting this series from the beginning.

Looking for a good book? A Time of Torment by John Connolly is a powerful mystery with shades of paranormal that tantalizes and holds a reader all the way through to the very last word.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

When this book landed in my hands, I had no idea it was the 14th in a Charlie Parker crime/mystery series. Thankfully it stood alone well and I could enjoy it without knowing any of the PI's backstory.

This book is as dark and twisty as you can imagine, and then adds a little supernatural insanity on top just for good measure. We have a Dead King, a village of inbred criminals, and a freshly-released sex offender in this complex mix, and things get freaky deadly fast in this backwoods setting. If you are a big fan of X-Files or even Stranger Things, you'll probably find yourself a fan of this disturbing novel (even the series?).

I received this book from NetGalley. Thank you to the author, John Connolly, and the publisher, Atria Books, for the opportunity to read and review.

another creepy charlie parker book, been a huge fan since day one with connolly, glad to see he still delivers the same creepy style that made me love his writing from the start

You can't go wrong with the Charlie Parker series. Fantastically creepy as it twists and turns you

This was my first Connolly, let alone my first commercial mystery/thriller novel. I really enjoyed the writing style and, while they're both quite dark, the setting and characters were imaginative. Some things were a bit confusing, as I haven't read the other books in the series, but I will recommend to those who love this sort of genre.