ABOUT
THE BOOK

2020 Longlist

In the beautiful Maine woods, a partly preserved body is discovered. Investigators realize that the young woman gave birth shortly before her death. But there is no sign of a baby.

Private detective Charlie Parker is hired by a lawyer to shadow the police investigation and find the infant but Parker is not the only one searching. Someone else is following the trail left by the woman, someone with an interest in much more than a missing child, someone prepared to leave bodies in his wake.

And in a house by the woods, a toy telephone begins to ring and a young boy is about to receive a call from a dead woman.

About the Author

John Connolly is the author of the Charlie Parker series of thrillers, the supernatural collection Nocturnes, the Samuel Johnson Trilogy for younger readers, and with Jennifer Ridyard, The Chronicles of the Invaders series. He lives in Dublin, Ireland

Librarian’s Comments

This book is a brilliant combination of a riveting detective story painted against a backdrop of pulsating evil, and featuring an array of multi faceted characters. No one covers this genre of crime / the occult like John Connolly. His command of the English language is magnificent, his descriptive narrative atmospheric. He carries on the great Irish Literary Tradition. He is a credit to his native City, Dublin. Dublin City Libraries, Ireland