Two intertwined disappearances leave a rural community in shock in the latest gripping Charlie Parker novel from New York Times bestselling author John Connolly.

In a darkly brilliant thriller set in Maine’s rural Kennebec River Valley, the body of a young runaway from a “troubled teens” school has been found in the water, seemingly drowned, while a teenage girl has gone missing, believed dead. Now it is up to one man, private investigator Charlie Parker, to find the connection, and bring two evils—one new and one ancient—to an end…

Excerpt

About The Author

Photograph by Mark Condren

John Connolly

John Connolly is the author of the #1 internationally bestselling Charlie Parker thrillers series, The Book of Lost Things and its sequel The Land of Lost Things, the Samuel Johnson Trilogy for younger readers, and (with Jennifer Ridyard) the Chronicles of the Invaders series. He lives in Dublin, Ireland. For more information, see his website at JohnConnollyBooks.com, or follow him on X and BlueSky @JConnollyBooks.

Product Details

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (June 2, 2026)
Length: 416 pages
ISBN13: 9781668083970

Raves and Reviews

"This is the twenty-third novel in 27 years, and it is, once again, superb. The novel pulls us into the story on the first page and refuses to let us go until the last. Expect high interests in this one."

– Booklist

"Connolly's subtle handling of the supernatural element is one of the book's distinguishing qualities. So is its occassional humor. A strong, if not earthshaking, installment in the long-running series."

– Kirkus Reviews

"A RIVER RED WITH BLOOD is an unsettling book and one of the best of the series to date."

– BookPage

*Praise for John Connolly*

"Connolly is one the great writers of our generation."

– Nicholas Sparks, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"Connolly’s bewitching latest whodunit featuring Maine PI Charlie Parker combines hard-boiled tropes with supernatural elements. . . . Connolly once again flexes his gifts for vivid characterization and striking prose. . . . This long-running series shows no signs of slowing down."

– Publishers Weekly

"There’s no denying this one is a hell of a tale: dark, haunting, and beautifully told . . . the book is required reading."

– Booklist