“Irresistible.” —Stephen King

Private Investigator Charlie Parker returns in this heart-pounding thriller as he seeks revenge against the darkest forces in the world, from “one of the best thriller writers we have” (Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author) and the internationally bestselling author of the acclaimed The Woman in the Woods.

He is our best hope.

He is our last hope.

He is our only hope.

On a lonely moor in northern England, the body of a young woman is discovered. In the south, a girl lies buried beneath a Saxon mound. To the southeast, the ruins of a priory hide a human skull.

Each is a sacrifice, a summons. And something in the darkness has heard the call.

Charlie Parker has also heard it and from the forests of Maine to the deserts of the Mexican border, from the canals of Amsterdam to the streets of London, he will track those who would cast the world into darkness.

Parker fears no evil—but evil fears him.

“A seamless, expansive, and chilling blend of police procedural and gothic horror tale” (Kirkus Reviews), A Book of Bones will keep you guessing until the very last page.

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 @JConnollyBooks.

Product Details

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (August 25, 2020)
Length: 688 pages
ISBN13: 9781982127527

Raves and Reviews

"An irresistible mixture of mythic horror and nuts-and-bolts police procedural. Long-time Connolly protagonist Charlie Parker searches for a dangerous and otherworldly book called The Fractured Atlas. The Parker books are loosely connected, but this is a fine place to start."

– Stephen King

"A seamless, expansive, and chilling blend of police procedural and gothic horror tale . . . perfect for fireside reading on cold, rainy nights."

– Kirkus Reviews

"Connolly pits private eye Charlie Parker against two of the most intriguing villians he's created . . . fans will be thrilled."

– Booklist

"[A] thrilling hunt… The plot is scary, but it's the author's blend of actual and alternate history that provides shivers."

– Shelf Awareness

"Connolly delivers another masterful tale . . . Connolly has long proven himself a storytelling sorcerer, and one of the finest stylists in the crime genre."

– Mystery Scene Magazine

"Connolly is masterful, and the mix of horror and procedural is wonderful . . . BOOK OF BONES is a masterpiece."

– The Day

"Connolly weaves a rich tapestry of beauty in painting the scenery while waiting to spring the inevitable horror he has become known for. A+"

– San Francisco Book Review