Book Series - An Interlude (Part 2 of 2); "The Whisperers" by John Connolly - D

I know, I know.  That title is a mouthful.

This is part 2 of my thought-provoking series on book series.  I know that the last entry was quite the mind-bender.  We delve deep here on Mark's Book Blog.  We really do.

So, about two years ago my biological mother calls me and asks, "What happened to John Connolly?"  No freaking idea what she was talking about.  I'd never heard of John Connolly.  Apparently, she had read numerous John Connolly novels, and the latest one was not to her liking.  After a few web searches and a few more cryptic clues from my biological mother, I said, "Nothing has happened to John Connolly.  Now, the fact that you're reading John Connolly and expecting a Michael Connolly novel.  That's a problem."

I've read a couple Michael Connolly novels.  Connolly has written the Harry Bosch series.  I think I read "The Lincoln Lawyer," which is not a Harry Bosch novel.  But I digress.  Where was I?

Oh yeah.  Well, I look up this John Connolly.  He's got a series of his own, the Charlie Parker series.  At this point, I think Connolly was 4-5 books in to the series.  I researched John Connolly (I'm going to refer to him as "JC" for the rest of this post), and it sounded like his books wouldn't suck.  Sounded a little like Michael Connolly who had gone on a Stephen King bender.

As discussed in Part I, I had to start with Book 1, "Every Dead Thing."  I liked this Charlie Parker character as well as his nefarious friends, Louis and Angel.  I read Book 2, "Dark Hollow."  OK, OK, I'm not going to give you a play by play here, I've read them all. Starting with Book 1.  And I just completed the latest, "The Whisperers."

I saw an interview with Daniel Silva the other day on the Today Show while I was getting my car serviced (Bear with me here.  I hate the Today Show.  But I wasn't the first one at the dealership, and I was therefore unable to switch over to Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN2.  And, I know I'm jumping around, but again, bear with me.)  I've read a couple of Daniel Silva novels.  He has written the Gabriel Allon series.  Allon is a former Israeli spy turned art restorer.  (I hear that's the preferred retirement job for old spooks--art restoration.  I can think of 1,000 retirement job for old spies, but I never would have come upon "art restorer.")

Anyway, Silva said that publishers pretty much demand a novel a year, and that he's had novels come out the same week each of the last several years.

That's the problem with The Whisperers.  JC's publishers require a novel a year, and JC is running out of stories to tell.  There's not much plot in The Whisperers.  More disappointing, however, is that there's not much Louis or Angel, and not enough Charlie Parker.

As I've tried to communicate on this blog in prior entries, I'm primarily a character guy.  I want to see compelling characters described skillfully.  There has to be enough story to help the characters along, but if I'm not interested in your protagonist, you've lost me.

JC's earlier novels in the Charlie Parker series had more than enough plot.  Now, it seems like he's in the four corners offense just delaying some major character development or series conclusion.

I used to like James Rollins' Sigma novels, too.  Same problem.  I've sworn them off.  Too much "been there, read that" in his latest two, "Doomsday Key" and "The Last Oracle."  Even his latest non-Sigma novel, "Altar of Eden," was too formulaic.

And there's always the possibility that, instead of the authors becoming lazy and formulaic, they were ALWAYS lazy and formulaic, but I was too lazy and oblivious to notice.  My head is spinning.

I know that this post was "all over," but whatever.  That's right, I'm whatevering you, if you're out there.

Live long, read and prosper.  We'll leave the lights on for you.