Rating: 
Summary: TERRIFIC FIRST EFFORT !
Review: John Connolly's Every Dead thing was the best first effort by a writer that I read in a long time and despite all the negative criticism that came it's way on account of it being too gory or too pat; I still stand by my first impression. The Plot is something like this; NYPD detective Charlie Parker is a alcoholic who was out having a drink in the local pub when his wife and daughter were dessicated by a killer; after months of alcoholism and battling with guilt and struggling to retain his semblance of sanity, he is contacted by a former contact of his at the NYPD to look into the dissapearence of a woman, this eventually leads him to his nemesis 'the Travelling Man'. Though that synopsis might sound cliched, the execution is anything but. Connolly does not pull any punches and it makes for a great read. The plot has almost all the usual elements of a serial killer book, the FBI, hired-guns, mafia, drug dealers, perverts etc. etc. but all of them have been developed to the fullest and none of them look like they have been added only to keep the formula afloat. A special mention has to be made of the two sidekicks; like Bubba Rugowski in Dennis lehane's excellent McKenzie-Gennaro series, Louis and Angel have the potential to develop into much fuller characters and I am glad to say that the author has done just that in his next book. Charlie Parker is a great character; he has been further developed in the author's second book; Dead Hollow(not yet available at amazon but available at amazon.co.uk)and I should say that my first take about the prowess of the author were vindicated, Every Dead thing was not a fluke, the second book is as good if not better than the first and I look forward to reading more from this author. The author seems to be a master at holding your tension throught the book . In any case; the identity of the killer is not paramount to the enjoyment of the book, I managed to figure out that long before the last pages but this dark and haunting novel will keep you on the edge of your seat. All in all, a great book. I recommend it wholeheartedly to all afficionados of this genre, and if you like this book, try the next book by Connolly also, you will not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: What a thriller or should I say thrillers! Connolly spreads his web in gripping detail and unnerving reality. He weaves a story like Patricia Cromwell with the speed and descriptive ability of Robert Parker. You are in every dark place and feel every emotion. This was a "I have to finish this book" journey and worth every word on every page. Can't wait for his next journey - I'm there.
Rating: 
Summary: A different type of thriller...
Review: From the start, you begin to realise that this is a rather different crime thriller than the normal offerings. Written from a first person perspective, the story unravels rather slow at first. However, it soon picks up as more characters are revealed and the locations change. Development of the characters is at first very deep, it then speeds up, but thankfully returns towards the end, as the climax approaches. I don't think its fair to give away too much of the plot in a review, but I do think its useful to provide a template of the world. The trail follows the efforts of an ex-policeman to track down a child-killer. The comparisons that this book has received with Silence of the Lambs etc. are not without reason. The child killer described is arguably more mysterious than the characters in those books, especially as the killer is not the prime target of the story. Unlike most books of this kind, the killer is not focused upon, leaving the opportunity to develop the character of the lead and his aides. The story has a few twists and turns, and I can't really say that I didn't pick up the clues as to who was the culprit. This disn't distract from what I can only describe as a well put together story, with great emphasis on the emotional impact of the subject matter. The characters are really well placed, we've got hired-guns, mafia, drug dealers, perverts, fbi, police and a host of others added for fun. Each is expertly placed, which is the key to a good character. My only critique of the book, is that the neglect to focus on the killer at all, led to a rather shaky motive and climax pairing, that didn't quite answer all of the questions that the book so expertly proposes. Nevertheless, I was engaged in the story from start to finish, and would recommend it to anyone who is going on a long journey, or wants to while away a rainy weekend with a good nervy book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Novel
Review: I was very impressed with "Every Dead Thing". The detail in the settings and the characters was incredible for a first novel. I would definatly recommend this book to fans of horror thrillers!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible Debut
Review: Honestly, I could not believe that this was Mr. Connolly's first novel and I would rank him among names like Jeffrey Deaver and Andrew Klavan. "Every Dead Thing" is filled with intriguing characters (possibly one too many, though) and an appropriate amount of sub-plots and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. However, I would only recommend this thriller to those who can stand excessive gore and violence. I look forward to John Connolly's second novel!
Rating:
Summary: Less would have been more
Review: If this was Connolly's fourth book, it would have been exceptional. As it's his first, it's staggering. The main characters are well drawn, especially Angel and Louis. But there are too many sub-characters and over and over again a name cropped up and I had to backtrack to find out who this person was. Also, the whodunnit part of the plot was obvious from a very early stage - I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it. But it was a bit of a movie cliche twist and I saw it coming a mile off. That said, this IS a good read. Grisly, exciting and at times darkly humorous (especially the dialogue between Louis and Angel). But a simpler plot would have made it more digestible.
Rating:
Summary: A disturbing tale
Review: Every dead thing is a gripping tale, well told by Connolly on first attempt.Only left down by the amount of characters introduced,sometimes hard to recall whos who.Looking forward to some more of Bird,Louis and Angel in the forthcoming 'Dark hollow'.
Rating:
Summary: Two Scalpels Up!
Review: After about 25 mysteries in recent months I finally found something on a par with "The Bone Collector" and "Hannibal." Excellent and very literate -- not your run of the mill page turner. I was also drawn by the interesting philosophical and psychological chords in Bird's psyche. And the grisly story line was quite well drawn. Hard to believe it's his first novel and that he is Dublin-based Irish writer. He must have grown up in New York. I give it a 10 (perfect score) on the 'creep factor' scale. Those who know the best of Harris and Deaver will know what I mean. I hope he maintains the Bird character and the Luis/Angel tandem in future novels. A great read!
Rating: 
Summary: Aimless Merry Go Round
Review: I feel the book is a such a let down. Only the prologue was brilliant. The author introduces a plethora of characters until I lost count of who is who. Many times, I had to flip back to the previous chapters to get some background info on the character again. The many sub-stories introduced in the book (e.g. the hunt for Catherine Dementer, the killings of Joe Bones, etc.) do not seem to contribute to the main thread of the story. It's like being taken for a long ride to nowhere. I can only give credit to the amount of research put in by the author. He has raised my interest on the subject of flaying, especially the artworks that were mentioned in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent first effort
Review: John Connolly appears to have an outstanding sense of the underbelly of New York and New Orleans particularly for an Irish national. From the boondocks of Maine to the roach infested streets of Queens to the bayous of Louisiana we follow former NYPD detective Charlie Parker on the trail of one of the most evil and deranged serial killers I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. The "Traveling Man" not only has a surgeon's skill and knowledge of anatomy,but makes use of mythology and the Bible while carving up his victims. The vivid descriptions of the murder scenes, the autopsies, and a gruesome encounter with fire ants make this a novel definitely not for the squeamish. Connolly fills this story with so many characters that at times it becomes difficult to tell the badguys without a scorecard. Our hero gets caught up in the Mafia, a war between rival Louisiana gangsters, voodoo, and a battle with rednecks all of which somehow are related to his manhunt. Thanks to the occasional glimpses of a wry sense of humor, the many twists and turns in the plot, and a dynamite climactic scene I look forward to the next effort from Mr. Connolly.
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