N O V E L S T H E    W H I T E    R O A D R E V I E W S UK US CRIME TIME The White Road is a ghost story that carries enough overtones of modern prejudice, corruption, and violence to be called gothic noir. Every Dark Thing began in New York City and ended in New Orleans, with more than a hint of the same supernatural atmosphere that is so strong, and so effective in this novel. In between, Parker became a 'homing Bird', resettling in Maine, oblivious to the inevitable Stephen King analogies which followed. But Connolly is up to something different: he plays distinctly with classical sources, more subtly with each book, as if to prove that the elements of great literature in the past are no different today, even when they appear in so-called 'genre' fiction. Hence, The White Road can take its well-earned place with works as disparate as Shiel and Faulkner. It's a heady mix. The story itself moves fluidly and well, with the gap between supernatural horror and modern reality never so narrow.     —Michael Carlson MYSTERY INK ONLINE John Connolly is quite simply the best thing to have happened to the American thriller genre for years. He has more than proved that with his first books, as each one has gotten better and better. The trend is evident once more in The White Road, his fourth Charlie Parker novel, and his best so far. Connolly's books are essentially battles between immensely potent evil and flawed good, and they show us that even in these situations it is possible for good to achieve victory - but not without a price. A story of incredible darkness and how we can never truly be free of it, The White Road is a masterpiece of fiction.     —Fiona Walker BOOK LOONS Connolly delivers another spooky, complex suspenseful plot riddled with violence. He deals with the question of why bad things happen to good people - and shows us different kinds of responses to such happenings - with a great deal of empathy... The White Road is a brilliant and haunting chiller, which left me wondering if I dare open the next volume in this horrific series.     —Hilary Williamson CLUES UNLIMITED MYSTERY BOOKSTORE Connolly does a brilliant job of capturing the racial tension that permeates not just the South, but all of the US. This is the most harrowing of Connoll's novels, but at the same time the prose is lyrical and elegant. We particularly like this novel because the supernatural elements that have been hinted at previously are coming more to the fore. THE BEST REVIEWS Hailed as a "master storyteller" (The London Express) by critics stateside and abroad, Connolly has once again delivered a riveting and suspenseful story that draws readers toward the horrifying crossroads of the past and present, of the living and the dead. "We are trapped not only by our own history but by the histories of all those with whom we choose to share our lives," he writes. As chillingly as it is beautifully rendered, The White Road is sure to tread a frightening path for even the most world-weary crime fiction fan.     —Harriet Klausner A NOVEL VIEW What makes John different is his Irish poetic soul. His stories are truly scary and horrifying but not Horror in my mind--more of an offshoot of the thriller with all the metaphysical aspects of life thrown into the mix. This novel is chilling, lyrical and hauntingly poetic. John Connolly is brilliant and talented. And his words resonate.     —Tammy Michaels REVIEWING THE EVIDENCE Connolly's usual woo-woo element plays a key role in this novel, but unlike in Bad Men, it is not crucial to the denouement and the novel remains within the boundaries of credulity. Overall, the book did not feel as tight and sharp as the dark, bleak and fast The Killing Kind, but this still makes for an enjoyable, powerful read that serves to cement Connolly's reputation as one of the best thriller writers of today.     —Luke Croll Read the Prologue. Read a Q & A. Support an independent bookstore, or buy online from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or BooksIrish.com.