Bad Men: A Thriller

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author John Connolly masterfully intertwines mystery, emotion, violence, and the supernatural in this raw and gripping thriller.

In 1693, the settlers on the small Maine island of Sanctuary were betrayed to their enemies and slaughtered. Since then, the island has known three hundred years of peace. Until now...

A group of men are descending on Sanctuary, their purpose to hunt down and kill the wife of their leader and retrieve the money that she stole from him. All that stands in their way are a young rookie officer, Sharon Macy, and Melancholy Joe Dupree, the island's strange, troubled policeman.

Joe Dupree is no ordinary policeman. He is the guardian of the island's secrets, the repository of its memories. He knows that Sanctuary has been steeped in blood once; it will tolerate the shedding of innocent blood no longer. Now a band of killers is set to desecrate Sanctuary and unleash the fury of its ghosts upon themselves and all who stand by them.

On Sanctuary, evil is about to meet its match....

Fast-paced, spellbinding, and elegantly written, Bad Men is John Connolly at his chilling best.

Download Description

New York Times bestselling author John Connolly masterfully intertwines mystery, emotion, violence, and the supernatural in this raw and gripping thriller.

Customer Reviews:

The Bad Men are Pure Evil.......2007-05-18

This is a top notch book if you like thrillers. The bad guys were pure evil and richly developed characters. This was my first Connolly book and it lead me to read the entire Charlie Parker series which were also very enjoyable.

Fast-Paced, Somewhat Grotesque but Enjoyable Thriller.......2007-01-16

Bad Men by John Connolly is a dark, disturbing book about the worst kind of evil: the sort men are capable of doing to other men. Some authors write about evil in order to demonstrate the ultimate power of good; others, like Stephen King, use evil as a tool in telling a story about the supernatural. Mr. Connolly, by contrast, appears to enjoy writing about evil simply for the sake of writing about evil.

There are four main characters in this book: three of them are people; one of them is an island. All of them are tortured, complex souls. Moloch is the tortured bad man, a convicted spouse abuser who escapes prison and goes on a murder spree. Bent on enacting revenge on his betraying wife, he is unable to understand why he is plagued by visions from the ancient past. Marianne is Moloch's tortured wife. She turned her husband over to the law years ago and lives in fear of his eventual release from prison. She lives under a new identity with her son on Dutch Island, Maine, as far away from Moloch as she can get. Joe DuPree is Dutch Island's tortured policeman. He is a giant of a man and has lived with resultant ridicule his entire life. He comes from a long line of Dutch Island DuPrees, and he is is love with Marianne, though he is unaware of her secret past. The fourth character is Dutch Island itself. The little island lies so far out in the Atlantic that it is virtually cut off from the mainland except for a twice-a-day ferry that doesn't run in foul weather--which in the winter turns out to be more days than not. The island used to be called Sanctuary, back in the dark past of which Moloch dreams without knowing why. And it has a past of its own, and it is tortured too, in its own way.

Strange spirits move deep within the woods of Dutch Island. Things happen here that no one can quite explain. Old paths through the forest become overgrown and nearly impossible to find overnight. The ancient watchtower on the coast sometimes seems to be inhabited, though not by anyone who can ever be seen. Something terrible happened here centuries ago, and the island has not forgotten. And now, with Moloch and his band of evil men making their way across the country toward Dutch Island and Marianne, the ancient spirits of the island are beginning to wake up.

It is not clear from reading the book what Connolly intended his readers to get out of it. There is no discernable moral, none of the characters undergoes an epiphany, and by the end of the book, the reader feels so oppressed by Moloch's criminal insanity that without any positive message to offset the horrible crimes described in such great detail, one wonders exactly what the author was trying to get across. Nevertheless, Connolly writes about the criminal mind brilliantly, though whether or not that is a commendable attribute may be open to debate. We get an all-too-clear picture of what's happening in Moloch's mind as he bounces back and forth between his dreams of ancient evil and his participation in present crimes.

Connolly portrays his villains (Moloch is not the only evil man in the story; he is the leader of a whole group of murderous thugs) in an almost sympathetic way. At no point in the book does the reader begin to root for the evildoers, or even identify with them, but the author does give them individual personalities and motivations for their actions. As the book's title might suggest, the bulk of the narrative and most of the action follows Moloch's gang as they make their way toward Dutch Island. The author covers the other characters thoroughly and doesn't leave any loose ends, but his heart never quite seems to be in the writing when he's not examining the criminals and their crimes. The romance between the hulking Joe DuPree and Marianne, for example, is sweet but almost entirely without substance. Their developing relationship is never quite convincing, and their single sexual encounter is, while happily not described in great detail, also devoid of feeling and seems utterly shallow. Compare this with the emotion and depth with which Connolly describes one character's murder of an innocent man because he was talking too loud on a cell phone, and it's not difficult to see why the law-abiding characters tend to come off as dry and almost boring.

The central idea behind the story--a place that seeks revenge for horrors perpetrated there--is not an original one, but it works for Connolly every bit as well as it has worked for others in the past. Connolly employs a haunted island instead of a haunted house or a graveyard, and the touch of originality gives the story just enough of a chill factor to keep readers guessing. The ghosts manage to be creepy without being ridiculous, and the islanders' encounters with them are part scary and part curious, leading to a real anticipation of what will happen when the spirits of the dead get their hands on the present-day murderers when they finally get to the island.

The story climaxes when Moloch and his band of merry murderers get to Dutch Island and seek out Marianne so that Moloch can pay her back for her treachery. As expected, the island comes alive with a horrible response to the evil that has reached its shores. Unfortunately, the book's finale is rather unsatisfying, and the end comes abruptly. Nothing is left unsettled, but the reader puts the book down feeling a little bit bewildered by how suddenly the story has come to an end.

Bad Men is enjoyable in some respects, but it's enjoyable in the same way that some people enjoy watching a scary movie: it's so terrible that it somehow rings true. The writing is good enough to keep readers going through the horrific descriptions of awful crimes, though it's not quite good enough to justify not having any central message or theme other than the evil that truly insane men can sometimes commit. Christians will find little to latch onto in the story. While it is certainly true that evil of the kind John Connolly writes about exists in the world, it's best to discuss it while keeping in mind that God has already conquered all evil. Evil men still do horrible things, but God has already secured the ultimate victory. In Bad Men, triumph over evil comes from the vengeful spirits of the ancient dead. In real life, triumph over evil comes from the blood of Jesus Christ. John Connolly is very good at what he does, but this novel would have been far better if he had focused less on the things bad men are capable of and more on the goodness that the rest of us cling to every day.

My first John Connolly,stand alone..........2006-10-17

...didn't dissapoint me.I "discovered" Connolly,searching some used books at the library.I've now read all of the Charlie Parker books. Being he's Irish,Connolly shows his knowledge/history(study) of Maine and the local towns,I find real interesting. Bad Men,part mystery/supenmatural....are some bad people.He goes back to the old myths,to today real smooth. I really enjoyed Connolly describing how Marianne,ran away from her scary/abusive/controlling husband(Moloch).Sherrif Joe Dupree,a giant of a man,living in a "normal" world,was easy to feel for him.Molochs "companions",(which you wouldn't want to look at wrong) were some real mean individuals. This was a good quick read from a gifted thriller writer....I can't wait for the next Parker book!!!

The synopsis sounded good, so I read it:.......2006-10-05

... and couldn't put it down. I was aware that this was a horror story, but was really pleased at how the author plotted the story to mix tangible and supernatural evil and bring it to a logically explosive conclusion ... and the supernatural was arguably not "evil." I was definitely rooting for the gray people. The horror wasn't in the ghosts seeking revenge, but in the bad men; you couldn't expect ANYBODY to survive if they crossed paths with these people and that stressed me. Knowing that these and others like them really exist and any one of us can walk right into that kind of nightmare at anytime ... well that had me checking the locks at night and wanting Jesus to come (and FIX us)!! Oh, and a sweet ending.

Disappointing & A Bad Ending.......2006-09-19

I accidentally discovered Connolly's Charlie Parker series at a library sale, and since then have ordered and read each book in the series. Naturally I ordered 'Bad Men' as well, and although it was clear that the characters were totally different, I had expected the same style and intricate complexity characteristic of the Parker series. In this, I was disappointed. The amazingly complex, intricate and fascinating first-person ruminations so marvelous in Parker were missing in this third-person narrated book, and that lost a lot in terms of quality and interest. I never really derived a sense of empathy with any of the 'good' characters, who weren't as well-drawn or appealing as those in the other books. A lot more could have been done with Joe Dupree, and I was ===SPOILER SPOILER== horrified when he was killed at the end - he deserved better and it was quite a letdown. Too, there never seemed to be real purpose in having Joe be a giant - it seemed to just kind of be thrown in there as a difference but with no real center to explore the plotline: he could have been normal-sized and there would have been no difference in the plotline. Hopefully, there will be no sequel using the remaining characters, and Mr. Connolly will continue on with the excellent Parker series.

Average customer rating:

Bad Lands
Arthur Wiederhold
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Men's Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595223818

Book Description

Five years after the Great War, a violent quake brought five large islands bubbling to the surface of the Great Southern Sea. The enterprising Arka-Dal saw these new lands as a great opportunity. He claimed them for the Empire, then opened them to colonization. For several years, the colony grew and thrived. Then on one summer day, all contact with the colony suddenly stopped. Worried, Arka-Dal sent an expedition of five ships under the command of Sindbad to the islands to find out what happened to the colony. It proved to be the most horrifying voyage of the famed captain's career!

Average customer rating:

Bad Men
John Connolly
Manufacturer: Coronet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0340826185

Average customer rating:

Bad Men - Thriller
John Connolly
Manufacturer: Atria Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RJ2IL8

Average customer rating:

Bad Press
Rob Hadley
Manufacturer: Turnstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Men's Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0888012500

Book Description

It's bad enough when Steve Sinclair finds himself framed for the murder of Kelly Watson, a young London prostitute. As he runs from the streets of London to a green protest on the high seas to the bedroom of a seductive knife-wielding corporate lawyer, Sinclair finds himself embroiled in an international game of murder and power that he must decipher to survive.

Average customer rating:

Johnny Bad Ass
The Big Lefthook
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Men's Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595328482

Book Description

This is a love story of a young Irish fighter's climb out of a blue collar neighborhood of Brooklyn into the double-dealing, high stakes world of Las Vegas during the 1960's. The road is full of potholes and death defying, hair-pin curves. At every fork, Johnny ("The Kid") takes the wrong turn that sends him into another whirlwind of suspenseful action. A conservative may label Johnny a stone-cold killer but the average reader will fall in love with him because of his deep sense of loyalty and code of honor. Johnny has an "old soul," an attitude from the Wild West but lives in the 1960's—a true recipe for trouble!

Download Description

Book Description

So much for the peace and quiet New York film critic Mitch Berger expected to find in his antique carriage house overlooking Long Island Sound. Nothing can shelter him from the goings-on in nearby Dorset. A violent death in a speeding Porsche....an attempted suicide by the school superintendent....and dirty politics are about to propel Mitch out of the shadows into a starring role. And then there's his new love, resident state trooper Desiree Mitry....Des has transferred out of her position as the highest-ranking black woman in the state police homicide department to give more time to the art for which she has a sure talent. But as she soon learns, Dorset's bucolic exterior hides some ugly secrets. The femme fatale daughter of a famous local sculptor is killed in a car explosion that makes tabloid headlines. Now Des is on the case, saddled with a pushy former colleague, and reaching out to Mitch for an extra pair of eyes-and arms-in a case that threatens to tear the town apart....

Customer Reviews:

Thoroughly Enjoyable.......2006-08-06

This is the first David Handler I've read. He's been on my reading list for awhile, although I almost didn't buy it because of the cute "cozy" cover. However, I'm glad I did. I loved the setting for the book and the true to life characters. What I most enjoyed was that the story shifts back and forth between Mitch and Des. I figured it would just be told from Mitch's point of view. Also, there were subplots that Des was dealing with in trying to do her job that were not related to the murder(s) which I found interesting. Another reviewer mentioned that they felt Des' "ghetto speak" was not realistic. I respect the opinion, but found the dialoge throughout to be true to each character. I will definitely be reading more David Handler.

Dorset isn't quite as perfect as it seems.......2003-09-22

New York film critic, Mitch Berger and aspiring artist, former Homicide Detective, Desiree Mitry live in idyllic Dorset Connecticut. Mitch meets eccentric local artist Wendell "Hangtown" Frye at the local dump. Before you know it they become bosom bodies. Tragedy strikes the Frye family when Hangtown's daughter is killed in a car explosion when driving home from a rendezvous with a lover.

Mitch and Des are a rather unique crime-solving partnership. Their new romance is at times rather touching, and frequently cloying and sickly sweet. There are plenty of quirky characters to keep you entertained. A well-paced plot keeps the action moving. I look forward to the next entry in this series.

Still in good form.......2003-03-05

Fans of Stewart Hoag, as am I, worried when Handler moved on to cases involving new crime-solvers, but Mitch Berger and Des Mitry shine in this second Sister Island mystery. Pink Farmhouse is rich with exotic characters and intriguing plot twists. Plus Handler is creating a very compelling universe in Dorset, CT, a new England village with a Norman Rockwell appearance but Peyton Place kinks. We needn't have worried about being left Hoagless, in fact, I am already eager for the next Berger mystery.

As good, if not better than, expected.......2002-11-29

A very satisfying 2nd installment to this series - which I hope will have a long, successful run. The characters are so engaging, and the depiction of them in this small town, with all of the idiosyncrasies of small town people, is wonderful. Mr. Handler's insight into each of them is nothing short of masterful. I absolutely loved visiting this place with these people, and look forward to reading more about them.

I enjoyed it so much, in fact, that I couldn't so much as remove 1 star even though I cringed every time Desiree (Des) broke out into `black speak.' It wouldn't have been so disturbing I suppose, if her background hadn't been mainstream/middle class. It just felt inconsistent that she spoke 3rd generation ghetto. When people, even black people, are born and raised in an environment where proper English is spoken, they typically talk like their peers - trust me, I know. Unless they're having an identity crisis and incorrectly assume they must talk like an uneducated thug in order to feel black. However, this character was portrayed as strong and self-assured, sans identity issues. Normally, I steer clear of books where the black characters are portrayed so stereotypically, but Mr. Handler managed to make this one so interestingly multidimensional that I forgive him.

I'm also glad I ignored the review that referred to the romance in the story as `gratingly cute.' I thought it was one of the most emotionally honest depictions of two wounded people falling in love that I've read - and I read a lot. It adds an additional endearing element to this mystery that is absorbing and well written.

strong regional mystery.......2002-11-24

Dorset, Connecticut is a quaint New England town, which is home to world renown sculptor Hangtown Frye. He has two daughters living with him, Moose the apple of his eye and Takai an evil slut. Moose is coming home after a night of sex with her married lover when someone using a sniper's rifle shoots out the engine causing it to explode.

When the police determine somebody murdered Moose, Resident Trooper Desiree Mitry finds herself in the middle of homicide investigation that confuses her because the victim was driving her sister's car and Takai had more enemies than anyone else in town. Before they can flush out the perpetrator they have to find out who was the intended victim. Mitch Berger, Desiree's lover and Frye's movie critic pal finds himself in the unique position of being able to give Des all the answers to her questions if he doesn't get himself killed first.

Mitry and Berger are a great team both personally and professionally but the star of the book is the town of Dorset, which looks perfect on the surface but has all the problems and eccentric characters of the inner city. There are a surplus of suspects who could have killed Moose but the actual perpetrator will come as a total shock to readers, who will enjoy this regional mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Average customer rating:

"Wizard of the Pigeons" A Captivating Book

A deep fantasy ABOUT fantasy

Why is this out of print?

Oh, how I love this book!

Good except for the slow start and finish

Wizard of the Pigeons
Megan Lindholm
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Wolf's Brother

Harpy's Flight

The Gypsy

The Limbreth Gate

Forest Mage (The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 2)

ASIN: 0441894674

Customer Reviews:

"Wizard of the Pigeons" A Captivating Book.......2007-10-07

I was sucked in from page one, totally absorbed, just coming up for air occasionally. The only part I felt wasn't perfect was the ending. Well worth reading, and certainly very thought provoking.

Surreal and captivating reading.

A deep fantasy ABOUT fantasy.......2007-03-11

This seems, at first, to be a good work of magical realism - Charles de Lint with a twist - but it turns out to be much more. We first see a fantasy world, where magic is real, but then we also see a more realistic worldview, where the main character is psychotic. Both of these views are allowed their integrity, and neither is shattered. This is a very difficult balance, and the tension between these two views casts some light on what fantasy is, and why each of us reads it.

Why is this out of print?.......2005-07-11

I was in college when my boyfriend, another sci fi fiend from Seattle, turned me on to this book. I have read it several times since and have always come away with something more. Well written, good story, interesting twist at the end. Some say it was too slow - I felt the pacing just fine. Read this book, and pass it on to others. Maybe someone will get the hint and print up more copies!

Oh, how I love this book!.......2004-12-24

Why is this book out of print?!

Aside from that, the only problem with this book is that there's nothing else like it. I want more.

This is a truly unique novel, in part about the magic that is a city, in part about the wonder that is true magic. Schizophrenia, eternal love, and a time that's out of joint are only minor notes in a word-symphony of the human spirit...

Looking back on what I've written, I realize that my words cannot begin to justly describe the wondrousness of this book. Buy it and read it. 'Nuff said.

Good except for the slow start and finish.......2004-10-13

While the bulk of the story is a captivating way of experiencing the magic of Seattle and harsh realities of being a homeless vet the novel is bookended with a slow opening and a confusing ending. In both cases I found myself rereading passages just to figure out what was happening. The slow start nearly kept me from reading the rest of the book but I am glad I had continued reading.

Average customer rating:

A book that will keep you up reading it

Wizard of the Pigeons

Manufacturer: Hypatia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0940841320

Customer Reviews:

A book that will keep you up reading it.......2007-04-12

I bought the Wizard of Pigeons on it's first release and didn't get much sleep that night. It was impossible to put this book down, I had to finish reading it. Set in modern day Seattle, it is firmly in the urban fantasy category but bears little relation to other urban fantasies. There are no elves or mysterious creatures, except for MIR the menace coming to Seattle. The magic is not obvious high power special effects but subtle and easily overlooked by the normal population. Wizards are not even passing as normal people, but live among society's dropouts. If all of this sounds like something you would hate, THINK AGAIN! This is the kind of book that you finish and say "what a nice story." I can't recommend it too strongly.

Wizard of the Pigeons and Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man

Average customer rating:

Wizard of the Pigeons and Silver Lady and the Fortyish Man

Manufacturer: Hypatia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0940841339

Product Description

Limited to 250 copies signed by the author, the illustrator, and Elizabeth Scarborough.

Book Description

so you're having a hysterectomy

If you've been informed that you need a hysterectomy, this book is for you. Step by step, test by test, decision by decision, you'll know what to expect and what your choices are. Why are you having problems? Do you really need a hysterrectomy? What are the alternatives? Is it best to just "wait and see"? And if you do decide to go ahead, what type of hysterectomy procedure is right for you? From diagnosis to recovery, So You're Having a Hysterectomy is the ultimate guide for women facing this controversial surgery. Balanced, accurate information, real-life patient stories, and detailed illustrations give you the inside story on each medical procedure, while extensive self-help sections give you the power to find your own personal road to wellness—whatever you decide.

"Been there, done that, does not an expert make. Event though I have had a hysterectomy and am a sex educator/counselor, I still learned a great deal about hysterectomy from this book. Highly recommended reading."

—Sue Hohanson, RN CM, sex educator/counselor and host of the Sunday Night Sex Show

Customer Reviews:

Great balanced guide.......2005-04-21

I picked this book up at the library and am considering buying a copy, even though my surgery is scheduled for just a week from now. It is a great guide to what will happen, what questions to ask, how to prepare, etc., etc., etc. I'm on my second reading now and will probably read it again. Definitely worth the $10 or so price tag in my opinion.

Helpful, fairly up-to-date, unbiased. .......2005-01-09

Less biased than some books on the subject. Discusses hysterectomies and less-drastic alternative treatments, including the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each. Discusses different methods of hysterectomy -- vaginal, abdominal, and laproscopic, and includes the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of each method. Some hysterectomy books do not mention the newer all-laproscopic method of hysterectomy, but this gives it good coverage. Also pros and cons of what to include in the hysterectomy, especially ovaries which have a major impact. Includes an in-depth discussion of what to expect after hysterectomy.

Helpful book.......2004-02-11

I found this book clear, concise and very helpful. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that once again, despite it's title, it includes alternatives to hysterectomy. For those of us who have already made the decision out of necessity, I find that annoying.

Average customer rating:

SO YOU'RE HAVING HYSTERECTOMY
M. GRESSOR
Manufacturer: Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SHNVQ0

Average customer rating:

So You're Having a Hysterectomy
Togas, MD and Barbara Levy MD Tulandi
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N26OGE

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books