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The Dirty South

A Charlie Parker Thriller, Book 18

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The Dirty South

By: John Connolly
Narrated by: Jeff Harding
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About this listen

 It is 1997, and someone is slaughtering young black women in Burdon County, Arkansas.

But no one wants to admit it, not in the Dirty South.

In an Arkansas jail cell sits a former NYPD detective, stricken by grief. He is mourning the death of his wife and child, and searching in vain for their killer. He cares only for his own lost family.

But that is about to change . . .

Witness the becoming of Charlie Parker.

(P) 2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd©2020 Bad Dog Books Limited Crime Thrillers Fiction Modern Detectives Mystery Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Crime Arkansas

Critic Reviews

A finely written thriller haunted by a powerful sense of the struggle between good and evil
Anyone who enjoys the exploits of the former New York Detective-turned-private-investigator Charlie Parker will be thrilled by this prequel to his stories . . . Beautifully told, this underlines the sheer brilliance of the character of Parker
A beautifully measured novel that is equal parts gripping mystery and an unsentimental meditation on grief, probably the best crime novel you will read this year
This is a story populated with richly described characters, be they honorable or slimy, as well as rich descriptions and dialogue. Fast-moving, witty dialogue helps speed this well-plotted yarn to a dramatic conclusion. A most satisfying read for crime buffs.
Intelligent and subtle . . . Connolly is writing at the top of his game
There's no denying this one is a hell of a tale: dark, haunting, and beautifully told . . . For fans of the Parker series, the book is required reading
It is a dark and wondrous tale . . . an indispensable addition to the Parker canon for Connolly's longtime readers and a terrific introduction for those who have yet to discover his dark prose magic
Mr Connolly's slam-bang thriller is studded with memorable characters and boasts cliffhangers within cliffhangers
All stars
Most relevant
love listening to Jeff Harding and the stories of the South always keep me interested....

team work

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Once the outstanding narration seals the story. What can I say other than I have become a devout Jeff Harding follower.

The story relates back to earlier times for Charlie Parker and helps build the atmosphere surrounding the character. I found this book interesting and while not quite achieving the pinnacle of the series. It was pleasing that the author did not push his political views (mostly). Leaving the audience to enjoy the story for what it is.

Return to the original Charlie Parker

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Enjoyed this, my first book of John Connolly, hugely. It is Dickensian in ambition, presenting what appears to be an accurate depiction of a poor county in Arkansas in America's South with the interplay of power, poverty, race amid day-to-day living.
John Connolly, a Dubliner, lived in Arkansas for a while to do the background research and it shows in the many authentic details inserted.
He writes well-crafted English, and does dialogue smoothly with a lovely sarcastic touch. The story is constructed tightly and moves along at a rapid pace. The whole book is a page-turner but I found the large crowd of characters hard to commit to memory. Listened more than once - fortunately the enjoyment was just as great the second time around. This is a top-class work in its genre.
Outstanding narration by Jeff Harding. Overall, a great listening experience and introduction to John Connolly. I want more.

Brilliant in Scope and Execution

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I enjoyed this addition to the series but not as much as the most of the others in it.
Im still happy with my purchase though and not every book by Connolly can be a five star but its still a solid 4

Another good book in the series

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Even Jeff Harding does a terrible job on this load of drivel, he sounds sarcastic throughout the entire book, cant say I blame him, it goes back and forth between uninteresting characters, I wrote a scathing review about the previous book and this one is even worse. Appalling book, dont waste your credit. Too disappointing to even bother going further indepth with this review.

Absolutely terrible

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