[books 2016] the new John Connolly

20. A Time of Torment by John Connolly

The latest Charlie Parker thriller. A solid addition to the series, but not one of the best. The usual stuff - Charlie gets pulled into an investigation that centres around a creepy reclusive rural community, only this time it's based in West Virginia rather than Maine. All the usual supporting cast are around.

I did charge through it because I always wanted to know what happened next, but it doesn't have the magic that some of the books in this series do.

[books 2016] The Great God Pan

21. The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen

Numerous horror/thriller writers that I rate, including Stephen King and HPL, have written about this being great and an important foundation text in the genre.

They're not wrong. Very late Victorian, but really, *really* creepy all the way through. I can see how it influenced HPL - something comes in from Elsewhere, and all the gory stuff happens off stage.

It's very short - so short I was reluctant to count it, but I'm reading War & Peace, so there. Definitely worth the effort.