The Unquiet
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TL;DR: A gripping mix of crime fiction, thriller, and the paranormal, The Unquiet is a book you’ll race to finish. Be aware, though, the subject matter includes child abuse.
At once gritty and sentimental, The Unquiet is a thriller with paranormal elements. Its subject matter quickly gets harsh and upsetting as a child sexual abuse ring becomes known with private detective Charlie Parker uncovering bits and pieces until the whole awful truth of who’s involved in their horrific activities is revealed.
Parker is first drawn into this dark world by Rebecca Clay who hires him to investigate the man following her. As he learns more about Clay’s stalker and why he’s there, Parker has encounters with Russian mobsters, a sketchy Boston lawyer, and the well-to-do of southern Maine. His friends Angel and Louis are there, providing protection and helping with other aspects of the investigation. Parker’s demons are also hovering in the background - in the form of the Hollow Men and in the haunting memory of his late wife and daughter. The presence of a man known only as the Collector brings an additional creepy element into the story.
The book is set largely in greater Portland with an (exceptionally violent) excursion to the Jackman area in Somerset County. Throughout, readers are treated to Parker’s descriptions of the Maine landscape and the communities that once were. Some may find these distracting from the story, but I believe they help ground the thriller in a real place and time, making it more suspenseful as the reader grows in knowledge of the setting as well as the characters. It also demonstrates Parker’s deep sentimentality, which is often in contrast to his gruff outer character but helps to build an understanding of what drives him. Portland locals who remember the city of the 90s and 2000s (and earlier) will have their memory jarred as Connolly has his main character visit such places as Bintliff’s, Joe’s Smoke Shop, Sangillo’s, and the Big 20 bowling alley.
With Parker, Connolly has crafted a character with a tormented past who the reader can connect with while simultaneously never wanting to be in his shoes.The writing is dark but compelling, keeping pace with cynical humor alongside the mystery elements.
Every character is fleshed out just enough, making it easy for the reader to keep track as the cast grows throughout the book. Connolly weaves in a lot of threads, but does an excellent job of keeping the plot relatively straightforward to understand, but never boring. The story wraps up well, answering questions while not going overboard. Even at 500 pages scattered with revenge, death, and the most depraved crimes imaginable, The Unquiet leaves the reader wanting to head right into the next Charlie Parker story.