I have had this author’s books on my TBR list for quite some time and always intended to start off with the first book of the series and read them in order.  However, when this book was released, it caught my eye and I decided to give it a try. 

Jerome Burnell has spent five years in prison for possession of child pornography.  He says that he’s innocent and was framed and hires Charlie Parker to track down who framed him.  Charlie is led to the Cut, a murderous group lead by The Dead King. 

When I read about this series, I was under the impression that the main character, Charlie Parker, was an emotionally damaged private investigator who was haunted by the ghost of his daughter and who would be a bit like Kurt Wallender only with a supernatural twist.  I was wrong.  I had no idea how supernatural these books really are and how violent and dark and hard boiled they are.  I had expected to have compassion for Charlie but the character never touched my heart at all in this book.  Possibly if I had started at the beginning of the series, I would have understood his life and past more fully or possibly this book just wasn’t one of the author’s best.  Unfortunately, this one was not for me.  While the book didn’t win this reader to be a new fan, I’m sure those who have enjoyed the rest of the series would be much more appreciative of it.

This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.