The Nameless Ones was my first foray into the enchantingly dark writing of John Connolly. Jumping headfirst into the series without having read the previous books, I was highly impressed that I could easily connect with the characters and their emotions, undoubtedly the result of Connolly’s masterful and powerful narration that flowed elegantly from character to character.
The story opens up with a gory execution of a family by Serbian gangsters, the details of which will haunt a reader for days. With the butchered family being close acquaintances to the formidable assassin, Louis, he sets off on a rampage to track down and terminate the vicious criminals responsible for the atrocity with extreme prejudice, if only things would be that straightforward. The path to retribution is marked with numerous complications and unforeseen consequences that keep the late-night lamp burning. The narrative splits the focus between Louis on the hunt with his friends, and the bad guys feeling the noose tighten around their necks as they are hunted not only by Louis but by other more sinister parties, making for an edge-of-your-seats storytelling where it’s difficult if not impossible to predict what might happen next. The reader experience is augmented by not only the multi-layered present-day exploits but also real-life historical events that shed necessary world-building emphasis on the characters to coincide with their realistic albeit twisted motivations in the case of the bad guys. In addition to the white-knuckled revenge ride of grim proportions, there is an eerie supernatural element to the narrative that solidifies The Nameless Ones as a rare blend of thrillers that leave a lasting impression, especially once that last line hits you like a freight train.
A fresh change of pace and vibe from the usual thrillers, The Nameless Ones is guaranteed to keep you entertained and each succeeding chapter hooks you in stronger than the last.
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Purchase The Nameless Ones
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Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen
