John Connolly’s latest expedition into the scarred heart of Charlie Parker concerns characters who are lost. Some admit it, others refuse to, a couple don’t get the chance. Though they serve different masters, they drift along as death dances around them. Where other entries into the series have dealt with grandiose villainy, The Wolf In Winter presents the evil that men (and women) do as an unfortunate yet necessary endeavour, something Parker may understand but will not allow. The surrounding procedural focuses on a missing girl and a suspiciously serene town that houses killer truths. While well-told, it’s a tad straightforward. There’s the unshakeable sense that Connolly is spinning his wheels a little – to be fair, his publishing house would hardly wish to see Parker’s adventures conclude any time soon – but The Wolf In Winter also contains some unforgettable moments of clarity.