Product Description
A brand-new series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightside novels!

The Carnacki Institute exists to "Do Something" about Ghosts-and agents JC Chance, Melody Chambers, and Happy Jack Palmer will either lay them to rest, send them packing, or kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses with extreme prejudice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A moderately entertaining read, but not as imaginative as the Darkside series.
I have enjoyed Green's "Darkside" series, despite the fact that I recognize that series as being extremely formulaic.The formula, and fun, of the Darkside series, and, for that matter, Green's "Shadowfalls" stand-alone book, involves the inventiveness of the characters that Green sketches and places into his eclectic world where it is always 3 a.m. Odd characters are trotted in, often for only a chapter, a brief back-story is sketched, they advance the story however necessary, and, then, they exit the book, often never to be seen again.The characters are one-dimensional, but they are invariably memorable.

A problem with "Ghost of a Chance" is that the main characters are basically stiff British yuppies. The book is obviously the first installment of a series that follows a group of "ghost busters" in the employ of an uber-secret department of the British government - the Carnacki Institute - which dedicated to combating nefarious intrusions from the "afterworld."The group is composed of JC, the group's always-calm leader, "Happy" Jack, a telepath, and Melody, the techie.At this point JC's team is still considered the second string which is sent in to handle problems when the first string is otherwise unavailable.

The eccentricities of the individual team members are the only thing that distinguishes these characters. They all seem to speak in the same sarcastic yet ever-so superior tone no matter what the situation and the only thing that lets us tell them apart are references to Happy Jack's pills - because he's a telepath, his nerves are badly battered - or Melody's fondness for her beloved equipment.

Green's inventiveness really doesn't show until he introduces two agents of "Crowley Project," which is a non-governmental group that wants to exploit the paranormal for their own evil and selfish ends.The agents have been detailed to end JC's team before they become too powerful, and they are armed with all the weird gadgets and fetishes that we've come to expect from the Darkside series.

The gist of the story involves the confrontation between the two groups in the context of removing the threat of an intrusion into our world by a "great being."Things happen, but they are invariably solved by some altogether easy ploy pulled out of JC's pocket.

I enjoyed the book. It was an "easy read," so it made for a decent way to kill time while I was waiting to do other things. I was fairly interested in finding out what happened to the characters, which induced me to finish the book, but on the whole the content is fairly "calorie free" and didn't capture my imagination in the same way as his Darkside stories do.I will probably read the next installment in the series, but unless I get more invested in the individual characters, that will probably be the end of my interest in this series.

I'm assuming there was a mortgage payment due...
I really enjoy Simon Green's work.He has a vivid imagination and a tasty way with words.Plot isn't really his strongest skill, but he creates really interesting characters.I love the Nightside series.However, this new series is a major let down.I'm not sure what went wrong here but it's not gone well.I slogged through the first half as there were interesting sparks in his three new characters.(Especially Happy, the telepath.)But there was no action, just paper thin exposition.The little side comments describing the characters took over the book and there was really no story there.Then, about half way through, in a attempt to inject some story, it got relentlessly nasty, disgusting, and gross.Again, paper thin scenes but designed to repulse and frighten.I must confess, the disgusting bits were lovingly and lavishly described as though the author was trying to exorcise the memory of a thousand splatter flicks, but enjoying it too much to let go.I wanted to take my brain out and dip it in bleach afterwards.Save yourself.Save your money.Skip this badly written attempt at a sanity point losing dice roll.Two stars for the interesting little flashes.Even terrible Simon Green has a little bit of redeeming value.

The series one too many
I love Simon Green's books and eagerly anticipate every new book and he never lets me down - until now.His books are typically fun and somewhat over the top, but consistently entertaining. This book was a tolerable read at best. Not comparable at all to his other works.The characters were beyond shallow, the plot thin, and the story never really engaged you.Hard to believe it was a Simon Green book.This might be the series one too many.I had high expectations, but was overall disappointed.

A New Order is in Town....
Jc Chance and his team of Ghost hunters are brillant people. Melody keeps all things running smoothly with the tech aspect and Happy, a gloomy pill popping Telepath keeps everyone tuned into the Other World.
The Institute calls them on a special mission, find out what is haunting the Tube station at Oxford Circus.
The only problem is: they are being hunted by the Being and the Other Institute. Agents of Darkness after them. Can they help the Ghosts in Oxford and save their own skins??

Not his best.
OK, I cheerfully admit when I read the reviews for this book, I thought they were just plain wrong. I am a huge Simon R Green fan, loving both Darkside and the Haven series. So, I was looking forward to this book!

Sigh- not so much. It's not bad mind you. He still has his writing skills- there's flashes of his (rather dark at times) humor, and some great characterizations and action scenes.

But I just could not get into this new series. I think it's because the protagonists aren't really anyone I cared about. I didn't really like them all that much, thus their danger was not involving to me. Well, if you're a big fan, then see for yourself. If you're not a Simon R Green fan, start with his Nightside series. Or maybe Blue Moon Rising.

Oh well, the next Nightside book ("A Hard Day's Knight") is out in a few months.Yay!

... Read more

Product Description
There's a new sheriff in town, and he's got the Nightside's rich and powerful quaking in their boots. He's The Walking Man, and it's his mission to exorcise sinners-with extreme prejudice. Problem is, the Nightside was built on sin and corruption, and The Walking Man makes no distinction between evildoers and those simply indulging themselves. He'll leave the place a wasteland unless someone stops him, and P.I. John Taylor has been handed the job. No known magic or science can affect The Walking Man, and if John can't discover his weakness, he'll be facing the very Wrath of God... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Really fun read!
This was the first of this series I read, I went back and read the first one to catch up, and let me say the nightside just gets cooler the further into his books you get. This book will make you want to finish it before you put it down. I only used to read non fiction, started with a little clive cussler on the fiction and now I am hooked on Simon Green. Very Fun.

Modern Gothic, Pulp Gothic? Who cares?
If you haven't read the Nightside series yet, this isn't the place to start. Go, buy the first book. Do it now. This is a consistently great series with sly humor, great characters, death, destruction, mayhem and oh did I say really great characters? John Taylor is a PI in Nightside, the back end of London where it's always 3am. This is where your worst nightmares, greatest fantasies and deepest desires are all available to you, if you are willing to pay the price. Just Another Judgement Day involves The Walking Man, God's living embodiment of Justice on Earth. In the view of the Walking Man, there are no shades of gray. Everything is either black or white, sinner or saint. John Taylor has to figure out how to stop this unstoppable Man before he bring judgement on the entire Nightside.
Excellent stuff.

Green does it again
Well I have read about every book Green has written and all the Nightside books and they keep drawing me back to the Nightside. I am amazed at the amount of new ideas and material he comes up with for this series . A fun readwhether or not you have visited the nightside before.

Another Riveting Read!
The best so far. Some resolution between John and his true love makes this book well worth the read. 5 Stars and 3 thumbs up! Rumor has it the next book will be the last in the series. I certainly hope NOT!!!

The Walking Man
Just Another Judgement Day (2009) is the ninth fantasy novel in the Nightside series, following The Unnatural Inquirer.In the previous volume, Taylor discovered that Cathy had moved in with Alex.Then he watched the Afterlife Recording on Alex's television.He decided to sell the DVD to Kid Cthulhu.Later he faced the Removal Man.

In this novel, John Taylor is a private investigator.He lives and works within the Nightside.Taylor has quite a reputation in the Nightside, partially from his prior deeds and even more from his heritage.

Suzie Shooter -- AKA Shotgun Suzie -- is a bounty hunter.She is also Taylor's girlfriend, although they are still working out issues from her childhood abuse.

Henry Walker is the chief administrator of the Nightside.He used to work under the Authorities, but they were wiped out by Taylor's mother.

Chandra Singh is a Sikh monster hunter.He works mostly in India, where there are many monsters.Some must be destroyed to preserve innocent lives, but others need protection themselves.

The Walking Man is a legendary figure.The various incarnations devote their lives to God's Wrath.The latest version has come to the Nightside.

In this story, Taylor is hired to discover why his client is not allowed to use the services of the Guaranteed New You Parlor.All his society friends are clientele of the Parlor, but he was refused by the management.

After Taylor discovers the secrets of the Parlor and loses his client, Walker comes to the home of Taylor and Suzie.He wishes them to meet the New Authorities.After resetting the house defenses, they use Walker's pocket timeslip to reach the Adventurers Club.

There Taylor and Suzie meet with Walker and the New Authorities.The council tells Taylor that the Walking Man will be cleaning up Nightside and nothing can stop him.As Taylor and Suzie leave the meeting room, Chandra volunteers to help stop the Walking Man.

Taylor locates the Walking Man with his third eye and Walker displaces them to the location.They find the door to Precious Memories ajar and everybody inside dead.A crystal shows the massacre and the location of captive children in the sub-sub-cellar.

According to the image displayed by the crystal, the children were the reason for the massacre.They and others like them have been stolen from London and abused in the production of the memory crystals.Taylor begins to have some sympathy for the Walking Man.

Then Taylor, Suzie and Chandra meet the Walking Man at the Boys Club, a meeting place for the gang bosses in Nightside.Inside the club, the Walking Man tells the big bosses that they have greatly sinned.Taylor has no problem with the killing of the gang bosses, but he objects to the slaughter of others in the club.

During these killings, the Walking Man is attacked by every known form of destruction.The bullets, blades and energy beams bounce off the Walking Man and his clothing.He is not vulnerable to any weapon.

This tale presents Taylor with a dilemma.He asks for advice from the Rogue Vicar and then goes to St. Jude's.The Lord of Thorns gives him an idea.

This novel follows the usual format, with a short tale in the beginning and a longer story afterward.The sequel is The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny.Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Green fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of sin city, supernatural/preternatural creatures, and a touch of romance.For anyone who has not yet read this series, the initial volume is Something From the Nightside.

-Arthur W. Jordin ... Read more

Product Description
It's no walk in the park for a Drood, a member of the family that has protected humanity from the things that go bump in the night for centuries. They aren't much liked by the creatures they kill, by ungrateful humans, or even by one another.

Now their Matriarch is dead, and it's up to Eddie Drood, acting head of the family, to figure out whodunit. Unpopular opinion is divided: it was either Eddie's best girl, Molly. Or Eddie himself. And Eddie knows he didn't do it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

More of the same is less.
I enjoyed his first book in this series. The series started getting stale as each new book came out. This time, "From Hell with Love" I managed to read to page 72 before I asked myself why I was wasting any part of my life reading it.

It started with the usual blather "I'm Eddie Drood, but my cover name is Shaman Bond" Thats supposed to be a cover name? Then it continues in the same way the previous three did. "I'm so great" "I'm perfection on ice-cream, nothing can touch me and my mighty torc that turns into armour", supposedly because of strange matter science. But lets not forget that along with strange matter science there is a magic dragon, and a witch. The witch is Eddies girl friend, lover, creator of a magical realm where she stays thats inhabited with talking animals, including a squirrel that threatens Eddie and talks like any other character.

My first problem with this book is there is no set of laws. The author just seems to pull anything out of his, well, lets say 'hat'. This isn't surprising since the Droods armour is indestructible, all powerful, and can become invisible by magic by casting 'dont see me' at people. It can form glasses that allows them to 'see' through walls, or at what is 'really' there. To put it another way, there seems to be no limit on what may happen in the book. Things get absurd. It winds up being like a couple of ten years olds argument... "I'm better then you by infinity times infinity plus infinity, with a cherry on top, so there." ... "Well, I'm better then YOU by infinity times infinity plus infinity with a banana split on top with pineapple, chocolate syrup, strawberries AND a cherry on top!"
It doesn't make sense, its silly and absurd and has absolutely no reason.

So what does an author throw at a Drood and his Drood relative who is trying to stop one Doctor Dimentia from getting his hands on something called the "Apocalypse Door"? A magic dragon, of course! Not just any dragon. This dragon is indestructible, because it can heal itself instantly. Of course, the dragon is chained to the top of the Magnificat Hotel by a golden shining chain. At least until the opposition opens a portal above the dragon, sucks the dragon in, spits out the oppositions assault force, and when they get their asses handed to them, the portal spits out the dragon, sans shining chain. Oh no! What are our intrepid heroes going to do?

To make a long story short, Eddie Drood gets himself swallowed by the dragon, where he then makes his way to the tail, he grabs the tail from the inside, and pulls the dragon inside out.

And here we have just one of the problems I have with this series. We have a whole family of Droods with indestructible armour, so the series just gets sillier and sillier as the author tries to one up himself in finding ways that puts them in jeopardy. And that may be a draw for you, but for me the series has become boring and tiresome.

Do I care about the guy called Doctor Dementia who now has the Apocalypse Door? No. Because the author told us several times that the guy is a joke, and I know that somehow Eddie is going to find a way to get it back. Seriously, the author actually tells us that doctor dementia is no threat, a loser who can't get anything right, but since he got the Apocalypse Door, they will have to go after him. I understand this is tongue in cheek, but instead it comes off to me as "why should I bother reading, if you won't bother writing?"

OK, we know that somehow, someone will threaten Eddie, even with his trademarked indestructible strange matter armour. But then Eddie will find some new feature that his super scientific strange matter armour has, or his witch girlfriend, who he will probably have a fight with, will use her magic to help/hurt/harm/him.

That brings us to another major problem. Most books with magic have a system of 'natural laws'. Not this book. Need a glove that will smite anything? You've got it! Need zombies? You've got them! Need talking squirrels? No problem! Don't worry about consistency or anything. Whatever you can makeup in your mind can go in the book. Perhaps I'm being a bit too hard on the author, but after 72 pages, thats how I feel. Life's too short to spend my time reading the rest of the book.

This book reads much the same as his last two in the series. Some people like this genre, tongue in cheek fantasy slash science fiction. If so, more power to you. I'll start skipping them from now on.

By the way, I'm sure I've made some factual errors along with the tongue in cheek extravagant review. I apologize in advance.

Eddie Loses Mollie
From Hell with Love (2010) is the fourth Fantasy novel in The Secret History series, following The Spy Who Haunted Me. In the previous volume, the Independent Agent double-crossed agents contesting to be his successor.Several were killed in the trials.Then he found out the hard way that Drood armor had changed.

In the novel, Edwin Drood is a field agent of the Drood family, the protectors of humanity against magic and aliens.Eddie had been head of the family for a while, but set up a democratic system to select his replacement.He is very fond of Molly.

Molly Metcalf is a witch and a critic of the Drood Family.She likes Eddie, but hates most of his family.She has two sisters, both of whom are strong witches.

Martha Drood is Eddie's grandmother.She had been the Matriarch.Now she has been elected as the head of the family, subject to an advisory council.

Jack Drood is the Family Armourer and Eddie's Uncle.He runs the madcap team that come up with all the cool gadgets.

Doctor Delirium is a mad scientist.He had been a talented -- but not uncommon -- researcher until he inherited his uncle's fortune and private soldiers.

In the story, Eddie comes to Los Angeles.After a fourteen hour flight and LA traffic, Eddie is a bit irritated.He meets with Luther Drood -- the local field agent -- and they scout the Magnificat Hotel.

The Magnificat is not yet open, but the Really Old Curiosity Shoppe is having an auction on the top floor.They have a fine assortment of magical, alien and just plain weird items for sale, but Eddie is mainly interested in the Apocalypse Door.This very dangerous artifact could let all Hell invade the Earth en masse.

After they arrive at the hotel, Eddie uses his second sight to scan the area.Everything looks normal until he notices the dragon at the top.It looks hungry, but dragons usually do.

Eddie and Luther break into the wards and shields surrounding the hotel and take out two guards.Then they ride up to the top floor on the previously locked elevator.There they find Doctor Delirium's soldiers fighting against another mercenary group.

The two Droods start whomping the mercenaries while Doctor Delirium studies the Apocalypse Door.After defeating the soldiers, Eddie turns to capture Doctor Delirium.Then both Delirium and the Apocalypse Door vanish from the room.Eddie breaks the hotel.

Eddie returns to London after failing in his mission, but first goes to his flat in Kensington rather than Drood Hall.He uses the Merlin Glass to visit the wildwoods, but Mollie is not there.So Eddie returns home.

Then he uses the Glass to go to the roof of Drood Hall.He looks around at the grounds and takes the back stair down to the Sanctity room.On the way, he checks in with Ethel.

The Matriarch and the Council are waiting in the Sanctity.Uncle Jack gives him a nod, but Harry is sarcastic as usual.The Matriarch mentions the destruction of the hotel.The meeting does not go very well.

Mollie crashes the meeting and disputes with the Matriarch.She says a few threatening words and the Sarjeant-at-Arms activates his armour and draws his pistols.Eddie sweeps Mollie off her feet and takes her away.

Mollie tells him more about the Immortals.Only the original few are truly eternal, but even the half-breeds live for a long time.They all are shapeshifters and can change to look like anyone.Mollie says that they had sent the second mercenary group to the Magnificat Hotel.

Afterward, Eddie is awakened by the head of Operations.The Matriarch has been found dead in her bedroom.Eddie and Molly hurry to the room and find the Matriarch stabbed in the heart.

This tale sends Eddie looking for Doctor Delirium and the Immortals with revenge on his mind.He is dropped on the latest known position of the Doctor's mercenaries, but finds the camp deserted except for the dead.Apparently the inhabitants have killed each other.

This story provides more information on the death of Eddie's -- and Mollie's -- parents.The next installment is For Heaven's Eyes Only.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Green fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magical weapons, armed combat, and stubborn field agents.If anyone is not familiar with this series, the initial volume is The Man With the Golden Torc.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Cliffhanger ending
Fast paced, overall a decent entry to the Golden Torc series.Blink and you'll miss the various references he scatters about.

Give me more Drood
Every book in these series has been fun, exciting, well written, creative with great characters and a fantastic premise.I devoured this in a day.I love that Green's universes are slowly becoming more and more interconnected.This has a great ending and I can't wait for the next one!Where is the audiobook??

kick ass entertainment
first things first simon green is 1 of my all time favourite authors in my top 3.this is his fourth entry in the secret histories series i wont go into plot because if youre reading this review you know what the storys about.i must admit to being disappointed in the last secret history novel primarily because it felt like a stand alone rather then a novel that had an impact on the main storyline.no problems here green propels the story forward with deaths epic scenes a world ending plot a new big bad and the answer to a mystery green has been teasing us with since book 2.As other reviewers noted this seems to be the series were green ties all his series together with plenty of references to other characters and events from his other works.all his novels take place in the same world and i for one look forward to the novel were john and eddie have to team up to save the world and the nightside.if you havent discovered green and enjoy action fantasy youve just found youre fix for however long it takes you to get thru his 31 novels enjoy the ride.oh and it ends on a cliffhanger. ... Read more

Product Description
John Taylor is a P.I. with a special talent for finding lost things in the dark and secret center of London known as the Nightside. He's also the reluctant owner of a very special-and dangerous-weapon. Excalibur, the legendary sword. To find out why he was chosen to wield it, John must consult the Last Defenders of Camelot, a group of knights who dwell in a place that some find more frightening than the Nightside.

London Proper. It's been years since John's been back-and there are good reasons for that. ... Read more

Product Description
Eddie Drood's evil-stomping skills have come to the attention of the legendary Alexander King, Independent Agent extraordinaire. The best of the best, King spent a lifetime working for anyone and everyone, doing anything and everything, for the right price. Now, he's on his deathbed and looking to bestow all of his priceless secrets to a successor, provided he or she wins a contest to solve the world's greatest mysteries. Eddie has to win, because King holds the most important secret of all to the Droods-the identity of the traitor in their midst... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Could Have Been Better
I'm a huge fan of Green's Nightside series. Have read all of them several times. I really wanted to like this book . . . . but didn't much. I did get through the book.The best part of the book, in my opinion, was the appearance of Walker, from the Nightside. I kept waiting for the book to get better, I'm not sure why I didn't like Eddie as much as I like John Taylor. Just something missing, as far as I'm concerned. This was my first Eddie Drood book, I probably should have started with the first one, but a friend left this book at my apartment so I started with this one. Not sure if I'll try any of the others in the series.

Could be better
I liked the book & enjoyed reading it.I really like his Nightside series and the earlier books n this series, but in this story (where the famed Independent Agent is dying & summons 6 of the best agents to him to pass on his secrets), Edwin is far too powerful, and the other agents who are supposed to be the cream of the crop are far too weak.It makes for an unbalanced story.It's an enjoyable story, but it could have been better.

Best of the Secret Histories Series
Less Drood politics and more spy "who can I trust" tension and even Walker from the Nightside series puts in an appearance.A great book, I still prefer his Nightside series (and the old Hawk and Fisher) but the book doesn't disappoint and is the best of the secret histories (I'm still reading the 4th book).

Simon R Green and the Secret Histories
I'm a big fan of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden novels.This series popped up as a recommendation from Amazon.I tried the first and I was pleasantly surprised.Typically, I don't read much Sci-fi outside the Dresden books, but the main character, Eddie Drood/Shamus Bond is rather interesting.

If your looking for something new, I recommend "The Spy Who Haunted Me" and the other Secret Histories books.They are good reads with a little action and some far-out characters.

The Secret Agent Game
The Spy Who Haunted Me (2009) is the third fantasy novel in the Shaman Bond series, following Daemons Are Forever,In the previous volume, the Time Train made it to the higher dimension and impacted amidst the Hungry Gods.Eddie and Mollie teleport out just before all the accumulated temporal energies exploded, closing the gateway.The Matriarch congratulated him on solving the crisis and chided him for bringing a half-elf into the household.

In the novel, Eddie Drood is a field agent for the Drood family.His area of responsibility is London and environs.

Martha Drood is Eddie's grandmother.She had been the Matriarch.Now she has been elected as the head of the family, subject to an advisory council.

Jack Drood is the Armourer and Eddie's Uncle.He runs the madcap team who come up with all the cool gadgets.

The Blue Fairy was a friend of Eddie before stealing a Drood torc.Then Queen Mab took the throne and he was admitted into the fairy enclave.The Fae gave him more training in his magical abilities.

Honey Lake is a CIA operative.She has access to many cool gadgets from the Company.

Walker is from the Nightside.He is the friendly nemesis of John Taylor.

Peter King is the grandson of Alexander King, the Independent Agent.He is a corporate espionage operative.

Lethal Harmony is an agent from Kathmandu.Katt specializes in honey traps and betrayals.

In the story, Eddie is wearing his Shaman Bond persona as he tries to find out what is going on with the Tower of London.He is hired by an Australian republican to kill the Tower ravens.Naturally, the job is not quite that simple.

Then Eddie is called back to the family mansion and ordered to drive rather than use the Merlin glass.After arriving, he finds Martha and the Armourer waiting for him.He is told that the Independent Agent is having a competition for his own replacement.The winner will get all of his accumulated secret information.

Eddie uses the Merlin Glass to reach Place Gloria, Alexander King's hideout, museum and residence.The area is covered in flux fog and nothing can be seen, but heavy footsteps sound from around him.After the fog lifts, Eddie finds that he and the other five candidates are on the top of a mountain.

They all gather around and introduce themselves.Of course, Eddie already knows the Blue Fairy and he knows of Walker.Honey, Peter and Katt are new to him.

After the introductions, the area around them shudders and then lowers into the lobby of the residence.They walk out and through a private museum into the audience chamber.Then a three-dimensional image of Alexander King appears and explains the contest.

They soon discover that the image is live, for King answers some comments (and ignores others).There will be five locations where the group must discover secrets.At the end of the quest, only one person will be left alive to receive the prize.

King causes a teleport device to appear on each wrist to take them to the designated spots.Eddie is rather startled since his golden torc is supposed to prevent such occurrences.Later they discover that the devices also travel to specific times as well to places.

At the first stop, they have to uncover the secret of the Loch Ness monster.Honey links with her boss and gets a small yellow submarine.They discover that the monster is not anything like popular theories, but they lose one of their group.

This tale takes the survivors to other sites and times, where they find all kinds of monsters.Some of them die or disappear.Eddie suspects that someone within the group is killing the others.

This novel has several references to other novels and series by this author. Both Nightsideand Shadows Fall are mentioned.And other classic allusions are made in passing.

This story has a fair amount of action.The next installment will be From Hell With Love.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Green fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of ancient protectors, various strange creatures, and cocky young agents.If anyone has not previously read this series, the initial volume is The Man with the Golden Torc.

-Arthur W. Jordin ... Read more

Product Description
For ages, Eddie Drood and his family have kept humanity safe from the things that go bump in the night. But now one of his own has convinced the rest of the family that Eddie’s become a menace, and that humanity needs to be protected from him. So he’s on the run, using every trick in the book, magical and otherwise, hoping he lives long enough to prove his innocence... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (45)

Bond gadgets + humor + saving the world!
The Drood family has been protecting humanity for generations against all forms of evil, earthly or not.At least this is what field agent Eddie Drood believes until his family declares him a rogue agent and tries to kill him.Now he must go undercover as Shaman Bond and work with his enemies to discover his true family legacy.

This is the first book I've read by Simon Green and I really enjoyed it.I'm finding some urban fantasy these days to be either too dark and serious or having too much romance and sex for my liking.Thankfully, The Man with the Golden Torc is free of both those scenarios.In some ways Eddie Drood reminds me of a British Harry Dresden facing the evils of the world with humor and determined to get to the heart of the matter while playing by his own set of rules.

My next comparison might be a bit funny but I truly mean it in a good way.I realized last night that this book was a bit like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? for me.Crazy things kept happening and nothing was really as I expected or believed it to be.Eddie had all kinds of James Bond type gadgets that sometimes acted in a cartoon-type fashion and some of the enemies he was fighting seemed like cartoon characters as well.This definitely fit in with the 'humor in the face of death 'aspect of the book.

There was some light romance near the end of the story but even that was treated with humor.When Eddie and Molly realize they might be having a romantic moment, they immediately put a stop to it.Of course this does start the wondering about whether or not they will develop into something more than just enemies working together with a common purpose.I just really liked that they didn't stop right in the middle of the action to have a mushy romantic scene.

One thing I've found interesting in the days since I finished this book is that some of the things that I really enjoyed in this book are ones that I didn't like at all in Mind Games by Carolyn Crane.I think the biggest difference for me was the addition of humor in The Man with the Golden Torc.

Sorry I listened to Amazon's recommendation
What a waste.Great idea, poor writing.Wish it had been better.I really wanted to like this, as I am a huge Jim Butcher fan, and love the Dresden series, but this is a weak immitation.

Love This New Series From Green.
As you can tell from the book blurb and other reviews, Green has taken the spy/James Bond genre and added his own unique twist.A super-secret spy family that guards the world from foes in and outside of our world using their living, indestructible golden armor is just cool.And yes, I am an adult.Sometimes.

If you have read any of Green's other series, i.e., Deathstalker, Nightside, then the style of this series will be familiar.If you have not (you should), Green's style is over-the-top, nonstop, pedal-to-the-metal action.His characters, protagonists and antagonists, are drawn bigger than life.There is plenty of action, intrigue, humor, and sarcasm.Most importantly to me, the first two books in this series are enjoyable reads and hard to put down.I highly recommend them.

Hilarious and fast paced.
A quick read - a dash of James Bond, a jigger of rebelling against authority, and a splash of the Nightside.

Same old, same old Green
Green is a guy's guy writer or the literary equivalent of the low budget action flick with the plot merely being a very tiny thread loosely connecting and justifying a never-ending stream of explosions and contrived battle scenarios. In action flicks, it's to show-off cool CGI; in Green's novels, the never ending "go booms" are to show-off Green's ability to come up with the weirdest villain and the most off-the-wall scenario and how to kill them with a sardonic comment and unflappable British flair.The first two hundred plus pages was literally nothing more than one shoot 'em up after another to the point I could barely remember what the plot was supposed to be.His excuse for going to some of the places (supposedly intel gathering) were flimsy and tenuous at best (the sex cult especially) and were introduced purely for Green to have an excuse to show his main character blowing up something else with elan.

The problem is of course, that ALL of Green's novel follow this pattern which makes them virtually indistinguishable.This could actually be a Nightside novel; all it would require is a couple of name change edits and *poof* there you go.The lead character is identical to the lead in Nightside which makes me wonder why he bothered to create a whole new series over the exact same premise and character?

If you like mindless action and enjoy reading books that are purely to showcase the writers endless ability to imagine wacky cautionarymonsters and super-cool weapons and ways to then blow them up, this could be the perfect writer for you. But it's not really for me. ... Read more

Product Description
Things were going so well for P.I. John Taylor, that it was only a matter of time before everything hit the fan. Walker, the powerful, ever-present, never­to-be-trusted agent who runs the Nightside on behalf of The Authorities, is dying. And he wants John to be his successor-a job that comes with more baggage, and more enemies, than anyone can possibly imagine.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Secrets of the Nightside Revealed
Of all the current urban fantasy series, Simon Green's Nightside is my favorite.With every new book it's like going back to visit a dear uncle...a crazy dear uncle, but a dear one notwithstanding.It was going to be hard for Green to top the last book, Just Another Judgment Day because once you've dealt with the Walking Man, the virtual Wrath of God, how do you top that?The answer is Green didn't try to...instead we get a story that is much smaller in scope and slower in pace but one that serves to setup the next book in the series.

John Taylor is hired by an Elf to escort him safely across the Nightside.His payment?Not money, but rather an important bit of information.Elves are not too popular in the Nightside and soon Taylor with aid from transvestite superhero Ms. Fate, find themselves under assault by Neanderthal bikers, scores of werewolves, and a legion of men on flying carpets, all sent by Walker, the Nightside's overseer.

But this is just one small plot in a book that features numerous sub-plots including Walker trying to convince Taylor to take over his job (he's dying), a final confrontation with the mysterious Collector, the search for Larry Oblivion's missing brother, and a secret about Excalibur which were told isn't what we think it is.Many of the usual Nightside characters are missing this time around.Razor Eddie and Suzie Shooter have only small cameos.Taylor displays more power than ever with his unique gift and you get the sense more than ever that he is one of the most powerful figures in the Nightside.

The events in this book dutifully weave into Green's next book that will deal with Excalibur but you certainly don't get the feeling that Green half-assed this attempt.The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny, may reveal more about the Nightside than any previous book in the series.

Change is coming to the Nightside
First Sentence:This is the Nightside.

Things are changing in Nightside.An elf--never trust an elf--hires PI John Taylor as an escort across Night.Then Larry Oblivion, the Dead Detective, asks to help him find his brother who disappeared during the Lilith War.But the biggest concern is Walker, who runs Nightside on behalf of the Authorities.He wants to retire and have PI John Taylor assume his position.

A book with a compelling opening is a joy, and Green writes great openings.I am always staggered by imagination and his ability to make the unreal seem real, unpleasant as that sometimes is.

This book blends humans--sometimes loosely defined as such--monsters and mythical characters, such as Puck; but not Shakespeare's Puck.To balance the graphicness, Green employs a delightful humor and includes references to contemporary culture and the occasional nod to Shakespeare.In fact, the book itself has a rather Shakespearean feel to it.

These are not pure fantasy books; there is some real substance and insightful observations and truth tucked in amongst the action, including a rather sad but honest observation on drugs.When John asks Walker whether the power ever goes to his head, Walker responds "...There isn't one of them that really likes or even respect me.It's the position, and the power that comes with it."Isn't that true for most people who are famous or powerful--people agree with them and laugh at their jokes not because of who they are but because of the power they hold.

At one point, Taylor talks about the value of the less important..."Is their pain any less?Their deaths any less final"...leading me to think of Shylock's speech about the Jews "...If you prick us, do we not bleed?If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?..."

Green is an excellent writer and this is clearly a transitional book.I cannot help but look forward to my next visit to the Nightside.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UNCANNY (Para/Mys-John Taylor-Nightside/London-Cont) - VG
Green, Simon R. - 10th in series
ACE Books, ©2010, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780441018161

The Good, maybe better than I thought?
First things first: don't read this one first. Read the earlier ones because there are lots of spoilers in this book. Plus, you'll be missing lots of good reading if you do.

Summary--Good book, pleasant reading, another day in the life of John Taylor that took me about a day (3-4 hours) to read.

Surprise: At one point I caught a reference to a Winston Churchill quote, and soon after a allusion to Oedipus. Now I'm wondering if all the other throw-away details wouldn't be so throw-away if I were more learned!

Overall, I really liked the book, a triplet of short stories woven together. It nicely sets us up for the next chapter in John's life in a fairly amusing way (the passive/indirect way the author goes about resolving things is superb).

Finally: I remember reading about 2000 pages into Simon Green's Deathstalker series and wondering "When will this ever go anywhere? Why all the tangents? I like each page, but the books are frustrating." I think with the Nightside series, Green has found a great venue for his creativity.

This should have been the one that directly follwed the Lilith War.
The book hits all the marks although certain plot points are established that seem rather contrived.For instance over the last few books Suzzie Shooter always appears to be away on another contract for the majority of the time.For as descriptive and fun a place as the Nightside sounds when Simon R. Green needs his characters to do something to move the plot along it gets done but he always seems to have a problem with conflicts arising from already established characterization.If I have a problem with the book at all it isn't the answers we get regarding the fate of Larry Oblivion (excellent) or the redemption of the King of Thorns (also excellent) but it is the fact that this great character Walker did something so utterly out of character in the end.It is good that the series is winding down and it will be interesting to see what the ultimate resolution is in the next book.Good work Mr. Green.

Walking into Oblivion
A fog of change descends upon John Taylor at the outset of Simon Green's latest installment in his Nightside series, The Good, The Bad, And The Uncanny. While John feels no immediate effect from the fog, you just know it is foreshadowing what is to come for our somewhat Hero. However, the change that does come is one of the most significant developments in the series, and will certainly inform what is to follow.

I really enjoy the Nightside. Simon Green is a very entertaining author, and while many of his adventures may seem similar at times, he never fails to impress me with his crazy imagination. The latter part of the series has been unable to ascend to the heights it reached in the Lilith War, but after Just Another Judgement Day, and new interesting events in The Good, The Bad, And The Uncanny planting seeds for the next books, I have hopes that it still has the potential to do so.

Unfortunately, while I do have high hopes for the next novel, I cannot say that the 10th Nightside bookis one of my favorites. While there is a lot that I like about the story, and I think it is a very enjoyable read, there are just several things that I am disappointed with, mostly in the characterization of Walker.

After nine books and a Secret Histories crossover, I like Walker every bit as much as John, and barring something in future novels that addresses it, I just feel his character is marred in this book. I also feel that the ending feels too short and hurried, it could have used another chapter to resolve things properly. After all this time, I just feel this book and the events that form the ending should have been more epic, more memorable, and not as disappointing. Perhaps that is the weight of my own expectations coming back on me, but, alas, I WAS expecting more.

The story is quite strong though, and the structure is an interesting change from some earlier novels in the series. John is tasked with helping an Elf, as well as The Dead Detective, Larry Oblivion. Green treats us to the usual sojourn through the Nightside formula that all the books have, and he pulls out all the crazy imaginative beasties that we expect, as well as plenty of John Taylor butt kicking that we demand. Even feels quite like the last book, with the Detective Inspectre filling in for The Walking Man.

What is unique about this story is Green actually spends time in another characters head for the first time. Larry Oblivion actually takes the reigns for a chapter, and it is a fun and interesting little story he tells. This book also contains some significant moral quandaries for John that were not as prevalent in previous installments, as well as some excellent conversations between John and Walker.

I can say this for The Good, The Bad, And The Uncanny: even if I feel it is somewhat disappointing, with the events that take place, and the seeding for future stories, I am eagerly anticipating what will happen next in the Nightside.

275 HC pages 4 out of 5 stars ... Read more

Product Description
Branded an outlaw and hunted by agents of the Empire, Lewis Deathstalker must stop the encroaching Terror that threatens all of humanity. But he can succeed only with the help of Owen Deathstalker, who supposedly died more than 200 years ago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Liked it
Once you start on the Deathstalker series, it seems to go on for quite a time as great fun.My great beef with the series is how it ended in the 5th book.I was extremely displeased that the hero ..Owen Deathstalker.. could be treated in such a disrespectful fashion, when he got his big reward in light of all his sacrifices.. He didnt get any reward. He was treated as so much trash.Basically, I find authors who cheap out on their heros with crappy endings, vindictive, lazy and frustrating. Or bi-polar.

This book resolves those objections.

Owen was told early on in the series in a foretelling he would die alone and with no succour. Very doom and gloom. Owen had been left to die in alley like so much trash like a skid row bum.This book begins to rectifies that slight.

What was really fun through out the series is the villians were over the top, the heros were in jams that were inescapable and unbeatable odds.But the heros were over the top in winning the day against overwhelming odds.Nice feel good story.Great space opera.

A novel for any deathstalker reader
If you have read the previous books in the series you have to read this novel, if you have not read any of the previous books, then you do not know what you are missing, the series is one filled with government intrigue and violent combat, it is a great space opera, the book appears long, but it is so interesting the pages practically turn themselves.

Fun Science Fiction
Green has done an excellent job with Deathstalker Returns. My only real regret is that I started the Deathstalker series with the second to last book... Oh well - what a way to start! This book has it all, political intrigue, action, adventure, amazing science fiction, a love triangle - and weaving it all together with vivid and intriguing characters struggling through a plot which is as intriguing and entertaining as it is outrageous and outlandish at times.

I definitely would not call this hard science fiction, it's more like fun science fiction. Its been placed in the "space opera" category by some, and I think rightly so. It definitely concerns itself with grand themes and a plot concerning the existence of the human race and the known universe.

I truly did enjoy Green's characters, which were reminiscent of the bands put together in many a fantasy adventure. But they are vivid and fun, and he does an excellent job of revealing the intricacies of who they are, as well as exploring how being banded together and adventuring together changes them.

My only true complaint is the suddenness of the end. There really is not much of a conclusion at all. There is a slight climax, but throughout the book Green has been setting up conflict coming from so many different varied angles that there is no way he could wrap all the strings up in one book - so he settles for about four. Not bad - but the last line is a cliff-hanger. Completely frustrating if you don't have the last book!

I do recommend this book, but I strongly advise anyone interested in reading it to try and start at the beginning of the series and not with this book.

A Disappointing Read
I have read many of Simon R. Green's novels, including Blue Moon Rising, The Hawk and Fisher Novels, the first four or five Deathstalker books, and the Nightside Novels, so as you can see, I love Green's writing as much as the next guy. Usually his characters are awesome and his style is fast-paced and funny. Unfortunately, I was disappointed for the first time with Deathstalker Return- not because of the characters or the style, but because of the boring plot. Yes, I said it, the plot was boring. Now for many of you who have read Green's other books, you might be skeptical about this review, especially considering the other rave reviews on this site. How can Green, who has written so many interesting and fast-paced novels, have written one that's boring? Well, for one, the story never progresses. All of the characters are strong and interesting, but they never DO anything interesting. Most of the novel consists of the five main characters searching planet after planet for information about Owen. They get into a few fights, but nothing extraordinary. And the characters do evolve a bit, but not enough to change the ending. The book is frustrating to say the least. So, all in all, I won't tell you not to read the book. Maybe I'm wrong and everyone (other than me) will like it, but if you get half-way through and are bored of the slow plot and lack of action, don't waste your time by finishing it, because the second half is just as bad as the first.

The much-anticipated return of Owen Deathstalker
Two hundred years have passed since Owen Deathstalker and his companions overthrew a corrupt Empire and saved humanity from the seemingly insurmountable threat of the Recreated.Owen Deathstalker, Hazel D'Ark, Jack Random, Ruby Journey - they are just legends now, the details of their exploits removed from the historical record because the new king and queen thought that the people would be more inspired by legend than a history that revealed their human weaknesses.Thanks to Owen, the Empire did indeed enter into a Golden Age, the enemies of Humanity either defeated or incorporated as newly established allies.Now that great era of peace and interspecies cooperation is falling apart, eaten away from within by a power-hungry former enforcer of justice and threatened from without by the prophesied arrival of the Terror.Owen Deathstalker warned of the coming danger in his final message, and now everyone in the Empire looks to him to return and save the day once again, for legend decrees that he alone can defeat the apocalyptic menace of the Terror.

Owen Deathstalker's story was told over the course of five incredibly exciting novels.Deathstalker Legacy took up the story two hundred years later, introducing us to a new Deathstalker in Lewis, a noble Paragon who was named King Douglas' Champion and then branded a traitor when he ran off with the king's intended bride Jesamine Flowers.Outlawed just like his famous predecessor, Lewis eventually teamed up with a most unusual team of individuals and set off to find - he hoped - the blessed Owen Deathstalker.The new gang of heroes does not even begin to compare with the legendary heroes of the past.Lewis is yet to prove himself a true Deathstalker in my eyes; his great love Jesamine Flowers is a spoiled and shallow diva who goes on and on about the comforts she has given up for her love of Lewis; Brett Random, who claims to be descended from both Jack Random and Ruby Journey (although no one believes it but him) is an insult to the very name of Random, a sniveling con man and complainer who deals with every danger by running away from it; Rose Constantine is a bloodthirsty killer from the Arenas who keeps trying to be human - usually failing miserably at it; and Saturday is a giant reptiloid alien who comes along just to kill as many people as possible.

Then there's the traitorous, power-hungry villain, Finn Durandal.Empress Lionstone was a worthy opponent, the kind of evil dictator you could at least respect for her calculating inhumanity.Durandal is just a closet sociopath who betrayed everything he used to be as a noble Paragon in order to scheme his way to power, triggered mainly by the jealousy he felt when Lewis Deathstalker was chosen over him as King Douglas' Champion.Durandal is a great schemer, a far-thinking man who manages to exploit both friends and enemies for his own purposes, but he's really just an extremely petty man whose path to power is just ridiculously easy given all of the infamous deeds he goes about doing.

Deathstalker Return is in some ways a return trip down memory lane.Lewis Deathstalker and his ill-sorted allies retrace much of the path followed by the legendary Owen himself, stopping off on Lachrymose Christi and Shandrakor before proceeding to Haden, the home of the Madness Maze which gave Owen Deathstalker and his companions the superhuman powers that helped them become the venerated saviors of humanity.The trip to Haden isn't always that enjoyable; the constant bickering back and forth between our new heroes falls far short of recapturing the sort of give and take that made earlier Deathstalker novels so entertaining.Everything that worked so well for Simon R. Green in the past really rings hollow now.Green seemingly needs Owen Deathstalker to return just as badly as the crumbling Empire does - in Owen mode, Green's story immediately transforms itself into the captivating space opera that made me such a huge Deathstalker fan to begin with.

One thing Green never fails to deliver is a litany of shocking surprises.You have to wait a little longer than usual this time around, but Deathstalker Return has a host of monkey wrenches to throw into the inner workings of the ongoing Deathstalker saga, including a final revelation that will have fans waiting with baited breath for the next installment in this incredible series.

You don't necessarily need to read the first five volumes of the life and times of Owen Deathstalker (Deathstalker, Deathstalker Rebellion, Deathstalker War, Deathstalker Honor, and Deathstalker Destiny) in order to enjoy this novel (although you will miss out on a lot without the background those novels provide), but you will certainly want to read Deathstalker Legacy before immersing yourself in the complex plot of Deathstalker Return.There is just too much going on here for you to jump in unprepared. ... Read more

Product Description
In the Nightside, the hidden heart of London where it's always 3 AM, Detective John Taylor must find an elusive singer known as The Nightingale. Her silken voice has inexplicably lured many a fan to suicide--and Taylor is determined to stop her, before the whole neighborhood falls under her trance. But to catch the swift-winged Nightingale, he'll have to hear the deadly music--and survive. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Death takes the stage in the Nightside
Death takes center stage in book 3 of Simon R. Green's Nightside series, "Nightingale's Lament." The book begins with a visit from a vengeful ghost from protagonist John Taylor's past and quickly turns into an investigation of Rossingnol, a young chanteuse whose deeply melancholic performances are rumored to drive fans to suicide. When John's snooping nearly dead-ends with the slippery and spooky Mr. and Mrs. Cavendish, he turns to both friends and enemies for help with the case ... and with survival.

What makes Green's Nightside world come alive are its unique characters, including Julien Advent, a Victorian-era newspaperman who got stuck in a time warp; Dead Boy, an undead 17-year-old with an appetite for mayhem; and Billy "the Jonah", a man with broad power over probabilities. It's a relief to find urban fantasy that doesn't focus on werewolves, vampires, faeries and other stock types out of 19th century horror and high fantasy.

The downside of reading Green is that, while he's not bad at developing interesting characters, novel situations, and confounding mysteries, he relies overmuch on the hackneyed stylistic conventions of the hardboiled detective novel. In particular, most readers will quickly tire of Taylor's constant, wry reminders of how dangerous, dark, and weird the Nightside is, and of how tricky, predatory, and untrustworthy its denizens are. It's not that Taylor's world-weary musings are not colorful or witty, but there's just too much cracking wise and too little human emotion. Jim Butcher, while not perfect, handles the noir/fantasy genre bending significantly better in his Dresden Files series.

In any event, "Nightingale's Lament," is an enjoyable, short (217pp., not including the 30pp. excerpt from Charlaine Harris' "Dead to the World") diversion well-suited for airport, beach, or general decompression.

A major let down
Wow, after reading and loving the first two books in the Nightside series, I couldn't wait to start this one. It was a major let down.I felt that plot was weak. Taylor has to find out why a singer has changed, and her songs lead people to kill themselves.Honestly, that's the plot.I found this book to be very dull and not any plot twists.

I guess the biggest letdown for me is that there is so much description going on that it lost me. Green will spend about 10 pages telling us how Taylor gets to a newspaper company.The same thing happens when Taylor goes to a nightclub. We know and see every single step that Taylor takes, and it's not necessary.

I've always loved the characters that dwell in the Nightside, except for this time. The characters seemed goofy. Taylor was meeting them, and not much happens. I just feel that a lot happens for no good read.

I'm also hearing about Taylor's mom. We need to meet her already, or drop that subplot.


I hope that the next installments are much better.

Simon R Green Fan
I love all of his books, very interesting,exciting.Full of great supernatural characters and situations.Will keep you guessing right to the end.It is very hard to put down while you are reading it, you just want to keep going to find out what will happen next.

Read Dresden first
If you are done with the Harry Dresden series this is worth the time, otherwise read Dresden.

If I could give 3.5 I would.
I have to say that this the only installment of the Nightside series that I truly dislike not so much because of the setting which is always fun and interesting but because of the plot line.The old plotline the starlet held against her will by morally corrupt music managers has been used in every series of mystery books that I have ever read.I have always found this plot point to be idiotic but at least it proves that Green is not perfect and is as susceptible to cliques as the rest of us. ... Read more

Product Description
Private Eye John Taylor is the only thing standing between his not-quite-human mother and the destruction of the magical realm within London known as the Nightside. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

One of the best descriptions of Lilith
John Taylor is a private detective, who he works for depends on who pays him, but he was paid to find the origin of the Nightside by someone with power and must finish the task after discovering that he has ties to the foundation of the city that he actually has some dedication to.
In order to save the Nightside from itself, and one of the possible futures he has seen, Taylor decides to go back the origins of the Nightside and if not assist in the destruction of his mother, at least find out how she was imprisoned the first time around.

The best in the serise I have read so far.
My hat is off to Greene on this one, many authors have no problem at all creating an intricate world but very few have the guts to rock it to its very foundations.The book gets started with a bang Lilith first wife of Adam who went to hell and lay with Demons is back in the Nightside and she is out for blood.The action does not let up for a minute Only one man has any hope to stop her (guess who).

John Taylor leads the resistance with Suzie Shooter and Walker acting as backup.This is my favorite in the series so far you get what you expect from the A list people but a lot of the B list people that were on the sidelines of the series until this point show that they are made of surprisingly strong stuff. This book is not only important in the context of its central conflict but the ultimate resolution takes the series in a surprising new direction.

Overall-Good book, I was in awe at the amount of mayhem one very ticked off Lilith could bring about and if you give this book a chance you will to.

If youre looking at this book- read it. You wont regret it.
A great series. I dont know how much more to add that hasnt been well covered by earlier reviewers...

Delightful
I have found the Nightside series highly addictive. It is fast, easy reading and great fun. I like the fact that Simon Green adds some off beat humor at unexpected places. He doesn't take himself too seriously , and that is refreshing. The characters are wonderful , the stories are interesting and filled with unexpected turns and excitement. I lovedthe subtle references to pop culture , for example , The Collector appears in Strangefellows wearing Number 6's outfit from Patrick McGoohans's "Prisoner" TV series. This isn't Faulkner or Conrad , but who cares , just enjoy the fun!

Mommy Dearest
Don't go into this book expecting the noirish detective John Taylor to be back to solving cases in the Nightside.Instead it is time to face down Lilith that the previous book Paths Not Taken (Nightside, Book 5), was leading up to.
This part of the series is necessary because we have known since day one that it was coming.The gangs all here, all the characters that have survived up to this point show up at one point or another.Lilith, who we have known now since Hex and the City (Nightside, Book 4) was back is now ready to tear down the Nightside and give it the makeover she has wanted since her original vision was tainted (conveniently enough) by her son who traveled back in time.Not only will the Nightside be remade, but the entire planet, and with it, the human race will be gone and a new, more Lilith-friendly race will be born.This is not what John Taylor has seen though, in his trips to the future.Instead, it is a world that is utterly annihilated, one where the few remaining beings have been sending back assasins in time in an attempt to kill John before he and Lilith can go to war and end up wiping out everything, turning the planet into a stinking pile of rubble.
I did enjoy this story, which brings together quite a few elements that are satisfying, though since I have not read past this book I kind of wonder where things will go after this tale.Readers will be pleased that we are getting a solid resolution to many of the questions that have plagued John Taylor since the beginning of this series but this book did feel like the endgame in a lot of ways.
Honestly, I enjoy the more detective-ish novels of this series and I am looking forward to getting back to that.The big bad had to be confronted, that is for certain, and I am glad this was resolved (carrying on with a mysterious momma for another ten books would have gotten painfully old after a time) but it is time to move forward.I have enjoyed the growing frission between John and Shotgun Suzie and the new developments with folks like Walker, who did develop quite dramatically as a character in this episode.
It will be very interesting to see what the new version of the Nightside, post Lilith, has to offer up to the reader. ... Read more

Product Description
John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.

For John Taylor, there's no place like home... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (109)

Noir and More
"Never get personally involved with a client. It's written in large capital letters on page one of How to Be a Private Detective. Right next to Get as much cash as you can up front, just in case the cheque bounces, and Don't go looking for the Maltese Falcon because it'll all end in tears."

John Taylor, who is admittedly not quite human, is talked into going back into the Nightside in search of a teenage runaway. He'll have reason to rue not following his own rules, as he returns to the place of his birth, a place that is not exactly a 'place' but more its own dark dimension.

The book conjures up old 40s style noir detective novels, with the added punch of a weird 'something' that lures the unwanted to what seems to be a most horrible death.

And of course, John has a past, so that his return to the Nightside is noted, and old enemies gather, as well as a few old friends. Will he find the runaway before the Nightside kills him? And will he end up staying where the lights are brighter, the moon is bigger and the sins are far more interesting?

Okay First Book
John Taylor, a private eye /w a gift for finding things, is hired by a rich businesswoman to find her runaway daughter, who's somewhere in the Nightside - London's seedy supernatural doppelganger.

I can't say this book was good, but if you can get past the over-done detective noir voice and John's constant monologuing, he's a fairly likable lead character.The book started out slow (probably b/c it took me a while to get used to the narration), but the pace picked up about 1/4 through and flowed nicely after that.The ending wasn't very satisfying - lots of build-up to the big confrontation that ends more with a wimper than a bang.

But, since I liked John & the world the author created has promise, I'll give the second book a try.Overall, I'd say this is a quick read for when you're in-between books. I'd defintely read the teaser paragraph b/f buying though, to make sure the narration isn't too distracting.

:(
I guess, if you can get past the artificial sounding protagonist P.I. and the never ending reference to the 'Nightside,'this book may be for you. I couldn't.

Macabre Detective/Fantasy
On the recommendation from my local bookstore, I picked up this debut novel by Simon R. Green because I was fascinated by the description of a story that takes place within hidden, perpetually dark world located far below the streets of London, the Nightside. In the Nightside world it's always 3am and this fascinating world is inhabited by humans and other powerful and scary beings.

The main character is investigator John Taylor, a man who is psychically gifted with the unique ability to find anything...in the Nightside realm. Taylor had escaped from the Nightside into the real world five years ago and promised himself he'd never go back. Taylor reneges on this promise when a woman comes to hire him for his services, her daughter is missing and she is willing to pay the investigator good money to get her daughter back.

The book is entertaining work of fantasy, mystery and paranormal, there's a lot of solid groundwork here for an excellent series.

Easy reading fantasy
Simon Green gives us Private Detective John Taylor and an unseen aspect of London, the Nightside that can only be accessed by the few. Taylor has certain powers and reputation but keeps out of the Nightside until he is asked to help rescue a missing daughter and goes back for the first time in five years.
This is very light, short and easy to read fantasy, nothing deep, complex or special about this one but a harmless way to lose a couple of hours as the author treads a path already well worn by (perhaps) better authors. A few minor errors that Londoners will recognise (British Rail uniforms in the Underground?) and a fairly light story that does a lot of scene and character setting will certainly not tax the reader but may provide a glimpse of better things to come. ... Read more

Product Description
Lady Luck has hired John Taylor to investigate the origins of the Nightside--the dark heart of London where it's always 3 A.M. But when he starts to uncover facts about his long-vanished mother, the Nightside--and all of existence-- could be snuffed out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Ho-Hum Rip-Off
Simon R. Green's first Nightside book was pretty good; the second was a limp rag of a Weird Harold show; the third was fairly entertaining; now the fourth stinks.Watching the author furiously signal what the narrator thinks is secret, watching the ho-hum story play to an inevitable end, I felt like a rubbernecker at a traffic accident.Everything the author could do wrong, he does.

First, Green goes back to a Weird Harold display.For those who don't know that term, it refers to a story in which the author displays a (putatively) interesting character, only because that character is interesting.In his usual mode, supernatural PI John Taylor searches the phone book of amusing fantasy stereotypes, gets no info, and moves on.You could read each encounter in any order, they add so little to the story.

Then, though characters warn Taylor almost from the first that this case will hasten the end of all things, he refuses to get off.He insists that he will not, and WOULD not, bring on Armageddon, even as he persists in the one action he has been warned will make it happen.Perhaps we're meant to think him honorable for sticking to his guns, but to me he just looks kind of thick.

Finally, the dénouement of the novel disappoints.The author promises that we will finally learn the secret of this series, a secret apparently known to everybody but Taylor himself.In fairness, we do get what we've been promised.The problem is, the big reveal arrives, and we discover that the secret we've waited four novels to learn is... ripped off from a popular role-playing game franchise.Boo!Hiss!

This series started off so well.Though it was only one voice in a crowded fantasy mystery market, I really felt the first book had such promise.It's a promise that hasn't come through.Green squanders his best ideas on a geek show.In a crowded publishing market, with so many good books waiting to be read, I just don't have time for boring make-work like this.

Series is OK at best
This is OK.It seems to be a bad takeoff on the Harry Dresden series.If you have not read Dresden skip these and get those, if you like Dresden and can not wait for the next go ahead, just do not get too excited.

Pay close attention to this one it will be important later
This is where the series departs from its first three installments of detective story and moves more towards supernatural mystery while some may have a problem with this I do not.With this installment the books started to get much more complicated and interesting.John has a fight with a group of combat magicians that will have implications for the rest of the series and that is just one thing that happens in this book.

Important questions are raised specifically the origins of the very Nightside itself.For each of these "origin" books John has allies in addition to Suzie in this case Sinner the only man ever to escape from Hell through the power of true love.All in all this character and his girlfriend contributed much to my enjoyment of this particular installment.

A great series
Almost all of these have been reviewed before, so not much more is needed.

Its a great series, thats heavy on mystery, mixed with a little noir and some fun fantasy/ sci fi!

Also I chuckle whenever I read the titles, this one especially.

Nightside Revelations
In this, the fourth Nightside book by Simon R. Green, we are finally starting to discover more about John Taylor's mother and the origins of the Nightside.
Lady Luck has commissioned John to discover the origins of this small part of the city of London he calls home.The part that is dark and magical and kept hidden from the rest of the world.In tandem with this will be his opportunity to discover more about his mother, who is undeniably tied in with the creation of the Nightside.John knows little about her, given that no one who has an inkling seems very interested in telling him much.In fact, Walker, the representative of the Authorities in the Nightside and one of his father's oldest friends who knows a great deal about his mother, is determined not to allow Taylor to proceed with this case.He has called on combat magicians and a certain woman named Bad Penny who Taylor has a history with to stop him, even if it means killing him.
Fortunately for Taylor, he has chosen his allies wisely for this case.Madman, a man who seems to warp reality wherever he goes and cannot be destroyed, has a soundtrack that plays like mood music all around him, telling those nearby when it is appropriate to run screaming into the night.Sinner, who sold his soul to the Devil for true love and actually found it, along with his Succubus girlfriend Pretty Poison.He was rejected by both Heaven and Hell for the audacity of not giving up on love despite how vile the target of that love is and he also cannot be destroyed because of that, for both Heaven and Hell will not allow him to return.Together with Taylor's own impressive powers they go from one tough situation to another, dealing with Powers and Dominations left and right in an effort to get to the bottom of this mystery while Walker continues to do everything he can to stop them...because the truth is horrible.Despite this John is bound to discover the answers, even though it might end up causing the destruction of everything and everyone he knows.
Simon Green continues to come up with fascinating characters to populate the Nightside and harrass and ally with John Taylor.My favorite character in this book had to be Sinner, who was intriguing, with his dedication to a demon who he loved even when in the depths of hell.His and Pretty Poison's story could stand alone as another full blown tale of the Nightside for certain.
Much is revealed in this book, giving John Taylor a more defined path into his future though things are still muddy and murky enough to keep the series fun.The Nightside still has much to divulge and my guess is that Simon Green still has plenty of odd and fun characters to introduce to his audience. ... Read more

Product Description
In the wake of the war that left the Nightside leaderless, Jeremiah Griffin-one of the last of the immortal human families-plans to fill the power vacuum. But his granddaughter has disappeared, and he wants John Taylor to use his special abilities to find her. Except someone-or something-is blocking Taylor's abilities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Full of Cliches
I wanted to like this book, I really did.I liked the PI angle, but it was hard to root for this self-proclaimed "bad-ass" because he seemed too two dimensional.Everyone in the Nightshade fears him because of the horrible things he's done, yet when push comes to shove, he seems more like an average guy with a god complex than someone who is equiped to handle the likes of the Griffin.
I almost couldn't finish the novel when I read that Dracula (yes, THAT Dracula) was in the bar & he was a has-been.I'm getting the impression that the Nightshade is full of everything, especially things that have had their copyrights expire...
I won't spoil the ending, but it is a big letdown, especially after the church scene.That's it? was all I kept wondering.
This was my first peek into the Nightshade, and I'm afraid it will be my last.

Another Awesome Entry in this Terriffic Series!
If you're a fan of The Nightside series, Hell to Pay will certainly not disappoint. Five stars and three thumbs up for witty, snappy repartee, ass-kicking action, and solid characters that drive the storyline. I've quickly become a fan of this author's style and have JUST started picking up his Edwin Drood books. Keep cranking them out, Mr. Green! :) Awesome reading.

Very interesting
After the events of "Sharper then a Serpent's Tooth" now called the Lilith War the Nightside is desperately trying to find a new sense of itself.Walker acts in his own name, John has made many new friends (and enemies) and Suzie Shooter and John Taylor are now an item.

John Taylor Nighsides' free agent is doing what he always does finding things for people.This time it is the granddaughter and heir of a very powerful immortal known as Griffon.
This book is one of the more interesting of the series not only does it return the series to its roots (detective story) it is also in its way a political thriller with competing factions within the Nightside competing for what (comparatively) little power and influence is left.

It was also interesting to see the various ways that the Griffon's children and grandchildren had tried to stay sane.They all have a public face and a private face that they show only to a few people this is particularly true of Griffon's grandson Paul.

Overall-This series is still not my favorite of the urban fantasy slant but each book builds on the plots of the others.I just wish that they were a little longer.While shorter books result in a tighter narrative flow then other books by this author this is the one of his universes that I want to spend time in.That's not a hit on the books though they are all quality.

Must read for paranormal investigaters, or people who enjoy the genre!
A great series, a read for anyone who enjoys a good who done it with a pinch of fantasy...

Weakest book of the series, the characters seem a bit lost
This is the 7th book in Simon Green's Nightside series. To me this book seemed to be very much a transition book. Being that the 6th book capped off the over arcing storyline, it is not surprising that this book is a bit weak. I still enjoyed reading it; although it just wasn't nearly as good as Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth was.

In the aftermath of Lilith's War the Nightside needs a new leader and with John Taylor stepping aside; Walker is trying to fill that space. If there is anyone who can contend with Walker it is the Griffin family. A very powerful and immortal family the Griffin family is possibly in a position to rule the Nightside. Unfortunately when Griffin's granddaughter disappears John Taylor is called in to find her. Someone very powerful doesn't want her found and is able to shut down John's gift in an effort to stop him. Looks like John's going to have to solve this case the old-fashioned way.

While this was still an enjoyable book; it was probably the weakest one in the series. The action scenes were few and far between and somewhat blase'. The characters were weak. It was good to see Dead Boy some more but he wasn't there for much of the book. The main powers of the Nightside were notable in their absence. Seriously this is the most boring of the Nightside books. It truly seems to be a transition novel, with everyone picking up the pieces of the Nightside after the Lilith War. Unfortunately it seems like Green doesn't know exactly to do with everyone either.

I have high hopes for the next book but if it is as dull and uninspired as this one, I might have to rethink reading this series. ... Read more

Product Description
The publisher of The Unnatural Inquirer—the Nightside’s most notorious rag—has offered John Taylor one million pounds to find a man who claims to have evidence of the afterlife stored on a DVD. The Inquirer made the guy a sweet deal. Then he and the disc vanished. And if Taylor’s not careful, he may be next. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Completely unexpected. In a bad way.
Simon R. Green creates yet another P.I. along the lines of Sam Spade. Green's character tries to walk that thin line between "Good enough to overcome all obstacles" and simply "Better than everyone else".

Unfortunately, the only thing separating Green's "John Taylor" (an extremely boring name) from everyone else is his "Private Eye". Take that away and Taylor is left with nothing but a handful of Black Pepper.

As for the world, the Nightside, it seems like a pale imitation of "Cool World". I think Simon R. Green must have watched "Cool World" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" a few thousand times too many.

I'm moving to the Nightside...
I devour these books. Mr. Green's skill at writing in a funny, yet noire style makes this series a heck of a hoot to follow. Not many sci-fi/fantasy novels are both funny AND intelligent today. John Taylor and the Nightside crew are both. Five stars and three thumbs up!

Maybe the series is getting a little long in the tooth
While I still found this installment to be interesting not seeing Suzi Shooter for almost the entire book just felt wrong and really Green seems to be casting about for a new way to keep the series interesting that he just can't seem to find.Hell to Pay was fine not only did it deal with the power vacuum left over from the Lilith War it also had an A story that was interesting.That is not the case in this book.Shooter is gone replaced with an idiotic stand-in I wanted to strangle after 10 pages.The interesting power vacuum stuff raised in the last book was not touched on at all and the part of the story where John goes in search of yet another magic object that could spell the end of all life in the Nightside is starting to wear a little thin plus the item isn't even all that impressive when you stack it up against all of the others he has dealt with over the years.

In spite of my problems with this book I am actually kind of encouraged it has not been my experience with Green that he continues down a bad track when he realizes he has dug himself into a hole.I hated "Nightside's Lement" and almost put the series aside but the book after that unfortunate installment was the start of all of the events that lead to the Lilith war so just because something is a little stale right now doesn't mean that it will stay that way.I am hopeful.Maybe another trip through time would help?

Overall-I'm going to keep on trucking with this series but the next installment is really going to have to "wow" me to get me back on board.

John Taylor stikes again
This Darkside novel is good. I miss the old structure of Darkside and the threat of Lillith, but this one is pretty well up to the mark.

Enjoyable but....
This book was enjoyable but definitely not the strongest offering in this series.Generally I would give most of the Nightside books 4 stars for being a good, fun read.I felt like this one bogged down a bit.I hope that Green hasn't painted himself into a corner with the relationship with Suzy.I love her character but the relationship seems like a dead end plot device. ... Read more

Product Description
A century has passed since Owen Deathstalker sacrificed himself for humanity, and a Golden Age of peace began between the many species of the galaxy.

But Owen's descendant, Lewis Deathstalker, has his work cut out for him as the king's new Champion and protector-for the Golden Age of peace is about to be brought into ruin... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Not Good
Simon R. Green is a great storyteller, but the plot in this book stinks.Suspension of dis-belief is one thing, but this is farcical. Finn knows all, does what he wants.Everyone is too stupid to stop him. He juggles all the enemies of the empire under his control.....knowing exactly who to suborn and how.

One man's hurt feelings destroys an empire by him practically snapping his fingers. Please!

This book is meant to set up a new Deathstalker Trilogy. I will read the 2nd volume, but hopefully won't have to skim through a third of the book like I was forced to do with this one.

Buy it used from Amazon!

Romance and Violence: A Strange Combination!
If you've read the first DEATHSTALKER series, you should definitely not miss the sequel! Although "Deathstalker Legacy" starts off slowly of necessity, as Green needs to introduce all the compelling, vicious and heroic characters as well as a host of mind-boggling aliens and "un-humans", once the story gets on its way it's a whirlwind trip!
This novel does not have the fascination of the first Deathstalker book, but it still has the Green trademark sense of offbeat humour. It also has the typical rogue, the oversized alien who joins the side of the heroes, an over-the-top gorgeous heroine, and (would you believe it?) an ugly hero and last but not least: a villain who makes Darth Vader look like Santa Claus!
"Deathstalker Legacy" has a number of surprises in store for readers familiar with the first series, and the last few pages are filled with high-octane suspense, ending with the expected cliffhanger!
I'm glad I bought "Deathstalker Return" as well, for as soon as I finished "Deathstalker Legacy", I got started immediately on "Return"! A buy well worth its price!

Where are you when we need you, Owen Deathstalker?
It's been two hundred years since Owen Deathstalker overthrew an evil empire, saved humanity from the unspeakable horror of the Recreated, and disappeared.The new Empire, headed by a constitutional monarch but overseen by a representative Parliament, has basked in the glow of a golden age.The old aristocracy of the Families no longer exists (although some still plot and plan for a return to power), noble Paragons enforce the King's Justice on all planets, and no one gives a thought to Owen Deathstalker's final warning of the coming Terror that will make the Recreated look like paper tigers.On Logres (formerly Golgotha), a new king is crowned, plans are made for his royal wedding to the Empire's most famous diva, and a Deathstalker assumes the role of the King's Champion.Sure, there are still a lot of threats and problems all around (especially the vicious ELFs who orchestrate bloody examples of their continued presence), but life is pretty good all over the Empire.

Then, almost overnight, the Golden Age dies, murdered at the hands of a celebrated hero who vows to destroy the Empire after being slighted (or so he believes) by the new king.Frightening events of mass murder are arranged, and the people turn on those whom they used to honor and respect the most.Then the Terror arrives, leaving a line of scorched planets behind it as it slowly makes its way toward Logres.The frantic citizenry, as well as the king and Parliament, look to Owen Deathstalker, the legendary hero whom they faithfully expect to return to save the Empire he did so much to create.They don't know what we the readers know - that Owen is dead (although this does not necessarily mean we won't see him again).Robert and Constance, king and queen after the rebellion, made the decision to destroy all of the historical record of Deathstalker and his legendary comrades, believing the people needed the optimism inspired by legend rather than the truth of their heroes' human frailties.The Deathstalker, Helen D'Ark, Jack Random, Ruby Journey, Tobias Moon - these are just legends on stained glass windows now; other heroes of Owen's era are altogether unknown.

Maybe you're asking who this new Deathstalker is.After all, Owen Deathstalker was the last Deathstalker, and even the legend of his love for Helen D'Ark indicates that there love did not come close to producing a child.Lewis Deathstalker comes from a related branch from the Deathstalker family tree, his family having assumed the famous surname by royal request.Lewis proves himself a Deathstalker in many ways, however - with his devotion to honor and duty, his preeminent fighting prowess, and that old Deathstalker luck - all bad.Unlike Owen, however, Lewis does find and know true love - and that's a problem because the love affair he engages in is quite forbidden, the very kind of thing that can turn the King's Champion into another Deathstalker outlaw.

I had a little trouble getting into this novel.After all, Owen's legendary life covered five long novels, and the characters of Deathstalker Legacy are a far cry from the heroes and villains of Owen's life and times.As for Lewis, I haven't truly embraced him yet; he's a good and honorable man for the most part, but he lets love get in the way of honor and duty, and that is something that could never be said of Owen Deathstalker.There's plenty of blood here, as a lot of people seem to die horrible deaths even during the Golden Age, and some unusual and eventually interesting characters, but even Rose Constantine, the Wild Rose of the Arenas, pales in bloodthirsty comparison to the likes of Ruby Journey and Hazel D'Ark.

I don't want to call this novel filler, but it really does seem to exist primarily to set up later events.The Terror has arrived, but we only see its first act of destruction; the idea of Owen Deathstalker returning is broached, but the Quest to find him only begins toward the end of the story; Hazel D'Ark's fate is a complete mystery; and the new circle of Deathstalker-led heroes only begins to coalesce in the closing pages.This story has its moments and seems to find its legs in the last one hundred pages, but Deathstalker Legacy clearly pales in comparison to the earlier Owen Deathstalker novels.It still has a lot to offer fans of space opera epics, though - and, most importantly, it's a necessary prelude to Deathstalker Return.

Space? Check. Opera? Check.
This is unapologetic over-the-top space opera stuff. The villains are hissingly evil, the heroes are...hmm. Well, they're not chock full of virtue. Unless "butt-kicking" and "unleashing massive havoc" count as virtues. The so-called good guys are all pretty much rogues and misfits or folks that do what they do because of their own code of honor, even though they feel that society is worthless and weak. (Green tends to believe that the masses are ignorant and hateful swine.)

What I like about this entire series is that it's fast-paced and it takes pride in introducing characters with stupendous names like Kid Death, Jack Random, Valentine Wolfe, Captain Silence, Investigator Frost, and so forth. Not to mention uber-espers like the Mater Mundi and the Spider Harps and the Shatter Freak and so on. And even minor characters have spiffy backstories, like the one explorer dude who vanished, only to return years later with half his body replaced by an extradimensional force.

In any case, throughout the series there's plenty of sword-fighting, evil AIs and cyborgs, psi-freaks, Shrike-like aliens, bizarre artifacts, and sadistic empresses. In short, everything you need for a successful book (except flying ninja chimps).

This volume takes place 200 years after the first four, after the good guys of the preceding books have established a Golden Age and vanished into legend. Now, however, the rejuvenated Empire is threatened both from within by a sociopathic Paragon and from without by the Terror (which essentially seems to be the Shadows from B5's Z'ha'dum). Nineteen or so evil organizations band together in a plot to overthrow the government, betrayals abound, revelations are revealed, AIs and aliens posture cryptically, and heroes blast holes in everything that moves.

Tragically, the book is flawed in three serious respects.

Flaw the first: Green forgets his own timelines, and he'll state at one point that several key events took place within two weeks, and then later contradicts himself and says that they covered the span of a couple of months. It's hard to figure out just how slowly or rapidly things are falling apart. He seems to want to indicate that all of this stuff really did take place over 14 days, but that's ludicrously improbable and he lazily confuses the issue with conflicting depictions of the passage of time.

Flaw the second: Overnight, the state church turns to Pure Evil, and all of its millions of followers are quite content to openly slaughter any sects that have suddenly been deemed schismatic. If a major Western religious leader of our world abruptly declared that some hateful group preaching intolerance was right all along, I somehow doubt that all adherents world-wide would erupt into a killing spree against minorities, but that's pretty much what happens in this book.

Flaw the third: Green anchors the central plotline on the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot conceit, with King Douglas, opera diva Jessamine Flowers, and the Paragon Lewis Deathstalker filling those roles. I always hated the idea that Guinevere and Lancelot were tragic lovers, when in my opinion they were adulterous lechers who couldn't keep their pants zipped, and so I feel exactly the same here where Jessamine and Lewis decide to essentially wreak grievous harm to the Empire in the name of True Love. To heck with that.

Oh, also, Green has some problems with female characters. Most of them in this series are either psychopathic monsters who live only to kill and seem to be devoid of any human emotion (Frost, Rose Constantine), brawling and profane adventurers of dubious goodness who also live to kill (Hazel d'Arc, Ruby Journey, the Paragon Emma Steel), or twittery and uselessly decorative lightweights like Jessamine. Pretty much all of his women are either out slaying or engaging in debauchery. The only notable exception is a Plain Jane in this book who everyone ignores and who is counted on to do all the scutwork to make everyone else look good.

But while these objections seem significant, really you just kind of shrug and roll with it. I mean, it's space opera, not high literature. And when you willingly pick up a book from something called the Deathstalker Series, you really have no grounds for complaints.

The Magic is Lost
I loved the original Deathstalker books.I loved Hawk and Fisher, along with many of the other books set in their universe."Drinking Midnight Wine" was a miss with me, but I assumed it was just a fluke.

Unfortunately I was wrong.The writing style is lost.Green often tells us how great this new Empire is, and how sad it will be when it is destroyed, yet he doesn't construct or demonstrate anything to convince the reader that the new Empire is all the great. Heck, in the first chapter rather than displaying some of the things the new Empire has to be proud of, the book lingers on all of the terrorist groups forming and even includes a brutal massacre at the end of the first chapter.

While I concede that it is hard to write of peaceful times in a sci-fi/action adventure, if times are peaceful and great, something must be done to create a feel for that peacefulness and greatness.

The other thing that irked me was how underdeveloped his characters have become.In the first chapter the two protagonists, Lewis and Douglas, explain to each other their "noble intentions" to such a degreethat you wonder if there is anything else to them.Honestly, who wants to read about two people bragging to each other about how noble they are?Used to be, the characters' motivations and personality traits were shown through their actions, yet I guess Green had to do it this way because the actions of the characters certainly didn't back up the picture the characters were painting of themselves.

For instance, when Jesamine, a singer who would was to be wedded to Douglas, is introduced, it is soon clear that she will have an affair with Lewis.Now you would think that the noble and righteous Lewis would stand firm in his resolve not to have an affair with her because A. Douglas has been his best friend for many years, and he has only known Jesamine for a week and B. Douglas is his King, and noble and righteous people don't betray their King in such a matter.

Yet of course, Lewis and Jesamine have an affair anyway after having fallen madly in love with each other in the space of a week.

While if the romance had developed over a year or two, or perhaps even a few months, I might find the events more likely, but certainly not weeks.As a result, my entire suspension of disbelief was shattered.

While Brett was an interesting character, I found Rose to be an obvious, shallow replacement for Ruby Journey.The same can also be said for Lewis being one for Owen Deathstalker.Brett and Jesamine have the potential to become developed characters in and of their own right, yet for some reason, I doubt it will happen.

Its amazing how I once praised Green for his consistency with his character development, as well as for how natural the reactions that people placed in the extreme situations that he wrote about displayed.Yet somehow between here and there, he seems to have lost that ability.The former wit and humor he once incorporated into his writing is now gone as well, leaving behind tedious and repetitive dialogue in its place.

Sadly, like "Drinking Midnight Wine", I did not finish this book either, and I doubt I will pick up another of his new works again.Its seems like Green is now trying to write things quickly for profit rather than for pleasure and quality.Its a shame, for someone of his promise. ... Read more

Product Description
The New York Times bestselling author of The Man With the Golden Torc delivers...

"RAPID-FI RE PARANORMAL SUSPENSE."(Monsters and Critics) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Daemons Are Forever
Daemons Are Forever is the second book in the Secret Histories series. It is an enjoyable story about Eddie Drood, a secret agent.
He has to save the world from various threats, supernatural and his family.
I have read all of Simon R Green's books and find them all very enjoyable. I like the British humour in them and the larger than life characters and situations.
Deamons Are Forever is a highly entertaining story and I look forward to more in this series.

A let down after the first
I really liked the first one in the series, and I couldn't wait til I picked up a copy of the second adventure. It was a major let down.

The plot was weak.Drood has to prove to the world that just because his family was down, but they weren't out. Drood feels the only way do to this is to pick a fight with a group, and how them and the world that the Drood family isn't as weak as people think. Honestly, that's pretty much the plot. That's the biggest problem I had with the book. Drood had to pick a fight, and he picked the weakest creature(supernatural beings) to fight. To me, Drood and the family seemed like bullies. Drood kept on stumbling around and he was doing things, just to do them.**SPOLIERS** Some examples are that he had to go to the past to get the best fighters to help him and the family fight....then he had to go to the future to get a fighter too. It was just so silly.

The characters seemed to bepaper thin. I also had the feeling that the characters seemed bored to be in the book. More as I read, the more I disliked them. Even my favorite, Mr. Stab.

If you read this after the first one, don't expect to much.

Another fantastic story!
Simon R. Green has quickly become one of my favorite authors from his Nightside series and now to this. He blends the macabre (much like Clive Barker although not as intense) with humor and a fast paced easy read.

I haven't read a single story yet by him that I did not enjoy. If you want a good book, buy this one!

Eddie saves the word - again.
From time immemorial, the powerful Drood family has worked behind the scenes, saving the world from every imaginable threat. Until, centuries past, an alien entity corrupted the family's governing body. Since then, their agenda has been ruling the world. When field agent Eddie Drood is declared rogue, he discovers the family's corrupt secret, destroys the Heart and takes control. (The Man with the Golden Torc.)

In Daemons are Forever, Eddie Drood is not a popular man. He is resented by some, hated by others, and does not know who to trust within his own family. What is more, when he destroyed the Heart, the Droods lost their golden armor, and now the powers of the world think they have a chance to bring the family down. Only Eddie has armor, this time silver, given to him by the strange matter that replaced the Heart. He decides to show the world that the Drood family is still a force to be reckoned with and targets the Loathly Ones, alien creatures who can infect and eventually take over both human beings and animals.

The Droods, who are responsible for bringing the Loathly Ones to Earth in the first place, do not see them as a significant threat, Eddie included. But althoughhis army destroys the Loathly Ones' nest it does so with much loss of life, and he learns that this is just the tip of the ice-burg. The Loathly Ones are working to bring the Hungry Gods to Earth from their own dimension, and when that happens they will destroy the world.

Eddie, as the narrator, shares his doubts and disappointments, both his own and with his family. He needs their help, but refuses to compromise his decision to return them to honor and decency. Eddie has always believed that "family comes first," but his resolve is tested when his love, Molly Metcalf, is infected by the Loathly Ones, and Eddie realizes that she is more important to him than family.

Characters from the first book return and new ones are introduced; we see a different side to some, and lose others. Some reviewers do not like the introduction of characters from Green's Nightside and Deathstalker series', but I think they fit the plot, in which Eddie travels to the past and future, and to other worlds, in search of help.

"Daemons are Forever," is chockfull of battles, duels, blood and gore, mayhem, heroics, sacrifice, magic and alien technology, well-defined characters, and a dab of British humor; narrated with Green's trademark rapid-fire style and wit. Will Eddie triumph in the end? How could he not?

Not Your Nightside
As a fan of Green's NightSide series, this series is a big disappointment. I have been trying to narrow one critical comparison and finally come to this: the relationship between John Taylor and Susie Shooter (Nightside) is compelling because the characters are flawed, damaged superheroes worthy of a multi-book series. Eddie and Molly, IMHO, seem pulled straight from all the bad SF bodice rippers. The only construct that could make me purchase book 3 is if Green turned Molly (who is a witch - don't get me started) into a toad. If that sentence seems silly and implausible for a SF book, so will the series. ... Read more

Product Description
John Taylor just discovered his long-gone mother created the Nightside--the dark heart of London--and intends to destroy it. To save his birthplace, he will have to travel back through a very distant--and probably deadly--past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Coming to the climax
To me it's always very interesting and very brave when an author creates a good character that does bad things to good people because he has to and he knows it. He can look someone in the eye, tell them that he's so very sorry, and then do something utterly horrible to them because it has to be that way.

Very rarely to authors continue with that kind of harshness with the hero through a whole series of books. Usually the character buckles or makes an exception or something magically happens that changes the circumstances so he never has to do it again. That doesn't happen in this book and I loved that.

One of the only characters I've ever read like this was Roland from Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. (I always ask people who have read the series if they would have dropped Jake that first time. It always gets interesting answers.)

The character of John Taylor in these Nightside books not only drops Jake every single time, but he peers over the edge to see where Jake lands below.

I can't wait to see how this is all going to end.

Worth it
Simon R. Green writes enjoyable books. I have the whole series. He has yet to disappoint me. I would recommend this book to my friends.

I wish we could time travel in every book
While Sharper than a Serpents Tooth may have the better story Path Not Taken has the better environment, getting to see the Nightside as it was created to be is a real treat.It was good to see the Gods that inhabit the Street of the Gods in our present not as broken down forgotten wreaks but as real beings of power.

Take it from someone who read the series out of sequence do yourself a favor and read the story in sequence you will appreciate the ultimate resolution of this particular installment a heck of a lot more.

Part of the trilogy
This is really two series, one of stand alones and one thats a trilogy, this is the latter, and very good!

I highly recomend all of the books in this series...

Time After Time
John Taylor has finally discovered who his mother is and after the confrontation with her that finished off the previous book in this series, he is ready to travel back in time to do his best to disrupt her plans.By being there at the origins of the Nightside and confronting Lilith he hopes to prevent the horrible visions of the future he has seen and knows that he is the cause of.Against his better judgement Shotgun Suzie and Tommy Oblivion want to tag along for the ride.They need to get Father Time to allow them to travel back and then confront Mommy.That is pretty tricky since Father Time does not really allow too many folks to head back.Of course, even if that does work, Lilith is back in the present and ready to gum up the works and screw up their journey.
This book is a total divergence from the previous tales of the Nightside in that Taylor is not working a case for a client but is totally focused on his own cause in this one.Tommy Oblivion is not one of the more interesting characters that Simon Green has created although he does have an interesting gift he puts to use in the story.I have gotten used to being introduced to new and exciting allies and villains in each story and Tommy just did not impress me all that much here.
We do get to see the Nightside from different time perspectives which was interesting, visiting locales we have seen in the present and how they were different in the past, including the Londinium club and the oldest bar in the world, which goes by different names at different times.We also get to see how Taylor and friends influence the present by their trips into the past, in rather significant ways, with some major players like Merlin Satanspawn and Herne the Hunter popping up.Even so, the Nightside, for all its intrigue, really takes a back seat to Taylor's quest in this one, showing us nothing really new and exciting, which I have come to expect in each of these tales.
Though this story was certainly necessary to carry the overall story arc of John Taylor and the Nightside forward I personally did not feel that this story was as compelling as the last two entries.The Nightside of the past seems a bit more drab and less inspired, even as we get to see its birth and Lilith, John's mother, and her original intention for her creation.
Still, we get to see Taylor and Suzie's complex relationship continue to grow and change and this tale is leading us directly back into the present and potentially into the pathway of what he has feared since we were first introduced to him several books ago: that he will be responsible for the destruction of everything he holds dear.The sixth book in the series promises the big confrontation between him and his mother as well as everyone else in the Nightside.I will be quite interested to see how Simon Green carries things forward from here. ... Read more

Product Description
Following the overthrow of the tyrannical Empress Lionstone, rebel Owen Deathstalker is hailed as a hero. But being a hero is not easy, for when the fighting ends the politicking begins. And there's no place in politics for honor. But Honor is the one thing Owen Deathstalker lives by. And he'll kill for it, if necessary, for the sake of an Empire beset by enemies within, and aliens without. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

The war may be won but this series just keeps getting better
You might think that, after some 2100 pages, Simon R. Green's Deathstalker series would have begun losing steam.As Deathstalker Honor opens, the rebellion against the Empire is the stuff of history and the war to overthrow Empress Lionstone XIV has been won.Our heroes have done the impossible: slaughtered an amazing array of enemies all over the galaxy, seen the brutal murder of what must be billions of people on planets stretching from the homeworld of Golgotha to the planets on the outer rim, been changed into something more than human by a mysterious alien Maze, and become legendary heroes whose exploits are already shown in holovideos to a fascinated public.Remarkably, however, this series seems to just keep getting better.It turns out that winning the war was the easy part; winning the peace is something else entirely.It's not just a matter of organizing a new government among a group of contentious power players interested only in acquiring power and money for themselves; there's also a little matter concerning several alien races moving in to attack the Empire while it is all but prostrate and vulnerable.

The gang's still here, though: Owen Deathstalker, the reluctant warrior who oversaw the defeat of imperial power; Hazel D'Ark, the former clonelegger and extremely successful lady at Owen's side, always ready to spill the blood of the guilty; Jack Random, the legendary rebel leader of old who saw his forgotten dreams of revolutionary success come true after teaming up with the Deathstalker; and Ruby Journey, bounty hunter extraordinaire and Random's right-hand woman of mass death and justice.Even Tobias Moon, the Hadenman who sacrificed everything to free his entombed brethren from their tombs on the Wolfling World, returns for this thrilling ride.These are the heroes who go where they are needed to do the things no one else could possibly do.On Virimonde, the planet which once called Deathstalker lord but has since been all but destroyed by Imperial forces, the notorious Valentine Wolfe, the most-wanted man in the new empire, is up to no good.On Brahmin II, the Hadenmen have imprisoned the human population and begun turning them into augmented men like themselves.On the inhospitable mining planet Loki, old rebels have rebelled anew against a corrupt new government and have made a desperate and wholly unforgivable move to elicit the aid of the rogue AI of Shub, mankind's most dangerous known enemy.And on Lachrymae Christi, a leper planet no one likes to talk about, the Hadenmen have attacked in large numbers for no discernible reason.At home on Golgotha, little has really changed, as the aristocratic families, rebel interests, and generally greedy, power-hungry men jockey for position in a generally ineffective, temporary Parliament.I can tell you that a few scores are settled right here and now.

There is a ton of great action in this novel, and there is no shortage of shocking surprises either - some wonderful characters don't survive the events detailed herein.Great and troubling mysteries and questions shout out for answers but are eventually subsumed - for now - by the individual missions involving our heroes.Even with their Maze-given special powers, the likes of Owen Deathstalker continually find themselves facing incredibly horrible odds of survival as they work to clean up some of the mess of an empire in tatters.Shub, the Hadenmen, and supercharged alien insects - any one of these enemies poses a daunting threat to the weakened Empire, and now not just one but all three of them are on their way.An even more frightening and potentially superior enemy exists out beyond the rim, in the Darkvoid where it was thought no form of life could possibly survive.

Deathstalker Honor kept my eyes glued to the pages, more anxious than ever to follow the exploits of Deathstalker and his select group of revolutionary allies.Each character is given additional room to grow here, and we begin to see some of what is behind the tough exterior masks they wear.Even as they continue to fear that their Maze-given powers are robbing them of more and more of their humanity, we the reader begin to penetrate their emotional defenses in powerful new ways.We also get a good look at the AI of Shub for the first time and learn just enough to heighten our interest and anxiety over the unknown enemies lying within the eternal darkness of the Darkvoid.

A heavy dose of fun, space-opera fighting still provides the humming engine of the storyline, but a new emphasis on the human element makes this the most captivating read of the first four Deathstalker novels.There is also a new and effective twist at the end; unlike its predecessors, this novel ends on a major cliff-hanger that is sure to drive Deathstalker fans in droves to Deathstalker Destiny, the fifth and final book in the life and times of Owen Deathstalker.

Its starting to get real old
I enjoyed the first 2 books in this series, and thought that the 3rd book was readable, but this one, the 4th in the series, is starting to get painful. It seems like the author has just recycled scenes from the first three books. There's very little plot, essentially:

Parliament member: There's something evil, hideous and terrible on (fill in planet name here).

Owen: OK. Hazel and I will go kill it.

Hazel: Yeah, I can't wait to smash something and kill something else and stab and wound and destroy.

Then they go. Not much of a plot.

Really sloppy, bad writing that could have been trimmed down from 500+ pages to about 200 pages. The characters frequently repeat conversations that they had 20 pages previously.

I guess you can tell I'm a little disappointed with this book. I'm giving it two stars instead of one because the action, when it eventually happens, is still pretty entertaining, and the author does have some pretty cool ideas; they're just not carried out very well in this book. My opinion, this book isn't worth reading. If you like the Deathstalker series, go back and reread 1--3.

They won the war and lost the peace
The empress is dead, the war is won, and Owen Deathstalker wants a little peace.Unfortunately, there are about half a dozen major forces, ranging from aliens to corrupt lords, who simply won't let peace reign.So the warcontinues, as Owen Deathstalker tries to settle the universe once and forall.The series continues its winding way through its abundance of aliensand other threats, seemingly getting no closer to finishing, despite thefact that there have been almost 2,000 pages so far.I'm still enjoyingthe books, as I space them out to about one a month, and use them to wipemy palate clean between more serious reading.The fourth in the series isstill great escapist fun, and I'm willing to go on to the fifthDeathstalker novel(and last, or so we've been promised) in the series. There are some minor attempts to discuss the nature of humanity and somemoral quandaries, but all these are papered over rapidly with more bloodand violence.You want serious moral discussions, go read Orson ScottCard.You want shoot-em-up space opera, read Simon Green.

The 1st 3 had me addicted so I need #4 for a quick fix.
The first three books of the Deathstalker Saga, while a little "loose" in the writing, presented some interesting characters whose exploits are followed in this the 4th of 5 books in the series. Inbook 4 Green handles the question of what happens to our heroes now thatthe war is over and the Empire has to reqbuild.The resulting politicalconflicts are a nice touch and give the book a little more depth than someof the previous war/violence plot lines.

However it feels as though Greenhas written himself into a corner with the Madness Maze characters.Oftenit seems as though they've become the "Swiss-army tool" ofconflict resolution.One can only read about incredible odds andcircumstances being overcome by these "greater-than-human"characters so often before it becomes old hat.While some near deathsituations are thrown in to give the reader the possibility of losing amain character, I wasn't fooled into thinking they wouldn't come out ontop. Just a little too neat.

But, of course, I'll buy book 5 and read itbecause I need my fix.

I found the complete series compelling reading.
I was introduced to Owen Deathstalker and his... associates by a friend.That was six months ago and since then I have read every instalment,of Simon R.Green's thrilling series,at least five times.Thefourth title in the series,"Deastalker:Honour",was the only bookI read for about three weeks.I read it perhaps four times in those threeweeks during coffee breaks and lunch times and I can safely say that I havea problem with this fantastic series.Thank you...Simon R.Green!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Captains Hawk and Fisher are the only honest cops in the down and dirty magical city of Haven. Together, they have taken on everything from vampires and werewolves to conniving politicians. But now it's their last case as members of Haven's City Guard, and all hell is breaking loose - because they're not leaving town without doing a little cleaning up first. The bad guys are going down, whatever it takes.Meanwhile, back in the Forest Kingdom, King Harald has been assassinated and the call has gone out to Prince Rupert and Princess Julia, to return to the Land they once called home, to bring a murderer to justice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

yay Green
not quite as good as the original Blue Moon Rising,but quite a good book.

Green always has entertaining characters who have snarky humor. love his writing

You'll never please everyone
But in this case, the only thing that did not please me about "Beyond the Blue Moon" was that it ended.I've heard a lot of praise for "Blue moon Rising", the prequel to the Hawk and Fisher series, but I came upon that book only shortly before "Beyond the Blue Moon".My Hawk and Fisher were in Haven and this seemed like a truly worthy send up of the two dealiest individuals in fantasy writing.My only regret is that Green isn't filling in a few more blanks in the lives of Hawk and Fisher in Haven.I honestly can't get enough of them.

let's see more of these two.
I read the Hawk and Fisher books before I ever knew "Blue Moon Rising" existed, I found it in a used book store and felt like I struck gold.These books are witty, fun, well written, and thouroughly enjoyable, (and it must be said that bad guys getting thier just deserts is always a good thing even if it is just fiction.) Beyond the Blue Moon was not quite as good as Blue Moon Rising, but that's rather like saying that a T-bone isn't as good as a ribeye steak.I think Mr. Green has lots of room to work with Hawk and Fisher, I don't see those two settled down on a little backwater farmstead raising kids and chickens.

Seriously disappointed
I adored "Blue Moon Rising". It was moving, unsual, and had that real sense of myth that the best fantasy works have. "Beyond the Blue Moon", whether in comparison to its predecessor or considered on its own, is trite.
Hawk/Rupert's brother, King Harald of the Forest Kingdom, has been murdered and his Champion comes to Haven to bring back the legendary Rupert and Julia (Fisher) to solve the crime and set all to rights. This immediately establishes this book as a Hawk and Fisher story, which is a problem. While the Hawk and Fisher stories are good for what they are, for me the feel of those books just doesn't fit with the atmosphere established in "Blue Moon Rising". If you want mythic power, emotional power and character insights, you won't find them here. And the whole "We're Hawk and Fisher, we don't take nuthin' from no-one and we're so devoted to each other" shtick is wearing pretty thin by now.
Anyway, Hawk and Fisher destroy half of Haven as their going away present to the city they hate and travel to the Forest Kingdom incognito to solve Harald's murder. Cue a witless succession of cliches, smart aleck conversations, return of old characters, and an overly heavy dollop of religion before the book ends. But worse than the lame and overly lengthy storyline is that ending. EVERYTHING is resolved, tied up, explained, married off, killed off or buried. By the time Green is done with "Beyond the Blue Moon", nothing is left. There's no more room for further stories in the land he created. And I think that's sad.
So why two stars? Some people like their favourites series to end this way, and may have no fault to find whatsoever. I'm not one of them.

Blergh...
The heading says it all really... I have read and reread blue moon rising more times than i can count, and would easily call it one of my favourite novels. Naturally, i was excited when i heard of the coming sequel, and rushed to read it when it came out. I was bitterly disappointed. It was like a rushed effort to get all the characters together for a badly thought out adventure that ends like a bad scooby doo movie. Properly done, this could have been a great novel and it had some great ideas. As it is, i almost felt like weeping from disappointment when it was over. Avoid at all costs. ... Read more

Product Description
The New York Times bestselling author takes readers back to the Nightside.

A quest for the Unholy Grail-the goblet from which Judas drank at the Last Supper-takes private eye John Taylor deep into the secret, magical heart of London...called the Nightside. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Another fantastical tale by a master story teller
Simon Green just keeps turning out the best urban fantasy in years.

When pitted against angels of both the higher kind, and the lower sort, John Taylor again comes through, while wondering if he can handle the mess.

The angels are scary as heck, followed closely by Suzie Shooter and the host of unusual types Taylor associates with in the Nightside.

Great stuff, well-written. As creative as it comes, with chuckle-out-loud dialogue and colorful descriptions of Taylor's dark world.

Didn't Live Up To Potential
This book had a great premise - the Unholy Grail (the one Judas drank from at the Last Supper) is in the Nightside, and all the usual power players are seeking it, as well as the Vatican and angels from heaven & hell, all of whom converge on the Nightside. The novel, however, fell flat.

I didn't feel the seconday characters were develped at all. Jude, the mysterious Vatican rep. who hires John is very one-dimensional, as were Merlin, the Collector, and Walker. Then there's Suzie Shooter - although she's given a tragic backstory, she still doesn't feel "real," and I don't really care about her. Since in this book she takes more of a lead role, that's problematic. I don't think she and John have any chemistry as partners, so hope she doesn't become a regular in that regard. The angels were more or less a menacing background presence.

On a positive note, the detective-noir langauge was toned down, John is still likeable, and if you can get through the first half, the pace picks up significantly.

I picked this series up b/c I'm in between books right now, so I'll give the third book a chance, but if it doesn't improve, I think I'll be moving on from John Taylor & the Nightside.

Excellent Follow Up Book
In this second volume in Simon Green's The Nightside tales, investigator John Taylor is back in his old haunting grounds, finding things and this time around he is on a grail hunt, with a twist. Taylor is looking for the Unholy Grail, the Judas Cup...a cup of both ultimate power and corruption.

Taylor learns that the Unholy Grail maybe nearby and is hired to find it. The cup is sought by powerful and dangerous beings, among them are Angels, both the High and the Fallen. The downside to Taylor's gift is that whenever he uses his talent for finding things, it alerts others to his whereabouts. Therefore, he must use all of his experience, skills, and reputation to stay alive while trying to find the Grail.

Agents of Light and Darkness is an excellent sequel, it offered more insight into protagonist John Taylor and the history of The Nightside. Very nicely done.

Flaming amounts of fun!!
This book is actually the second in the Nightside series but I had to read it first because the book store didn't have the first. That said,

ZOMG IT WAS SO FUN!!!!!!!

John Taylor is a PI that works in Nightside, a city that exists in London for those that seek things that are a little...off. It's always 3:00 am in Nightside, a Biblically fragile time if you believe that sort of thing.

John's a little special and, for once in a character, doesn't apologize for it or for the dark things he sometimes has to do in his line of work. I LOVE THAT!!

The book went lightning fast, is full of places where I went, "Wait, what? Wait, what was that! I want to know more about that!" , and then was forced to move on because the book did.

John has a great sense of sarcasm and the other characters are absolutely off the hook over the top. Merlin Satanspawn was in this book and was absolutely hilarious. Angels from Above and Below, Jessica Sorrow the Unbeliever, Suzie Shotgun, and The Collector are just a few more.

Taylor is back!
The second book in this series is just fantastic!!

Someone comes to Taylor, because he can find anything with his special power. The person that comes to Taylor is from the Vatican, and they want him to find a very special item. If this item falls into the wrong hands, it seems that pretty much the world will come to and end.That being said, the person from the Vatican isn't alone. It seems that the Angels from Heaven and from Hell both want this item. Angels from Heaven aren't the nice ones that we hear about in the Bible. Oh no, they'll destroy anything they have to get the item back. If they have to destroy our world or the Nightside, well, that's just fine by them. It also seems that people in the Nightside want this special for themselves too. Everyone is out to get this. What could this item be? Well, it's the Unholy Grail. The cup that Judas drank from in the last supper. Everyone want's it. If that means killing Taylor, then so be it. The thing is that Taylor won't go down without a fight.

This is a fantastic series!I really liked how Green is adding depths to his characters. We get more of a background on Shootgun Suzie (god I love that name). We find out why she is the way she is. We also meet a lot of wonderful characters in this book. All of the characters seem so life like, you can't help but to care about them.I love what Green is doing with Taylor!

This book also have a very strong writing style. This is evident through fantastic characters, and great plot twists that will keep the reader hooked to the last page.

Give yourself a treat, and start the first book in the series and enjoy the ride. You don't have to read the first one in order to follow this book, it's that good. ... Read more