Introducing Ishmael Jones – a detective with a difference – in this compelling murder mystery. Ishmael Jones is someone who can’t afford to be noticed, someone who lives under the radar, who drives on the dark side of the road. He’s employed to search out secrets, investigate mysteries and shine a light in dark places. Sometimes he kills people. Invited by his employer, the enigmatic Colonel, … employer, the enigmatic Colonel, to join him and his family for Christmas, Ishmael arrives at the grand but isolated Belcourt Manor in the midst of a blizzard to find that the Colonel has mysteriously disappeared. As he questions his fellow guests, Ishmael concludes that at least one of them – not least Ishmael himself – is harbouring a dangerous secret, and that beneath the veneer of festive cheer lurk passion, jealousy, resentment and betrayal.
As a storm sets in, sealing off the Manor from the rest of the world, Ishmael must unmask a ruthless murderer before they strike again.
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I’ve read other works by Simon Green, but this is the first one I’ve read in this particular series. I intend to read more.
This is a very good book, unexpected things kept happening. I liked it.
Interesting play on the genre but didn’t engage me as much as his previous books
I liked it but didn’t feel I couldn’t put it down.
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Great start to new series. Look forward to the next one.
A solid read from Green’s collection of the urbane, clever, not-necessarily-human, dealing-with-things-that-go-splat-in-the-night stories. I say that with tongue firmly in cheek, as I really love the author and his works. This is the first in a new series, so Green takes the trouble to introduce us to Ishmael Jones and the workings of his world-behind-the-world, giving us a character of the same general sort as Eddie Drood of the Secret Histories series, but from very different origins (no spoilers, although you’ll find out in the first 50 or so pages).
A few quibbling points. The book begins with the words “Call me Ishamel”, which has the same delightful audacity as Ray Bradbury opening his novel Let’s All Kill Constance with the words “It was a dark and stormy night.” I confess it’s tempted me to open up a novel or story with something dangerously quotable of the same nature. It’s a case of the author making himself known to the reader, which is the literary equivalent of breaking the fourth wall in theater, but it’s often just too much fun to pass up.
“Having fun”, as both storyteller and narrator, is a hallmark of Green’s books; if you don’t care for it, move along, nothing to see here. I still say it’s worth the break. Even the obvious litany of “I walk on the dark side of the road”, appearing as it does several times throughout the book, is a kind of “Went With the Wind” parody that causes a smile. It’s of a piece with Green’s popping in the odd ancient joke as if it were new, e.g., “I met a magician once. He sawed his wife in half. The police never did find him.” Irrelevant, distracting, and just too much fun to pass up.
All in all, a good intro to a new series. Reading Green’s books is, I have the feeling, rather like peeking into the author’s own deliciously deranged mind. I’m looking forward to more. After all, it takes some guts to walk on the dark side of the road. Perhaps if Stephen King had decided to do so, he’d not have been hit by that van.
I liked this story and the main character. After awhile the steps of the mystery began repeating (which I don’t like) but by then the end was close and the wrap up came quickly enough. I have looked at the sequels but cannot decide if I will take the plung for a second story. As I said, I liked the main character.
Not a particularly great book, but entertaining enough for a quick read. I might be tempted to read more in the series.
Light summer read. The plot, however, starts to lag towards the end which comes abruptly. I would have like more character depth.