The Bride Wore Black Leather: Nightside, Book 12

Marc Vietor is the voice of the Nightside, he's great at narrating this series. I've read everything Audible has by Simon Green. The Edwin Drood series, " Man with the Golden Tork" etc. In this story you will see how both these series touch upon each other at some points. I really can't wait for the next in the Edwin Drood series to see how things progress. Simon Green really knows how to spin a tale to the most bizarre, and mind bending images. You really have to start with the first book in the series to understand what has happened and who is whom. I also recommend "the Edwin Drood" Series. Not every one likes both, however I found them both suspenseful, humorous, and enjoyable. Time always flew by when listen to any of Simon R. Green's stories. I put Green on the same level as Jim Butcher, they both spin a great story and still have a sense of humor. (I've read all Jim Butcher's books as well) If your following this series then I don't have to sell you, if you've never had experience with the "Nightside" I suggest you start with the first book in the series "Something from the Nightside". Can't wait for next books from Mr. Green

If this is your first time in a Nightside book, go back to the 1st and hear them all. They are an escape from anything serious but this one works best when following the other 11. There is a big cast of characters you get to know through the series of books and I think of them as old friends now no matter how creepy they are. John Taylor magical detective is back in all his glory using his packets of salt and pepper to his "gift" to save the world. Marc Vietor who is the top narrator at Audible can bring out the personality of every character and if the character happens to have multiple personalities he can define each one of those too. Amazing I can hardly believe it's just one person narrating. Listen to this if not just to hear him go. It's great.

A befitting ending to the most extraordinary series ever!!!!!

PS
The new series "GhostFinders " by Simon R. Green , in someway you can call it a spin off, But it doesn't have the same finesse ;-(

Good bye!!!!

When I first found Simon R. Green and the Nightside, I thought I had found a fun unique universe. Dark and unusual characters. That was 7 years ago. But there is no growth to the characters. Book after book it the same thing. Lord of this. Brother of that. Hungry Gods and outsiders. It just feels mailed in. All of his books are these vignette of John Taylor threatening people with his gift or black pepper. Maybe I need a break from his worlds and can come back to theme later.. much later. Listening to this book I felt like I was cheated.

Well a turn of events that nobody saw coming not bad

Liked the others and wonder how John aka Walker will work out

John bloody Taylor of course

No time restrictions

Is this the last one in the series??

Excellent series, comfortable end.

The characters are interesting and clever, and quite definitively British. There is not one that jumps out as a favorite as the cast is wide ranging. John goes out and talks with everyone in town.

After listening to this series, much of the Drood series, Ghost of a chance, and the Deathstalker series, I recommend this as his best work. The others are a little too light, or too dark - this one is just right.

Worth the time and money for the first half of the book. Very intriguing and imaginative.

The reading by Mac Vietor is the best I have heard yet.

Unfortunately, the main "bad guy" was kind of iffy. Never really understood why everyone was supposed to be intimidated by him. We were told the the bad guy was powerful, but that power or sense of impending doom never really managed to come through the story.

This story was getting predicable too. The many repeated "typical for the Nightside" statements become a meme. References to other Simon R. Green Books seemed out of place and more like advertisements than contributions to the plot.

The middle felt like padding without a purpose. After the first half of the book, you can skip right to the last half-hour. A bunch of plot points and side quests (though entertaining) go nowhere and contribute nothing to the story as a whole.

The ending was disappointing. It seemed rushed and out of place for a book that (likely) ends the Nightside series. Seemed more like the ending of an episode of a TV show than an entire book series. (And I do mean the end of an episode)

All-in-all, I think it was worth the read for the first half alone. Based on the ending, I think the author is done with this series (or at least with John Taylor).

Let me start with the good part. Marc Vietor has been an amazing Narrator for the entire series. If you’ve enjoyed his performance you should give “The Black Company” by Glen Cook or “Hyperion” by Dan Simmons a chance. He has added greatly to my enjoyment of those stories and this one too.

Now, before we get into the story. This is the end, not the beginning. I would strongly recommend you not pick this book up without having gone through the rest of the series.

So let’s get to the story, it’s not good even by the low standards I set for the plot of a Nightside novel. Green’s dive into the super natural film noir has had its ups and downs. The setting has always been the best part of the stories and a reason to give the plot a pass when judging the books, but you can tell we’ve run out of new real estate, faction groups, and near-apocalypses that can reasonably be added in. In addition, the main character has grown to be too powerful to be reasonably challenged by anything that isn’t at near-apocalypse levels. Ending the story for the current timeframe isn’t a bad choice at this point, but this ending is far too happy and lovie-dovie for the grim and cynical stories we’ve come to expect. Not that John couldn’t have had a happy ending, but at little to no cost?

(Spoilers for here on out)

Everyone turning on the main character isn’t particularly original, but I don’t come here for the originality in plot. However, it seems like everyone (both John and his friends who are now after him) are playing with kid-gloves on. That many powers go head to head and everyone comes out just fine? Now Susie’s betrayal turning out to be a trick to protect John is good and in character for her, but we don’t get to see any of it; the title character of the book (who is one of the most awesome characters in the stories) has almost no face time in the story. Even Julian’s death, which really drives the story and adds some of that grim Nightside element to the story, turns out to be a trick.

Even if it didn’t happen in the story, in the end, the sun did come up in the Nightside.

This book was wrapped in sci fi, fantasy and strange characters in a very different style of murder/mystery. The main character has a gift for solving murders quickly. It was based on another parallel universe so to speak. It was different and interesting and I didn't mind it. It was entertaining and a fun listen