This is the second book that I have read in the series and I am really enjoying the series. The storyline has enough plot and ghastly happenings, the..Show More »re is action and dry humour and the narrator is really one of the best I have come across. I have already downloaded the next 2 books and am looking forward to spending some quiet time enjoying them!!!

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I have now finished listening to all nine novels in the Nightside series -- a feat that took most of the last six months, as I treated them like radio..Show More » series by listening to them while I was doing my morning walk along the streets of the city I live in. That's nearly seventy hours of really interesting storytelling. I envy those of you starting the series from the beginning as you have a lot of truly great listening ahead of you for fantasy, when well crafted, has the power to pull you out of this existence and transport you to new places; it's pure escapism at it's very best.

Cat Eldridge / Green Man Review

Now I've said it before, but I'll repeat it again -- all of these audioworks have great story, terrific narration, appropriately used music, and crack production, which is true of all the audiobooks that Audible does in house. Certainly I was really, really impressed at how well the narrator, Marc Vietor, does in creating a believable cast of characters who each have their own distinctive voice. Dead Boy is voiced as a weary, seen it all sort of zombie (or perhaps not, as Green doesn't say that he is such a creature; nor does Green say that he isn't). Dead Boy sounds different than John Taylor, and all of the other characters are also voiced in a manner that lets you know who is on stage.

Nightingale's Lament has everything I like in an urban fantasy -- an interesting and very cool protagonist, snappy dialogue, loads of violence, quite a bit gore, a smidgen of sex, weird characters, a bit of a mystery, and a pacing that never lets up. And for once, there's a reasonably happy ending for the client, a rare occurrence in the annals of John Taylor!

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I can now say unequivocally that listening to this story was an immeasurably better experience for me than I had reading (and re-reading) any of the o..Show More »ther Nightside novels, as the incredible work done by everyone at Audible makes the story come truly alive. Until I started using an iPod to listen to audiobooks while taking a long morning walk around the downtown area of the city I live in, I had never really appreciated the experience of a well-crafted audiobook, as I simply can't listen to them when I'm doing anything else. All of the Nightside novels are told in the first person singular, as narrated by John Taylor himself. Think Philip Marlowe or perhaps Lew Archer. Yes, he's hard bitten. Cynical. And Marc Vietor's voice work which clearly indicates that he's seen everything life can possibly throw at him. Indeed Vietor truly makes Taylor, his world, and all of the other characters come alive for me in a way that they don't quite do on the page. At best, I can just say the voice work is perfect. And Marc Vietor does all of the Nightside novels! So I envy the hours upon hours of great fiction awaiting you when you listen to all of the Nightside novels!

Cat Eldridge / Green Man Review


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I was once again really, really impressed at how well the narrator, Marc Vietor, does in creating a believable cast of characters who each have their ..Show More »own distinctive voice. I yearn to have him narrate all of the Raymond Chandler Philip Marlowe mysteries, as he would be the perfect person to give voice to those works!

This novel is entertaining look at the early history of the Nightside as initially John, Tommy, and Susie travel backwards in time with the assistance of Father Time. Later in the story, Tommy gets tossed back to present day Nightside, though John and Susie keep going backwards towards. . . . Oh, I'm not saying as you'll discover that yourself.

I will single out two highlights of the novel for me.

First, the look at the earlier incarnations of The Londinium Club -- where those with real power go to indulge in pleasures best not described here -- adds a nice touch to the texture of the Nightside story. I particularly like that the Doorman is apparently immortal! The Londinium Club is reflective of London as it grew around this magical place and Green revels in telling its story.

Second, and a real treat for me, was the long look at Herne the Hunter, His Court, and the Wild Hunt. (Yes, John being the prey. A truly bad idea for Lord Herne as John doesn't play fair. Indeed, Herne will suffer badly for taking on John.) I think I've said before that I considered the Nightside novels to be fantasy, but hearing them makes me think that they are more properly treated as classic English horror as the detailed descriptions of the beings herein and what they do is rather visceral when heard.

Suffice it to say the story, though not resolved, is advanced properly.And the usual high production values of everything Audible does is evident here.

Cat Eldridge / Green Man Review

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I love the characters in this series and it is always love listening to Simon R Green's books. They are fun and exciting and always a great listen. ..Show More »I love the narrator as well, he really brings the characters alive.

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I started listening to this series several month ago. This one is by far one of the best. I usually listen in my spare time, but got involved and co..Show More »uldn't take my headset off. I listened in the car, at work, etc. IT is great.

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What I find terribly cool about listening to this novel is that I can really see, for the very first time, the influence of Dashiell Hammett's The Thi..Show More »n Man on the series. The main characters of that novel, Nick and Nora Charles, are clearly reflected in the characters of John and Bettie in this novel. Working together rather well, they solve a complicated mystery by combining their talents in a way which compliments each other quite nicely. (Somewhere in the Nightside series, Green pays homage to Samuel Dashiell Hammett by mentioning that multiple Maltese Falcon are always for sale somewhere in the Nightside. Nice touch, Green!)

Good parts here from a narrative perspective include John and Suzie dealing with the Aquarius Key; Max Maxwell (so named because he so big that his name is repeated twice), the self-proclaimed Voodoo Apostate, at the demon infested Fun Faire fending off really nasty bounty hunters being ridden by the loa Max would like to control; and Taylor dealing with a very hungry T-Rex as he needs to talk to the Collector very badly. The ending of the latter is the single funniest bit of dialogue in the entire Nightside series! (Scariest bit is the part describing Shadow Deep, the Nightside prison. What a nasty place that is!)

Was it better listening to The Unnatural Inquirer than reading it? Definitely yes.

Cat Eldridge / Green Man Review

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If you are reading this review, you likely already know if you are getting this or not. You are either totally plugged into the Nightside or you burne..Show More »d out a while back.

So, for those of you who will be continuing on, let me tell you. . .it's not as good as some, not as bad as others. Green has improved as a writer since we started our journey, but he still lacks as a storyteller sometimes.

There isn't really a villain in this book. Ok, our heroes aren't all that nice *in the Nightside*, but there are those people who take evil to that next level *in the Nightside*. (Sorry, I wanted to know what that felt like, *in the Nightside*.)

Anyway, John goes after what is really a force of nature style antagonist. John catches up to him, they talk, the antagonist kills a bunch of people (and things) and then moves on. Then, John catches up to him, they talk, the antagonist kills a bunch of people (and things) and then moves on. Then, John catches up to him, they talk, the antagonist kills a bunch of people (and things) and then moves on. . .

. . . and then a solution happened that caused my suspension of disbelieve to totally fall apart and I began to ask if Green was aware of what his main character gets up to in the books.

That's the story. It's worth a listen if you're still into touring the Nightside. Green makes the setting just as wonderful as ever, but he has found a new form of repetition that his editor needs to beat out of him.

As for the Narration, Vietor is always amazing.

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May I have some more? Marc Vietor Rocks this series!
This is not the book to start with, though each in the series can stand alone, they really..Show More » are better read in order... Dark, funny, excellent world building!
Can't wait to see what's in store for John Taylor now that "Walker" is gone... or is he?

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My first Nightside book. I read it because of the Excalibur angle.
I wasn't bored. The book is fairly fast-paced and almost off-handedly violent..Show More »--but it's fun in a sort of distopian, over-the-top way.

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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 serie..Show More »s, " 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

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