The Bride Wore Black Leather

Nightside, Book 12

By: Simon R. Green

Narrated by: Dan Calley

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

In the secret heart of London, under the cover of endless darkness, is the Nightside. But enter at your own risk. The party animals who live here may be as inhuman as their appetites . . .

My name is John Taylor. The Nightside is my home, and I've got a brand new full-time job there (in addition to my private eye work) as Walker—the Voice of the Authorities. I'm also marrying the love of my life, Suzie Shooter, the Nightside's most fearsome bounty-hunter. But nothing comes easy here. Not life. Not death. And for certain, not happily-ever-after.

Before I can say "I do," I have one more case to solve as a private eye—and my first assignment as Walker. Both jobs would be a lot easier to accomplish if I weren't on the run, from friends and enemies alike. And if my bride-to-be weren't out to collect the bounty on my head . . .

©2012 Simon R. Green (P)2022 Tantor

It ends as it begins - a story of schticks

“Revenge is simply justice with teeth.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This series has provided multiple stories, yet 90% of them follow the same formula. John, the lone-Mary Sue in a white trench coat, takes down a powerful, godlike big-bad, while occasionally getting a teensy assist from fellow heavies in The Nightside. Every now and again you also get a fun little detective caper.

“It was the easiest thing in the world to do …”
Each character is generally known for one thing, which each book reminds us of, like Cathy, who John saved from a house that tried to eat her, or Suzie who shoots, or John who’s signature power move is finding, then pulling, teeth out while thinking his signature boast of “it was the easiest thing in the world to do.” That schtick was thrown down at least three times in this installment.

“Condiments: never leave home without them.”
But the schticks are why I enjoy these on-the-short-end books: they make great matinee listens.
As the series closes, this one rewards listeners with a gaggle of callbacks to previous characters and best-of recaps.

“Predators come in all shapes and sizes … in the Nightside.”
This one was more enjoyable than most because it starts with a three hour, ‘and then there were none’ style detective caper (a bonus novella, if you will). Then, even though it’s yet another alien-god threatening the Nightside plot, we finally get that Avengers Assemble moment when the Nightside heavies come together. Just enough new to elevate the good schtick to great.

bring back the ones with Marc Vitor narrating

I mean Dan is alright , but Marc had that gritty nior feeling to his reading that has the prefect feel for this series.