Live and Let Drood

Secret Histories #6

by Simon R. Green

The Secret Histories Novels combine "witty banter, tough guy standoffs, visceral fight scenes, bad guy atrocities, surprise revelations, and high stakes"* in supernatural adventures that can only come from the imagination of "New York Times" bestselling author Simon R. Green. The name is Bond, Shaman Bond. Better known as Drood, Eddie Drood Yes, I'm one of "those "Droods--the family who've been keeping the forces of evil contained in the shadows for as long as humans have walked the earth. Recently, I suffered a slight case of "death," but thanks to Molly, my best girl (who happens to be a powerful witch), I got over that right quick. Unfortunately, my family wasn't so lucky. In my absence, Drood Hall was destroyed and all my relatives were killed. Which left me as the Last of the Droods. I didn't much like being The Last Drood, I can tell you--and then I realized that things weren't as they seemed. Someone had activated a dimensional engine, sending my Drood Hall off to an alternate Earth, replacing it with a burnt-out doppelganger. My family is still alive out there. Somewhere. And nothing's going to stop me from finding them... *Green Man Review

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Magic

403 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Simon Richard Green is a British science fiction and fantasy-author. He holds a degree in Modern English and American Literature from the University of Leicester. His first publication was in 1979.

His Deathstalker series is partly a parody of the usual space-opera of the 1950s, told with sovereign disregard of the rules of probability, while being at the same time extremely bloodthirsty.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Rimsha Salam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why is Simon R. Green taking so long making us wait through such an enormous cliff hanger not fair he should hurry up this is torture extreme torture! What will happen next? is every one dead? will we see the Armourer again? Damn how i hate waiting!

OMG! OMG! the cover is so awesome!!!

Edit:
Read it, loved it, totally kickass!

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 6th book of the Secret Histories series continues to be its merry self of gun fight, mass destruction, body counts, supernatural mayhem, sassy sense of humor etc etc. It's a quick and an enjoyable read with good entertainment value. 4 stars.

[Geoffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ever read a book where you felt a 20 page chapter could of been written in 10? That was what i thought reading this entire book outside of the last 100 pages. It's a shame because i usually really enjoy Simon Green's secret histories series revolving around the mysterious Drood family. As usual, Eddie Drood and his family are fighting the evil in the world, in this case 'the most evil person in the world'. Unfortunately, this novel was a struggle to finish because of how long winded Simon Green was with his novel as if he was fluffing up the novel to finish it. Combine that with the constant and irritating loving dialogue between Eddie Drood and his girlfriend/partner Molly(I love you/No, I love you more) and it makes for a bad read. Avoid this novel.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth in the Secret Histories urban fantasy series about a super secret-agent family that runs the world. (And I think it comes just after A Hard Day's Knight , Nightside #11)

My Take
Whoa...revelations and reunions in this one! Eddie and Molly are on their own in and the list of possible allies is long and terrifying with reasons aplenty not to request their aid.

I do enjoy this series, even if it does seem more of a not-so-great spin-off from the Nightside---it's that James Bond touch with action, oddities, and gadgets. Really cool gadgets!! Have I mentioned how much of a gadget-girl I am... It allows Green great leeway in his monstrous bad guys with all sorts of sarcastic asides. Eddie, of course, is the quintessential supernatural James Bond with a heart of gold while Molly is the Bond girl, with a lot more power and snark. Naturally, politics are essential in any organization, and the Drood Family has their fair share. They just plan nastier.

Methinks Molly doth protest too hypocritically. She certainly is attacking Eddie like nobody's business in this story. Phew. He does have a rather interesting comeback at one point with his response to her declaration that he was ready to work with the monsters. For that matter, why does Eddie have to hold to a higher standard than her?? Ooh, then there's that prejudice about half-blood Droods… What? Droods only marry Droods? Wouldn't that be a bit incestuous??

FINALLY. The family traitor is finally unmasked, and I must confess to being disappointed. It was too easy, and Molly has gotten a mite too cocky.

If the scarecrows were set to guard the estate perimenter, then where were they in that initial set of battles at Drood Hall? That battle at Crow Lee's estate...it just seemed a little too easy. Of course, maybe it needed to be quick so they could survive the inside of Crow Lee's house---oh, gag, the interior is enough to put you off food and bad guys for life…

Whoa, that's different. The trip that reveals a vast assortment of Drood Halls in other dimensions. It could be fun to visit a story in most any one of these.

An interesting ending. A whole new category of possible bad guys and a potential new career, sort of, for Eddie.

The Story
When we left Eddie and Mollie in For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5, they'd just come home from their vacation to find Drood Hall totally destroyed. All because of Alpha Red Alpha, and only chance allows them to learn that a slim hope exists.

The Characters
Eddie Drood, a.k.a., Shaman Bond, is a somewhat rebellious Drood agent who is supposed to be based in London. Mollie Metcalf, Eddie's girlfriend, is the witch of the wild wood and hated by most Droods. Feared by almost everyone actually. Isabella and Louisa are her formidable sisters. Arthur Drood was Martha's first husband; seems Eddie wasn't the first rebel with a conscience.

Uncle Jack is the Armourer, or is it Uncle James? William is no longer the whacko Librarian with his new girlfriend around—Ammonia Vom Acht is the world's most incredible telepath. Ioreth is still William's assistant. Cedric (II) is still Serjeant-at-Arms. Callan is the Head of the War Room and Howard is in charge of Operations.

The Wulfshead Club is supposed to be neutral territory, but no longer. Eddie and Shaman are both barred after events in For Heaven's Eyes Only .

Ethel is the alien entity that took the place of the Heart. The scarecrows are the animated bodies of the Droods' worst enemies, and there are hundreds, including Laura Lye, a.k.a., the Liquidator, the water elemental assassin; Mad Frankie Phantasm; Roland the Headless Gunner; the Blue Fairy; and, the list just goes on forever. The dragon's head is still around. We can only hope he'll get his TV… Moxton was a family Armourer way back when who got obsessed with what the Drood family now calls Moxton's Mistake.

The Regent of Shadows, the most famous Drood rogue of all, and quite possibly Eddie's only hope, is quite "practical about matters of morality". Some of his special agents include Ankani; Patrick who appears to be the equivalent of a Drood Armourer; Diana uses the shadows to fight and fly; and, the Scarlet Lady is a Plymouth Fury and definitely a Bond car—if James Bond were a supernatural agent that is. The Phantom Berserker is more of a mascot. Miss Mitchell is an efficient secretary

The Department of the Uncanny is a government information-gathering organization. Catherine Latimer is the head of the Carnacki Institute which is based in Buckingham Palace.

Dave Chapman is the head of Plunder, Incorporated, (used to be the Road Rats) and does he have a nasty surprise coming. Madame Osiris operates as a fortune-teller on Brighton Pier. The Uptown Razor Boys, a.k.a., The Eton Irregulars, are nasty feral things (hmmm, wonder if Green had a bad time at boarding school?). Bunny Hollis is an ex-SAS combat sorcerer. Seems the Droods are long-time members of The Establishment Club.

Crow Lee is a necromancer and the Most Evil Man in the World—"he didn't join the Great Satanic Conspiracy because he thought they weren't extreme enough". No one can take him down, for he has too many allies at too many levels. Mr. Stab is playing bodyguard for a very particular fee. Major Tim Browten is a very formidable enemy with no compunctions. Unfortunately, Major Mike Michaels is even worse.

The Droods sprang from a Druid back at the beginning, almost, of time who made a deal with an alien entity. While they have watched over the world, time has made them too arrogant and governments around the world are plotting their advantages with the Droods dead. The Immortals were an ancient Drood enemy—a human had reached the Heart first and made his own deal, a deal replicated by another. Oathbreaker is one of the destructive weapons held secure in the Armageddon Codex. Supposedly.

The Original Traitor isn't even in it for the money.

The Cover
The cover is Eddie's salvation as the imprisoned creature in the Maze is his and the world's only hope. I did like the juxtaposition of the almost blinding white light revealing the creature while the ominous orange sky above darkens.

The title is another take-off on a James Bond movie. It's also a snap in the face of a world that thinks it can do without Droods, so take that!

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live and Let Drood is the sixth book in the Secret Histories series written by Simon R. Green. It stars Edwin Drood, code named Shaman Bond and he is a part of the Droods, an ancient family that purportedly watches over the world and protects it from various threats, including supernatural and magical ones.

Arriving at Drood Hall with his girlfriend Molly Metcalf, a powerful witch, Eddie is aghast to find the heavily defended ancestral pile an utter ruin – even his armor no longer works. After surveying the wreckage and pocketing the Merlin Glass, a handy space/time wormhole, Eddie realizes that this isn't his Hall at all, but a duplicate. The real Hall has been sent somewhere by means of the dimensional engine Alpha Red Alpha, to which only a family traitor could have had access.

Live and Let Drood is written rather well. Green continues his clever world-building, madcap characters, cheeky one-liners, in an urban fantasy thriller that is reminiscent of a James Bond adventure. The narrative is engaging, grapping, fast-paced, although it was a tad slow for the first hundred pages or so. It was emotionally intense, which blends action, science fiction, and pulp fiction wonderfully.

All in all, Live and Let Drood is written rather well and is a good start to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.

[Gary Townsend · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is an intriguing addition to its series, but I found the first half quite difficult to get into. It was heavy on angst, and I often found myself frustrated with the protagonist, whose actions seemed out of character. This part was tough to get through, especially as it was evident how much his behavior was affecting him. However, everything from the moment he reaches the Department of Uncanny to the end of the book was excellent and made the earlier struggles worth it. That said, I’m not sure this book would appeal to everyone.

One aspect that really bothered me was the protagonist's tendency to break the flow of the story with lengthy, unnecessary exposition. For instance, during a confrontation with a group of antagonists, he pauses to explain their backstory to his girlfriend. This explanation goes on for several pages, and only after this detour does the actual fight scene take place. I found this frustrating and felt it disrupted the pacing of the narrative.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little bit of a letdown. A lot of answers to long-running mysteries had underwhelming payoffs. The family traitor is revealed, and it's no one of importance. And mystery characters are heavily hinted at being Eddie's parents 3 or 4 times each chapter. So by the time it's revealed, it felt pretty stale. Cillain was also super lame. What I did like about this book was that it was very Eddie/Molly focused. I really like their back-and-forth. Also, the rogue armour was super bad-ass. Overall, bottom-tier book in this series.

[Leons1701 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More over the top insanity from Green. The Drood family is gone, wiped out, the Hall in ruins and Eddie is the only one left. Well, except for some rogues. So what's a super powered supernatural secret agent to do? Figure out who's responsible and kill them, of course. Slight problem. The invulnerable armor that is the trademark of the Droods isn't working.

Part humor, part crazy action, part pop culture references, all standard fare for Green.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paranormal meets James Bond 🎯

[Shayan Kh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This one continued from the biggest cliff hanger I remember from a Simon Green book. And I'm somewhat disappointed.

Well, I know he wouldn't destroy all the Droods. But I still feel like he cheated. I think I said it in the review for the last book, but death doesn't matter in this universe. Only minor people die. Or people who were only introduced in the book you are reading. Like Grey Fox, Martha Drood, Penny Drood... all minor characters that we wouldn't really care about. I know these kinds of book aren't suppose to be emotionally deep, but a touch of sadness here and there would go a long way. It would certainly make us feel better when someone we thought is dead shows up again.
The way things are right now, I wouldn't feel any of the important characters are in any real danger.
It was like this in Live and Let Drood. I was sure there is an explanation. And I was sure Eddie and Molly would find a way. I think Mr Green is trying really hard to make a really scary secret organization in every one of his books. First it was the Droods themselves, and Scenechangers, and then the Hungry Gods and after that came the independent agent. And he continued the trend with the Immortals and Satanists. It doesn't work. He makes a big fuss about a terrible enemy, and then they take care of it like it is the easiest thing in the world.
I mean, after the Hungry Gods, that eat worlds for breakfast, how are we suppose to get impressed? Crow Lee was a disappointment too. He was supposed to be the evilest man on earth. Couldn't he have better guards against a Drood? And Why didn't the Family do anything about him before? It was easy enough that a single Drood with a witch and a car could bring him down. And he had the Freakin oath breaker with him!

And why didn't Eddie get more upset about Molly's sisters? They did try to bring down the whole family after all. I can't believe avenging people can be that stupid. The are suppose to be almost on the good side. And yet, they condemn a whole family for an almost justified execution, not the judge or the jury or the executioner, but the whole family that is mostly doing all the humanity favours.
I think Mr Green knows this books flaws, and just don't care. Like the last chapter's name. He knew every one of his readers knows about Eddie's parents. But he didn't care that much. So he made a joke of the chapter's name.


All in all, This book wasn't that bad. But the series is getting really repetitive. Again, if you like meaningless action about science and magic, or if you liked the previous books, read this.

[Ryan Vaughan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Does anyone else remember the episode of the Simpson where Homer gets a job voice acting on "Itchy and Scratchy"? The character of Poochy turns out so unpopular that it almost gets the show permanently cancelled. The comic book guy informs Bart that it was the worst episode ever and "rest assured I was on the Internet within hours registering my disproval" The reason I bring this up is that I hope this will not be that kind of review.

So let me start with the positives I have thouroughly enjoyed this series and Simon Greens other "Nightside" series. They have a wonderful tongue and cheek sensibility to them ,and the characters are very engaging especially John Taylor and Edwin Drood. Green creates wonderfully realized worlds as well. These traits are very apparent in this book as well.

I just wish they were holding up a better plot. Edwin and Molly arrive back at Drood only to discover that it appears to have been destroyed. They very quickly find out that hall hasn't actually been destroyed but shifted to another dimension and a destroyed hall brought in from another dimension to take it's place. If you read "For Heavens Eyes Only" you already know how this was accomplished. They also very quickly find out the person responsible. The answering of these two questions so early on leaves the rest of the booking feeling somewhat padded and drawn out.

In fact the whole point of this book seems to have been for Green to clear up old business. Many questions get answered here. We finally learn what exactly is trapped in the hedge maze? The identity of the much discussed Regent of Shadows is revealed as well as the Original Traitor. More importantly though we finally meet Eddie's parents. In face so much old business is delt with here that it almost feels like Green is winding this series down.

"Shaman will return in Casino Infernle" I am hoping it will also be a better book.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gideon Emery narrating the last few books elevates what could be a fun, campy story into something a bit more, conveying the deep felt emotions Eddie feels for his family despite his as equally felt disappointments, fears, resentments and angers. Emery convey the mix of bantering humor and deadly seriousness that captures most of the book and definitely Eddie and Molly's relationship. And he's just so darn great to listen too. He's the main reason I keep splurging on the audiobooks, and probably the reason I think this series is pretty good instead of pretty silly. I wish the author would stick to a story line a bit more instead of showing off how many crazy creatures he can come up with and feature in every book without bothering to make them a part of the action. But I do enjoy this series more than the Nightside at this, it has more humor and forward momentum and less of the annoying tendency to treat the book like a museum of oddities.

[Ade Couper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do like Simon R Green....

This is the 6th instalment in his "secret histories" series: if you want to get a flavour of what the series is like, just look at the book titles...! In this latest instalment Eddie Drood & Molly Metcalfe are searching for what happened to Eddie's family, & end up locking horns with the world's Most Evil Man, Crow Lee....

You really get a sense of the author enjoying writing this- there is a genuine feeling of wit & playfulness about not just this book, but the whole series. Although some quite disturbing themes do crop up, they are handled deftly, & in a way that doesn't drag the reader's enjoyment down.

I read this book virtually straight through, I enjoyed it so much.

Worthy of your attention.

[Dan Conery · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit I am growing tired of this series as nothing much is really happening. I was able to guess every plot item many chapters before the main characters. It is frustrating to me that they cannot see the items (like how the author deals with the parents) and thus time is wasted attempting to build up anticipation that is simply not there.

As one reviewer mentioned, same dialog and same jokes. For some this leads to comfort and familiarity while for me it just lead to boredom. I have read a lot of Green's books and many I find enjoyable but this is another story I found losing its momentum as the series went on.

[Ed Nemo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In yet another successful addition to the Secret Histories series, Live and Let Drood answered questions that have been out there since the first book in the series. And it left me wanting for more.

Simon R Green really knows how to layer on the action while still making the characters engaging. I rate a book largely by my interest in the subject but mostly on whether I can build a picture of what is happening in my mind.

Eddie Drood and Molly Metcalf take on the most Evil Man in the World. And he is REALLY Evil! Aleister Crowley pales in comparison. A Drood without armor, a witch without powers, and a team without backup. Outstanding!

[aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's no secret that i love simon r. green and this sixth book int he secret histories series just adds to the awesomeness! this one finds eddie and molly coming back to find the drood hall burned out and destroyed with no enemy in sight. they find out it is another drood hall from a different time/dimension and thus starts the journey to find out who did it and how to get them back. their search leads them to many different places and green keeps the action/comedy/drama up and he is so awesome at doing! can't wait for the next!

[Sean Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Simon R. Green. I love the first five in this series. The sixth book ... well, it's almost like the author was bored. It seemed like there was chapter after chapter after chapter of Eddie and Molly flapping their gums at each other - in fact, the first third of the book is just that; a lot of back and forth chatter between Eddie and Molly. So I guess I'm just massively disappointed because the book COULD have been fantastic - sadly, this one didn't work for me. Sigh.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this installment of the Secret Histories series more than any of them since The Man With the Golden Torc. Eddie and Molly, on the run from enemies unknown, with limited resources or support was lots of fun. In between the large amounts of violence that come with any Simon R. Green book, that is.

I guessed the twist ending well before it happened, but that doesn't change the fact that it will be very interesting to see where Green takes the series in the future...

[Tristan Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another installment in the Eddie Drood series, which is starting to feel a bit formulaic at this point. Good, but formulaic. When an author begins re-using stock phrases within a few pages of one another, it's time to bring in a good editor to snap him back in line a bit. Green can write better than this. He's not gone as cookie-cutter as Harlequin or so much of Stephen King over the past decade or so, but each chapter is set-up, plan, information, error, fight (as gruesome as possible, of late), recovery, more information, next step in the chain. Each character has a particular and generally predictable role, and each surprise is a set-up for the next bit. What saves the process is that we usually have a good time along the way, enjoy the banter, follow the family history and general kvetching, watch for the bits of crossover to the Nightside series, and generally see what sort of mischief Green can come up with.

This bit of whinging aside, I'll point out a few items that caught my eye -- not strictly spoilers, mind you, so I'll let them just pop out. Green loves putting out little references to things that his readers may or may not catch. One of his chapter titles is a play on Dorothy L Sayers's novel The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. Late in the book, we meet a couple of agents named Patrick and Diana, who work seamlessly together, battling bad guys and still getting home in time for tea; these names are, I fancy, a nod to Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, who played John Steed and Emma Peel in the 1965-1967 incarnation of The Avengers. Mind you, telling who these agents really are would indeed be a spoiler, so I'll let it be.

For myself, I expect I'll let Eddie get some rest for a while. I know that there's a full-on dovetailing between the Histories and the Nightside, later in the series, so I'm considering going that distance. For now, I've just about as much literal blood-and-guts as I can deal with for a time. The idea of a "protein exploder" is one I'll have trouble forgetting for a while.

[Charl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! And not really sure how Green was going to resolve it until right near the end. Well done!

Also loved the inside references to my personal favorite pair of secret agents ever. I'm not even going to put it in a spoiler. If you don't figure it out on your own, look up their agent names and "British tv show". That'll get you close enough to figure it out.

Read these in order if you possibly can. Green's good at filling in needed details, but they're much better in sequence.

[Timothy Mattern · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, very annoyed that it appears Mr Green has forgotten his own story. The cliff hanger from the previous book is written in the new book with a completely different set of facts. And more "history" is being changed as I continue to read. Love it when I find an entertaining series that goes on for awhile but can't deal with changing what we already know as if the author has completely forgotten what happened in the previous books

[Christian Freed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure why, but I found this one difficult to get into. The story wasn't bad, neither was the action. I think it must have been the withdrawal from my last reading: At the Sign of Triumph by David Weber. Regardless, I slogged through. Typical Drood story with crazy characters and strange magics. Always fun to read.

[Cst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 6 and I am done for the moment. These books are entertaining but so similar that I reach a point where I have to stop and read something else. This is that point. Frankly I expect the series will continue along the same lines and I am looking forward to finishing it, but right now I need a break.

[Scott Fogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started out kind of slow and then picked up.

I like that Eddie final found his parents, and grandfather. I also like that they've found somewhere else for his story to continue.

The epic battles every chapter and his place in the Drood's "major" family was starting to get really repetitive.

Molly's jokes and jibes are as fun and incentive as ever.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last few of the Drood books have been a lot. I love the characters and the overall world, but got a little burned out by the full on world ending crazy that they had to face over and over. This book was a relief after all that. This book focused more on Eddie and Molly, trying to fix things (not the whole family). I'm excited by how it ended and what it indicates for future books.

[Derrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series just isn't as good as the other series. This book just goes on and on, but I don't feel like it goes anywhere. I'm going to take a bit of a break. The most fascinating parts are the ones that reference the Nightside. Ha.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The struggle is real with these books. the endless, recycled "banter" that is just a rinse and repeat over and over. It sometimes reads like a draft and not a final, edited version. Good story, but could lose 150 pages of unnecessary, repetitive description easily.

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

the best installment of this series so far.

[Joanne Hurley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one. Much fun and mayhem. Long live the Droods!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense romp, and quite viscerally gross at times. It was fantastic.