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Secret Histories #9
From a Drood to a Kill
New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green “continues to deliver enjoyable, fast-paced, and fun entertainment” (SF Revu) in his Secret Histories novels featuring supernatural arse kicker Eddie Drood—who’s about to play a most dangerous game in his latest adventure....
Some call me Shaman Bond, but I was born Eddie Drood, the latest in a long line of folks who chase monsters out of closets for a living to keep humanity safe from all that is dark, demonic, and just downright evil. Needless to say, we’ve made our fair share of enemies over the centuries—and made some questionable bargains.
In exchange for the power to fight the forces of darkness, my parents signed over their souls. They’re not the only ones who’ve made deals with Heaven, Hell, and every otherworldly realm in between, but now the bill’s due for several big names in the supernatural community.
Including my girl, Molly. She, my parents, and other major players have been kidnapped so they’ll pay up—or participate in the “Big Game.” The rules are simple: get from one side of the pocket dimension to the other and kill your competitors. The winner’s debt is paid in full, and the losers get themselves permanently lost, body and soul, forever.
To save my loved ones, I’ve got to become a ringer in this deadly contest that’s undoubtedly rigged by the Powers That Be....
Some call me Shaman Bond, but I was born Eddie Drood, the latest in a long line of folks who chase monsters out of closets for a living to keep humanity safe from all that is dark, demonic, and just downright evil. Needless to say, we’ve made our fair share of enemies over the centuries—and made some questionable bargains.
In exchange for the power to fight the forces of darkness, my parents signed over their souls. They’re not the only ones who’ve made deals with Heaven, Hell, and every otherworldly realm in between, but now the bill’s due for several big names in the supernatural community.
Including my girl, Molly. She, my parents, and other major players have been kidnapped so they’ll pay up—or participate in the “Big Game.” The rules are simple: get from one side of the pocket dimension to the other and kill your competitors. The winner’s debt is paid in full, and the losers get themselves permanently lost, body and soul, forever.
To save my loved ones, I’ve got to become a ringer in this deadly contest that’s undoubtedly rigged by the Powers That Be....
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 2, 2015
55 people are currently reading
1152 people want to read
About the author
Simon R. Green
311 books3,205 followersSimon 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
November 2, 2019
From a Drood to a Kill is the ninth 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.
Eddie Drood has always fought for justice and the good of the family, but this time his fight is for the people he loves the most. His parents and his girlfriend, Molly Metcalfe, have made some questionable bargains in the past and now their payment for their bargains is due. The Powers that Be are ready for their participation in the Big Game – a deadly contest with equally deadlier consequences.
From a Drood to a Kill is written rather well. Green is an absolute master at world building and he continues to showcase his creative imagination. Green's abilities to blend his various worlds together and show us a bigger, overall picture, as there are characters from his previous series he has written. Green has taken the superhero/spy tropes and turns them upside down and does so rather successfully.
All in all, From a Drood to a Kill 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.
Eddie Drood has always fought for justice and the good of the family, but this time his fight is for the people he loves the most. His parents and his girlfriend, Molly Metcalfe, have made some questionable bargains in the past and now their payment for their bargains is due. The Powers that Be are ready for their participation in the Big Game – a deadly contest with equally deadlier consequences.
From a Drood to a Kill is written rather well. Green is an absolute master at world building and he continues to showcase his creative imagination. Green's abilities to blend his various worlds together and show us a bigger, overall picture, as there are characters from his previous series he has written. Green has taken the superhero/spy tropes and turns them upside down and does so rather successfully.
All in all, From a Drood to a Kill 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.
June 22, 2015
"Be very careful what you wish for as you may get it" could be the mantra of From a Drood to a Kill. Eddie Drood (AKA Shaman Bond) and Molly the Wild Witch visit Drood Hall to get a search for his missing parents. This confrontation leads to a mission which goes haywire for a variety of reasons. Then Eddie gets word that his Uncle Jack has died. At the wake, Molly is disappeared by The Powers That Be. The rest of the tale is Eddie's increasingly desperate search for Molly that leads him to the London Knights where he almost died, the Travel Bureau for access to the Shifting Lands and finally the boss fight with The Powers That Be. Does he survive? Well, he is supposed to appear next in Dr. DOA, so read and find out!
P.S. Eddie's parents do make an appearance.
P.S. Eddie's parents do make an appearance.
June 14, 2015
Well Eddie and Molly are back. This seems like a little schizophrenic book. It feels a bit like two stories stitched together to make a novel. The first story has the PM getting in touch with the Droods, worried that the new listening post is being infiltrated. Eddie goes off to investigate, with a side trip to the land of Hammer Horror. This would have stood alone as a short story, although to be fair a couple of little pieces do feed in to the later parts.
The second, and larger story involves "The Game". Powerful people are disappearing, and being forced to fight by unknown powers. When Molly vanishes, there is no way Eddie is going to let her compete alone.
This isn't the best of the Drood books, the ending feels rushed, and there's too many little side diversions. A few sub plots are finally wrapped up, but so many more are still left hanging. On the plus side, there are some lovely little cameos. The Droods, Nightside and Ghost Finders all make little appearances.
The second, and larger story involves "The Game". Powerful people are disappearing, and being forced to fight by unknown powers. When Molly vanishes, there is no way Eddie is going to let her compete alone.
This isn't the best of the Drood books, the ending feels rushed, and there's too many little side diversions. A few sub plots are finally wrapped up, but so many more are still left hanging. On the plus side, there are some lovely little cameos. The Droods, Nightside and Ghost Finders all make little appearances.
October 12, 2015
I gave this book 5 stars because I love Simon R Green and anything he writes. I wish he would go back to the Nightside, though.
March 26, 2019
Smugly self satisfied fantasy adventure with wit that comes off as self adulation.
March 30, 2021
Another enjoyable entry in the Secret Histories series. Eddie, Molly and others have to figure out their way from an impossible changeable land
June 21, 2015
Simon R. Green remains one of my favorite writers of all time. In "From a Drood to a Kill" he returns readers once more to Drood Hall and the further adventures of Edddie Drood and Molly.
What I absolutely loved about this particular book was the introspection, raw creativity and, at times, solemn pace and topics. Eddie explores concepts of mortality, growing old, the importance of family and his own transformation.
I've always been a fan of the "over the top" action and pace of Green's work, but for the first time in memory, I was almost choking up with emotion over a scene in which a long-standing character is given a wake to mourn his passing. It was an uncommon side of the Nightside which resonated deeply.
This is a book which answers VERY long-standing questions and puts much of the past in its place.
Definitely not recommended to readers who wish to enjoy the Drood family secrets for the first time, but long time fans will love it for what it is - hugely entertaining speculative fiction.
What I absolutely loved about this particular book was the introspection, raw creativity and, at times, solemn pace and topics. Eddie explores concepts of mortality, growing old, the importance of family and his own transformation.
I've always been a fan of the "over the top" action and pace of Green's work, but for the first time in memory, I was almost choking up with emotion over a scene in which a long-standing character is given a wake to mourn his passing. It was an uncommon side of the Nightside which resonated deeply.
This is a book which answers VERY long-standing questions and puts much of the past in its place.
Definitely not recommended to readers who wish to enjoy the Drood family secrets for the first time, but long time fans will love it for what it is - hugely entertaining speculative fiction.
July 5, 2022
Another Secret Histories book where the last chapter was the only one where stuff happened. There was a boring twist at the very beginning, literally nothing in the middle, then the whole point of the novel begins and ends in the final chapter. I still liked the book as a whole, but I'm starting to get real tired of this series...
February 26, 2016
Ninth in the Secret Histories urban fantasy spy series and revolving around Eddie Drood, a crusading Drood who believes in fairness and honesty. Yep, he's a rogue Drood all right.
My Take
Green caught my attention with Eddie and Molly’s invasion of the Hall. I do enjoy it when the Family is discombobulated.
It figures that the government is really spying on everyone. Their excuse that they’re only watching for terrorists is a scam. In fact, it sounds like our own Homeland Security, and the government has no business arresting people for having minds and opinions of their own! The military is consistent with the government's policies. What the commander wants to do with Fantom is too typical of how they think.
It’s a cruel bunch, these Droods. There will be no scandal in the family, all secrets are need-to-know, and acceptance is very, very, very tight. However, it only takes one act, one death, that turns Eddie. The act that makes Eddie decide not to kill again.
Eddie wishes he'd asked more about his Uncle Jack while he was still alive. The T-shirts, the ladies, his secret life outside the Hall… I'm not sure what Uncle Jack would have thought about that whole scene in the Drood garage as Green describes the things oozing off that Bentley, lol. Probably invent more cool stuff.
Green has such a wicked and inventive mind. Those names he comes up with, lol. I really do enjoy the different, um, perspectives he takes on monsters, gods, demons, and fairy tales, mixing it up by bringing in the Nightside characters. Publishers kidnapping their old characters…hmph… No honor, no honor a’tall.
The real conflict of the story comes almost halfway through as the mourners talk about the old days, and they come to realize just how many of their fellows have gone missing in action.
Whoaaaa. The forgiveness scene is scary. Talk about some intense psychotherapy! I do appreciate how Green worded Eddie’s thoughts about the past. The perspective he came to understand. It’s an interesting look back at past Secret History. Nor is Eddie’s the only introspection, as he forces others to examine themselves as well.
Arghhh, Walker drove me nuts with his back-and-forth about who he truly was. Too, too typical of the Big Game.
A tiny bit of foreshadowing with the ancient Lone Ranger(ess). And I have to wonder if Green is setting us up for a confrontation between Eddie and Molly.
The Story
Seems Eddie isn’t the only rebellious one when the Bentley Uncle Jack gives him goes off course and out of control into the subtle realms where nothing and no one can reach him. It's only the start of deals and games, for many, many others have made pacts and agreements with Heaven, Hell, and every otherworldly realm in between, and now their bill is due with only one way out. If they can survive.
It's when Molly is taken that Eddie Drood gets involved and makes a horrific discovery when he ends up in that pocket dimension called the Shifting Sands. There's only one way out, through a Door that will only open for one. And Eddie's parents are two of the competitors along with Molly.
The Characters
Eddie Drood, a.k.a., Shawn Bond, is one of the Drood field agents, but more of a rogue as he refuses to bow down to the Drood rules without questioning them. He’s already ripped the Heart out of it, ahem, and is determined to be the Family’s conscience.
Molly Metcalf is his girlfriend and the Wild Witch of the Woods, a supernatural terrorist who does indeed terrify most of the world. Isabella of the skintight blood-red leathers and the Laura Ashley-wearing Louisa are her even more terrifying sisters.
Drood Hall is…
…the ancestral home of the Droods from which no one really gets away. They're folks who chase monsters out of closets for a living to keep humanity safe from all that is dark, demonic, and just downright evil. The Sanctity is its hidden core where Ethel, an other-dimensional patron and protector, is based. Capability Maggie is the current Matriarch and she hates it. Cedric is the terrifying Serjeant-at-Arms with a secret life. The Armourer is Eddie’s Uncle Jack. Scraps 2. is his mechanical dog. He’s been grooming Maxwell and Victoria to replace him. Kate is Eddie’s new handler. Sandra is the garage chief and very annoyed about Uncle Jack’s, I mean, Eddie’s, Bentley.
Uncle James, Jack's brother, was the Grey Fox who tried to kill Eddie. Melanie Blaze had been James’ true love, lost on another mission to the subtle realms. He's renowned for the bastards he sowed around the world, including Maurice Levallier; Le Freak; Charlotte Karstein, the Wilderness Witch; Monkton Farley, consulting detective; and many, many more.
Ammonia Vom Acht is the most powerful telepath in the world and married to William Drood, the Librarian. Yorith is his assistant and sometimes his keeper.
The Merlin Glass is a magical artifact with a mind of its own. A number of supernaturals pay their respects to Jack, including the undine in the lake and the dragon.
The Wulfshead is…
…the impenetrable club where Jack’s wake is held. Some of the mourners include Dead Boy; Julien Advent, the Victorian Adventurer; Bruin Bear and the Sea Goat from Shadows Fall; Catherine Latimer representing the Ghost Finders of the Carnacki Institute; the cross-dressing Waterloo Lillian; Demonbane the Soulhunter; and, Nicolai Vodyanoi, a retired ex-KGB adversary. He has two vicious grandsons, werewolves, Sergei and Gregor Vodyanoi.
The Department of the Uncanny…
…has been gutted. Eddie’s grandfather, Arthur, the Regent of Shadows, had led the department. Turns out that Patrick, the weaponsmaster, had actually been Charles Drood while Diana, a very special agent with shadow-dancing abilities, had been Emily Drood. Eddie's longlost parents.
Marcus Turner had been one of Arthur’s old Shadows, and a bastard of a bastard Drood with anger issues.
Lark Hill is…
…where the Prime Minister needs aid. It’s a secret installation in which the Big Ear is installed. Commander Donald Fletcher is in charge. Gemma Markham is a psychic old lady with a true patriotism.
Black Heir is…
…an organization that cleans things up after unauthorized close encounters; they have an interest in taking over the Department of the Uncanny.
Alexander King is the Independent Agent. The Fantom is a legendary French spy and assassin who fears exposure.
The London Knights are…
…a religious order based in London, obviously, at Castle Inconnu. Sir Perryvale is the current Seneschal who used to go drinking with Jack and Cedric. Archie is his proud stealth owl. His photograph of his wife, Elise, and son, Ricard, is all he has left of them. Their Oracle is the Lady of the Lake, Lady Gaea, but she prefers Gayle. Sir Bors occupies himself with the Lady Vivienne who is psychic. Sir Kae is the Grand Commander.
The Mighty Argus.com is…
…a cybercafé. Willy Fleagal is its proprietor interested in the information market. Robot Archibald is a '60s mechanical adventurer moonlighting.
The Big Game is…
…the bills coming due. It’s The Powers That Be that run the games in the Shifting Sands. Walker is the host who introduces Eddie around. The Somnambulist, the former Carrys Galloway who never slept, is Walker’s protector. Tarot Jones the Tatterdemalion is the Totem of the Travelling Tribes who bargained for the power to protect his people. Chandarru, Lord of the Abyss and Seeker After Truth, was one of the last authentic Chinese conjurers who made many deals in return for secrets. The Sin Eater sees himself as a preacher, exorcising demons and taking them captive. Eddie’s parents are here as well for the deals they made. Crow Lee is the Most Evil Man in the World.
The Travel Bureau is…
…a wicked place of which I should think Gayle knew the truth. It has a Door that will take you away, let you disappear without a trace. Miz Smith, Mister Genuine Muscle, and David Perrin work there, but not for long.
Harry Fabulous is the Go-to-Guy for everything.
The subtle realms are the in-between places, unfinished realms where the laws of reality don’t exist. The Arbiter sits in judgment upon you. Honey Lake is the CIA agent who died in Eddie’s arms.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an overall green with the title in a burnt orange at the bottom. The author’s name is in a blue-green at the top with the same color used for the series information at the bottom. The graphic is a back shot of Eddie with his armored right hand, standing in front of Jack’s Bentley, facing down a pack in an alley.
The title is Bond-inspired and a convoluted way to express Eddie deciding From a Drood to a Kill will be him no longer.
My Take
Green caught my attention with Eddie and Molly’s invasion of the Hall. I do enjoy it when the Family is discombobulated.
It figures that the government is really spying on everyone. Their excuse that they’re only watching for terrorists is a scam. In fact, it sounds like our own Homeland Security, and the government has no business arresting people for having minds and opinions of their own! The military is consistent with the government's policies. What the commander wants to do with Fantom is too typical of how they think.
It’s a cruel bunch, these Droods. There will be no scandal in the family, all secrets are need-to-know, and acceptance is very, very, very tight. However, it only takes one act, one death, that turns Eddie. The act that makes Eddie decide not to kill again.
I want that Bentley! All those fun gadgets and its ability to travel anywhere?”It’s all about the give-and-take.
You give and I take.”
Eddie wishes he'd asked more about his Uncle Jack while he was still alive. The T-shirts, the ladies, his secret life outside the Hall… I'm not sure what Uncle Jack would have thought about that whole scene in the Drood garage as Green describes the things oozing off that Bentley, lol. Probably invent more cool stuff.
Green has such a wicked and inventive mind. Those names he comes up with, lol. I really do enjoy the different, um, perspectives he takes on monsters, gods, demons, and fairy tales, mixing it up by bringing in the Nightside characters. Publishers kidnapping their old characters…hmph… No honor, no honor a’tall.
The real conflict of the story comes almost halfway through as the mourners talk about the old days, and they come to realize just how many of their fellows have gone missing in action.
Whoaaaa. The forgiveness scene is scary. Talk about some intense psychotherapy! I do appreciate how Green worded Eddie’s thoughts about the past. The perspective he came to understand. It’s an interesting look back at past Secret History. Nor is Eddie’s the only introspection, as he forces others to examine themselves as well.
Arghhh, Walker drove me nuts with his back-and-forth about who he truly was. Too, too typical of the Big Game.
A tiny bit of foreshadowing with the ancient Lone Ranger(ess). And I have to wonder if Green is setting us up for a confrontation between Eddie and Molly.
The Story
Seems Eddie isn’t the only rebellious one when the Bentley Uncle Jack gives him goes off course and out of control into the subtle realms where nothing and no one can reach him. It's only the start of deals and games, for many, many others have made pacts and agreements with Heaven, Hell, and every otherworldly realm in between, and now their bill is due with only one way out. If they can survive.
It's when Molly is taken that Eddie Drood gets involved and makes a horrific discovery when he ends up in that pocket dimension called the Shifting Sands. There's only one way out, through a Door that will only open for one. And Eddie's parents are two of the competitors along with Molly.
The Characters
Eddie Drood, a.k.a., Shawn Bond, is one of the Drood field agents, but more of a rogue as he refuses to bow down to the Drood rules without questioning them. He’s already ripped the Heart out of it, ahem, and is determined to be the Family’s conscience.
Molly Metcalf is his girlfriend and the Wild Witch of the Woods, a supernatural terrorist who does indeed terrify most of the world. Isabella of the skintight blood-red leathers and the Laura Ashley-wearing Louisa are her even more terrifying sisters.
Drood Hall is…
…the ancestral home of the Droods from which no one really gets away. They're folks who chase monsters out of closets for a living to keep humanity safe from all that is dark, demonic, and just downright evil. The Sanctity is its hidden core where Ethel, an other-dimensional patron and protector, is based. Capability Maggie is the current Matriarch and she hates it. Cedric is the terrifying Serjeant-at-Arms with a secret life. The Armourer is Eddie’s Uncle Jack. Scraps 2. is his mechanical dog. He’s been grooming Maxwell and Victoria to replace him. Kate is Eddie’s new handler. Sandra is the garage chief and very annoyed about Uncle Jack’s, I mean, Eddie’s, Bentley.
Uncle James, Jack's brother, was the Grey Fox who tried to kill Eddie. Melanie Blaze had been James’ true love, lost on another mission to the subtle realms. He's renowned for the bastards he sowed around the world, including Maurice Levallier; Le Freak; Charlotte Karstein, the Wilderness Witch; Monkton Farley, consulting detective; and many, many more.
Ammonia Vom Acht is the most powerful telepath in the world and married to William Drood, the Librarian. Yorith is his assistant and sometimes his keeper.
The Merlin Glass is a magical artifact with a mind of its own. A number of supernaturals pay their respects to Jack, including the undine in the lake and the dragon.
The Wulfshead is…
…the impenetrable club where Jack’s wake is held. Some of the mourners include Dead Boy; Julien Advent, the Victorian Adventurer; Bruin Bear and the Sea Goat from Shadows Fall; Catherine Latimer representing the Ghost Finders of the Carnacki Institute; the cross-dressing Waterloo Lillian; Demonbane the Soulhunter; and, Nicolai Vodyanoi, a retired ex-KGB adversary. He has two vicious grandsons, werewolves, Sergei and Gregor Vodyanoi.
The Department of the Uncanny…
…has been gutted. Eddie’s grandfather, Arthur, the Regent of Shadows, had led the department. Turns out that Patrick, the weaponsmaster, had actually been Charles Drood while Diana, a very special agent with shadow-dancing abilities, had been Emily Drood. Eddie's longlost parents.
Marcus Turner had been one of Arthur’s old Shadows, and a bastard of a bastard Drood with anger issues.
Lark Hill is…
…where the Prime Minister needs aid. It’s a secret installation in which the Big Ear is installed. Commander Donald Fletcher is in charge. Gemma Markham is a psychic old lady with a true patriotism.
Black Heir is…
…an organization that cleans things up after unauthorized close encounters; they have an interest in taking over the Department of the Uncanny.
Alexander King is the Independent Agent. The Fantom is a legendary French spy and assassin who fears exposure.
The London Knights are…
…a religious order based in London, obviously, at Castle Inconnu. Sir Perryvale is the current Seneschal who used to go drinking with Jack and Cedric. Archie is his proud stealth owl. His photograph of his wife, Elise, and son, Ricard, is all he has left of them. Their Oracle is the Lady of the Lake, Lady Gaea, but she prefers Gayle. Sir Bors occupies himself with the Lady Vivienne who is psychic. Sir Kae is the Grand Commander.
The Mighty Argus.com is…
…a cybercafé. Willy Fleagal is its proprietor interested in the information market. Robot Archibald is a '60s mechanical adventurer moonlighting.
The Big Game is…
…the bills coming due. It’s The Powers That Be that run the games in the Shifting Sands. Walker is the host who introduces Eddie around. The Somnambulist, the former Carrys Galloway who never slept, is Walker’s protector. Tarot Jones the Tatterdemalion is the Totem of the Travelling Tribes who bargained for the power to protect his people. Chandarru, Lord of the Abyss and Seeker After Truth, was one of the last authentic Chinese conjurers who made many deals in return for secrets. The Sin Eater sees himself as a preacher, exorcising demons and taking them captive. Eddie’s parents are here as well for the deals they made. Crow Lee is the Most Evil Man in the World.
The Travel Bureau is…
…a wicked place of which I should think Gayle knew the truth. It has a Door that will take you away, let you disappear without a trace. Miz Smith, Mister Genuine Muscle, and David Perrin work there, but not for long.
Harry Fabulous is the Go-to-Guy for everything.
The subtle realms are the in-between places, unfinished realms where the laws of reality don’t exist. The Arbiter sits in judgment upon you. Honey Lake is the CIA agent who died in Eddie’s arms.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an overall green with the title in a burnt orange at the bottom. The author’s name is in a blue-green at the top with the same color used for the series information at the bottom. The graphic is a back shot of Eddie with his armored right hand, standing in front of Jack’s Bentley, facing down a pack in an alley.
The title is Bond-inspired and a convoluted way to express Eddie deciding From a Drood to a Kill will be him no longer.
January 1, 2024
This book takes us back to the way Eddie was in the beginning of the series. He wasn't trying to save the world or the whole Drood family. He was just a Drood trying to do his job and survive everyone and everything trying to kill him. It was really good to be back there. The last few books were getting very repetitive and boring.
This one really seemed like 3 mid-length vignettes, which was different for this series, but not bad.
The first was his assignment to find and then take or destroy the listening device the British government had acquired.
The second was the death of Uncle Jack and his subsequent funeral and wake.
He was one of my favorite characters, and I was sorry to see him go. Actually, the wake was one of my favorite parts of this book, when no one was trying to kill Eddie, mostly, and everyone was telling Uncle Jack stories.
The third was saving Molly from the Big Game. It was fun to see Walker again, even if he did turn out to be a fake.
I only gave it 3 stars because the book itself moved very slowly throught. Then there were several parts of the book that just dragged on forever! These were mostly him describing the landscape of the Shifting Lands in great detail. There were a lot of these, and I felt they should have all been much shorter. I think the book could have easily been 75-100 pages shorter, too, and it would have simply made the end of the book move along better. It felt like he had a certain book length that he had to reach for some reason.
Overall, I thought it was the best "Secret Histories" novel in a while. If this one had been bad, I probably would have stopped reading the series, which would have been a shame as I'm almost done. I'm still on the fence about the related Ghost Finders series. I didn't like the first book that much, but I will probably give the second one a chance. I remember it as a bad take on Scooby-Doo.
This one really seemed like 3 mid-length vignettes, which was different for this series, but not bad.
The first was his assignment to find and then take or destroy the listening device the British government had acquired.
The second was the death of Uncle Jack and his subsequent funeral and wake.
He was one of my favorite characters, and I was sorry to see him go. Actually, the wake was one of my favorite parts of this book, when no one was trying to kill Eddie, mostly, and everyone was telling Uncle Jack stories.
The third was saving Molly from the Big Game. It was fun to see Walker again, even if he did turn out to be a fake.
I only gave it 3 stars because the book itself moved very slowly throught. Then there were several parts of the book that just dragged on forever! These were mostly him describing the landscape of the Shifting Lands in great detail. There were a lot of these, and I felt they should have all been much shorter. I think the book could have easily been 75-100 pages shorter, too, and it would have simply made the end of the book move along better. It felt like he had a certain book length that he had to reach for some reason.
Overall, I thought it was the best "Secret Histories" novel in a while. If this one had been bad, I probably would have stopped reading the series, which would have been a shame as I'm almost done. I'm still on the fence about the related Ghost Finders series. I didn't like the first book that much, but I will probably give the second one a chance. I remember it as a bad take on Scooby-Doo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2018
I finally figured it out. These should be short stories. There are literally three separate stories in this book and by the middle of the third one, I just didn't care.
The Drood books are all about describing things that are literally described as unimaginable and telling us what Eddie is feeling (and how he's always right and always good). Dialogue is scarce. So it's really just like a self-righteous, teenager's self absorbed diary. But I guess they finish soon, so I'll finish the series.
The Drood books are all about describing things that are literally described as unimaginable and telling us what Eddie is feeling (and how he's always right and always good). Dialogue is scarce. So it's really just like a self-righteous, teenager's self absorbed diary. But I guess they finish soon, so I'll finish the series.
March 4, 2025
This corrected one of my biggest complaints with the long running series, the completely impenetrable armor. It was nice to see that it could be broken or abused enough to cause harm. The continuity of this book did feel off. It felt a lot more like a collection of related short stories than it did a novel. The scene shifts were just too jarring for the flow to work. Still my favorite in the series over the last few books
March 24, 2022
Getting closer to the big reveal, we learn more about Eddie's parents and the Powers That Be (yes, the PTB from the Nightside books*).
*If you haven't already read the Nightside stories, you should. They stand on their own, and they provide some info that comes up in the Secret Histories. Not vital, but it will enhance your enjoyment of SH.
*If you haven't already read the Nightside stories, you should. They stand on their own, and they provide some info that comes up in the Secret Histories. Not vital, but it will enhance your enjoyment of SH.
May 22, 2022
Simon R Green books regularly have a little bonus adventure, often eventually tied to the main tale. The description of this book (about The Game) feels a bit like a bait and switch, as almost the whole book was actually bonus and less adventure.
June 20, 2022
This is a fun series, and does depend on your enjoyment of puns turned into plot devices. The author continues to build an effective and interesting world with characters that are creative and realistic. I find I like this series more than the Nightside series.
November 28, 2024
Too cool for school. I'm hooked. Everyone of Green's series are impossible to not finish. You become friends with or enemies of the characters! When I'm on the last book of a series...it takes me forever to finish. I just can't say goodbye
June 15, 2017
Entertaining read...
January 17, 2018
Another great secret histories book. The book continues the 007 style secret organization and spy games. As always the book is humorous and has a solid story line.
February 17, 2018
Too samey getting fed up of impossible situations where Drood rescues everone
March 30, 2018
Another exceptional book in the Secret Histories books by Simon Green. These books rock! Love Eddie Drood! Way to go Simon Green!
April 29, 2018
A little slow at times but still intertaining
August 24, 2019
Always good - still keeping the series fresh.
August 2, 2020
Little less substance than other books by Simon R. Green but also seems to be setting up pieces for next few novels.
November 7, 2021
Meh! That is all...
November 11, 2016
It was ok ... I'm a completist and can't stop reading series I started ...
October 3, 2016
I love Simon Green. It doesn't matter what he writes I have to have it.
July 28, 2025
This book is a bit of a mess - the rules of the world don’t make any sense, plot is nonsensical, feels like two mini stories with a bit of a self-exploration sideplot. I really enjoyed the first bunch of books in this series but this one was a letdown.
October 17, 2015
9 books is a long time for most authors to spend in one series -- and, of course, the world of this series is shared with other long series (and there are prominent crossovers or cameos as the series progressed). The basic set up is mostly unchanged: Eddie Drood is a secret agent with lots of fancy magical or superscience gear who goes on missions to take care of threats, as defined by the Drood family. The basic beats remain the same -- Eddie mocks his family, every person they run across boasts of a lot of power, and one or two big fight scenes happen at the end while Eddie takes full advantage of having invincible magic armor that (almost always) overpowers everything else. It's all about the journey and novelty of new characters/settings. Yet , there are changes in the casting -- gradually the people about Eddie have been moving on or dying off, even while the Institutions and general setting display admirable longevity.
This theme is developed quite a bit here in a pretty introspective novel. Eddie is fighting a huge amount of guilt at not being there for family, and rethinking his previous cavalier attitudes towards killing, at the same time that his girlfriend is realizing that the sacrifices she made earlier in life to enable her to accompliish something she no longer wants to do will have consequences. The novel feels slightly stitched together with two distinct sections, but the second half does the heavy lifting.
Although the action fight pieces have grown pretty boring in many regards, perhaps the most interesting battle in many books appears with Eddie fighting Knights of London, who are held to be an institution very similar to the Drood family.
At the beginning of the year , the author announced on his blog that he had a contract for 3 more books in the series and that this would definitely end then; this novel definitely is clearing the center of the board for endgame manuevers.
This theme is developed quite a bit here in a pretty introspective novel. Eddie is fighting a huge amount of guilt at not being there for family, and rethinking his previous cavalier attitudes towards killing, at the same time that his girlfriend is realizing that the sacrifices she made earlier in life to enable her to accompliish something she no longer wants to do will have consequences. The novel feels slightly stitched together with two distinct sections, but the second half does the heavy lifting.
Although the action fight pieces have grown pretty boring in many regards, perhaps the most interesting battle in many books appears with Eddie fighting Knights of London, who are held to be an institution very similar to the Drood family.
At the beginning of the year , the author announced on his blog that he had a contract for 3 more books in the series and that this would definitely end then; this novel definitely is clearing the center of the board for endgame manuevers.
September 17, 2015
Another exciting adventure featuring Eddie Drood(AKA Shaman Bond) and his girlfriend the witch Molly Metcalf. This book features much of the comic book style fantasy, action and adventure of the previous novels along with some excellent character moments and some cameos from characters from the Nightside series; also written by Simon R. Green.
Once again Eddie Drood is thrust into a series of amazing adventures, but this time he has to find Molly Metcalf; who has been kidnapped by the mysterious "Powers that Be". Along the way Eddie must face danger and deal with many loose threads from the previous novels, including finally locating his missing parents. All the clues and all roads lead to "The Big Game" and Eddie must play to save both Molly and his missing parents.
Much of the action in the novel starts once Molly goes missing and Eddie must leap into action to find her. However there are also some good action sequences at the start of the book. There's also room for some character development as a major supporting character is written out with some fanfare. Readers of Simon R Green's Nightside series will enjoy the guest appearances of characters from that series, especially with a memorable wake for the departed character.
An entertaining and enjoyable entry in the "Secret Histories" series.
Once again Eddie Drood is thrust into a series of amazing adventures, but this time he has to find Molly Metcalf; who has been kidnapped by the mysterious "Powers that Be". Along the way Eddie must face danger and deal with many loose threads from the previous novels, including finally locating his missing parents. All the clues and all roads lead to "The Big Game" and Eddie must play to save both Molly and his missing parents.
Much of the action in the novel starts once Molly goes missing and Eddie must leap into action to find her. However there are also some good action sequences at the start of the book. There's also room for some character development as a major supporting character is written out with some fanfare. Readers of Simon R Green's Nightside series will enjoy the guest appearances of characters from that series, especially with a memorable wake for the departed character.
An entertaining and enjoyable entry in the "Secret Histories" series.
February 10, 2017
Not as good as previous books. The spiritual, moral and psychological insights bumped a 3 to a 4.
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