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Ishmael Jones #2
Dead Man Walking
Call me Ishmael. Ishmael Jones. I am the man in the shadows, that even the shadows are afraid of. The secret agent whose life is the greatest secret of all. And some of the cases I work are trickier than others.
A rogue agent has come in from the cold and wants to spill his secrets. The Organisation wants Ishmael to find out if Frank Parker is who he says he is, what he really knows, and why he has emerged from the shadows after all this time.
Ishmael heads to Ringstone Lodge in Yorkshire where Parker is being held to find that an atmosphere of fear and suspicion prevails. As he and his fellow residents are menaced by a series of alarming and inexplicable incidents, Ishmael sets out to prove that it s human trickery rather than any supernatural being behind the seemingly ghostly goings-on. But matters take an unexpected turn when one of their number is brutally murdered, and once again Ishmael must turn detective in order to entrap a twisted killer before they strike again."
A rogue agent has come in from the cold and wants to spill his secrets. The Organisation wants Ishmael to find out if Frank Parker is who he says he is, what he really knows, and why he has emerged from the shadows after all this time.
Ishmael heads to Ringstone Lodge in Yorkshire where Parker is being held to find that an atmosphere of fear and suspicion prevails. As he and his fellow residents are menaced by a series of alarming and inexplicable incidents, Ishmael sets out to prove that it s human trickery rather than any supernatural being behind the seemingly ghostly goings-on. But matters take an unexpected turn when one of their number is brutally murdered, and once again Ishmael must turn detective in order to entrap a twisted killer before they strike again."
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2016
45 people are currently reading
612 people want to read
About the author
Simon R. Green
312 books3,207 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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January 18, 2024
Another great read, glad to see Pennie from book 1 is now Ishmael partner.
loved it! on to book 3
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loved it! on to book 3
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January 18, 2020
We all have that one book that got away from us on NetGalley or rather the books. The ones that you really wanted to read, but got turned down for. For me is
The Dark Side of the Road
one of them, the first book in this series. However, I did not know that this was the sequel to that book when I requested this book. I only saw that when I checked up this book on Goodreads. So, I was pleased that I got this one, and also slightly miffed that I did not buy
The Dark Side of the Road when
the price was down on the ebook. Especially miffed when I realized how wonderful this book was, which occurred at the beginning of the book. Of course!
So, what makes this book so wonderful? First, the characters. Ishmael and Penny, I instantly liked them, they were just so adorable. I was curious about Ishmael, especially since he only has been human since the 1963s? That was very odd, and I hoped that it would be addressed in the book. And, around 50% into the story, it was revealed what was so special about Ishmael and I, to be honest, did not see that coming, but I loved it. Such a very special twist (made me want to read the first book even more).
Secondly, the story was captivating and fascinating and I could hardly put the book down. I love old "haunted" houses, and to have a couple of people on lockdown while someone is killing them off was great "fun". The only drawback was that it was pretty easy to figure out the "killer" was. And, my first thought was to just give the book 4.5 stars because I found the end "twist" not that surprising, but I've been looking forward all day at work writing this review because I liked the book so damn much, so 5-stars it is!
Dead Man Walking is a very, very good book; atmospheric, funny, intense and a bit gory! Just the way I like it when it comes to books.
I want to thank Severn House for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
So, what makes this book so wonderful? First, the characters. Ishmael and Penny, I instantly liked them, they were just so adorable. I was curious about Ishmael, especially since he only has been human since the 1963s? That was very odd, and I hoped that it would be addressed in the book. And, around 50% into the story, it was revealed what was so special about Ishmael and I, to be honest, did not see that coming, but I loved it. Such a very special twist (made me want to read the first book even more).
Secondly, the story was captivating and fascinating and I could hardly put the book down. I love old "haunted" houses, and to have a couple of people on lockdown while someone is killing them off was great "fun". The only drawback was that it was pretty easy to figure out the "killer" was. And, my first thought was to just give the book 4.5 stars because I found the end "twist" not that surprising, but I've been looking forward all day at work writing this review because I liked the book so damn much, so 5-stars it is!
Dead Man Walking is a very, very good book; atmospheric, funny, intense and a bit gory! Just the way I like it when it comes to books.
I want to thank Severn House for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
June 25, 2016
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Severn House Publishing.
I read the first book in this series (The Dark Side of the Road) in 2015 and gave it four stars because I liked that one and felt there was a lot of potential for it becoming a series. Obviously that has happened with the publication of this second book retaining the premise of the first. I liked this second book, but it was actually pretty much a remake of the first. Still a group of people trapped in an isolated location with outside help unavailable. Let the spooky murders commence.
Ishmael Jones works for the Organization, his only contact with the group is through the Colonel. Yep, that type of super secret Organization. The men meet in London where the Colonel reveals that a former Organization assassin turned enemy agent wants to return to the fold and "retire". Frank Parker claims to have vital information about traitors within the Organization and names of competing assassin for hire groups which he will exchange for the Organization helping him disappear from the assassin radar forever - but still be alive and kicking. Jones is to travel to the Organization's secret facility, Ringstone Lodge, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Naturally this place is reputed to be haunted and is avoided by all the locals. The Colonel wants Jones to question Parker before the official interrogation begins to be sure this man actually is Parker. With all the plastic surgery available it is thought that only one agent could possible spot another agent under all that reconstruction. Ishmael Jones and Penny Belcourt, from Belcourt Manor in book number one, set off by train to try to spot the spy.
My first problem came when this super incredibly secret Organization allowed a total nonentity (Penny Belcourt) to become involved in their super incredibly secret business just because Jones said he wants to have her as his partner. What? No vetting, no investigation into her background, no training? Okay, so I just swallowed hard and rolled my eyes and continued to read - artistic license must be allowed in some cases even if it doesn't quite make sense or follow the established premise. My second problem came once the duo arrived at Ringstone (which my brain insisted on seeing as Ringtone!) and it became perfectly obvious after the first death who was behind it all. Now that one is harder to swallow and be happy about it. My third problem is that the combination of Ismael and Penny sends the dialogue off into very close to the "hackneyed" zone for me. She doesn't add anything to the plot, in my opinion, and is just there so Ishmael can talk about his origins. I can do without Penny.
I still enjoyed the novel so can legitimately give my four star rating (actually 3.5 rounded up). But......I will try book number three only after I see reviews of it. Once with a plot line was good, twice with the same plot line was very iffy, a third time would be a disaster.
I read the first book in this series (The Dark Side of the Road) in 2015 and gave it four stars because I liked that one and felt there was a lot of potential for it becoming a series. Obviously that has happened with the publication of this second book retaining the premise of the first. I liked this second book, but it was actually pretty much a remake of the first. Still a group of people trapped in an isolated location with outside help unavailable. Let the spooky murders commence.
Ishmael Jones works for the Organization, his only contact with the group is through the Colonel. Yep, that type of super secret Organization. The men meet in London where the Colonel reveals that a former Organization assassin turned enemy agent wants to return to the fold and "retire". Frank Parker claims to have vital information about traitors within the Organization and names of competing assassin for hire groups which he will exchange for the Organization helping him disappear from the assassin radar forever - but still be alive and kicking. Jones is to travel to the Organization's secret facility, Ringstone Lodge, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Naturally this place is reputed to be haunted and is avoided by all the locals. The Colonel wants Jones to question Parker before the official interrogation begins to be sure this man actually is Parker. With all the plastic surgery available it is thought that only one agent could possible spot another agent under all that reconstruction. Ishmael Jones and Penny Belcourt, from Belcourt Manor in book number one, set off by train to try to spot the spy.
My first problem came when this super incredibly secret Organization allowed a total nonentity (Penny Belcourt) to become involved in their super incredibly secret business just because Jones said he wants to have her as his partner. What? No vetting, no investigation into her background, no training? Okay, so I just swallowed hard and rolled my eyes and continued to read - artistic license must be allowed in some cases even if it doesn't quite make sense or follow the established premise. My second problem came once the duo arrived at Ringstone (which my brain insisted on seeing as Ringtone!) and it became perfectly obvious after the first death who was behind it all. Now that one is harder to swallow and be happy about it. My third problem is that the combination of Ismael and Penny sends the dialogue off into very close to the "hackneyed" zone for me. She doesn't add anything to the plot, in my opinion, and is just there so Ishmael can talk about his origins. I can do without Penny.
I still enjoyed the novel so can legitimately give my four star rating (actually 3.5 rounded up). But......I will try book number three only after I see reviews of it. Once with a plot line was good, twice with the same plot line was very iffy, a third time would be a disaster.
Want to read
March 3, 2018Ishmael Jones books:
"The Dark Side of the Road" (May 2015)
"Dead Man Walking" (May 2016)
"Very Important Corpses: An Ishmael Jones mystery" (March 2017)
"Death Shall Come" (September 2017)
"Into the Thinnest of Air" (March 2018)
"The Dark Side of the Road" (May 2015)
"Dead Man Walking" (May 2016)
"Very Important Corpses: An Ishmael Jones mystery" (March 2017)
"Death Shall Come" (September 2017)
"Into the Thinnest of Air" (March 2018)
June 1, 2017
Second in the Ishamel Jones British spy mystery series and revolving around a marooned alien-turned-human spy. This story, a locked-room mystery, is set in a country house in the North Riding in Yorkshire.
My Take
I sure enjoyed reading Ishmael sidestep the new Colonel who is trying so hard to shove aside the deal Ishmael made with the Organization. Naturally, I also liked how much Ishmael enjoyed making the Colonel uncomfortable with Ishmael's choices, *snicker* Our protagonists do employ a lot of snark, lol.
I do like Penny; she reminds me of Shotgun Suzie from Green's Nightside and Molly Metcalf from his Secret Histories, confident and something of a loose cannon.
Now Ishmael, he's a James Bond-like character whose mind we read thanks to Green using first person protagonist point-of-view. He reminds me of Jack Reacher with the same calculating mind, as he assesses situations and personalities. He's such a cool customer; I could learn a lot from him on how to handle confrontational situations.
I do wish Green had increased the tension about what Parker knows…that Ishmael (and us) want to know. He raised the issues, but then left them. Well, okay, it's probably better for my peace of mind that I'm not obsessing about it, but…ya know… As for the doctors, I couldn't help but enjoy their comeuppance from their arrogant attitudes to the truths of their characters.
Parker does release the names of the last two Colonels: Oliver Cranleigh and James Belcourt, but only slips out teases of what else he know. It's a sticky conundrum Green sets up, with all the inherent problems in determining if Parker really is Parker.
Using a variation on the flashing arrow plot beat, Green rode a fine line between how-can-they-not-question and how-the-heck in determining the truth behind these murders.
It comes across as a complex story, but in the end, it's pretty simple with its theme of family wronged.
The Story
Frank Parker had been the best, the absolute best until he went rogue and worked for anyone who would pay him. Now he wants to come home.
The Characters
In 1963, Ishmael Jones survived the crash of his spaceship and life on this planet partly through the transformations the damaged ship managed. Now he ensures his safety by spying for the British government. Penny Belcourt is his unofficial partner since events at Belcourt Manor in The Dark Side of the Road , 1; the one person Ishmael trusts to not stick a knife in his back.
The Organization is…
…so secret that no one knows it exists, except for a very few. The new Colonel is much less accommodating and more starched-up than the last one. He acts as the point-of-contact for their agents.
Ringstone Lodge is…
…a country house in Yorkshire and notorious within the Organization, enough that it even frightens Ishmael. The former Regimental Sergeant Major, Donald MacKay, is head of security, retired from a Highland regiment. The belligerent Alan Baxter and Karl Redd are guards supplied by the Organization. The interrogators are the too-excited Dr. Alice Hayley and her submissive, more academic partner, Dr. Robert Doyle. Philip Martin is the resident technician, brilliant with computers, from the Ministry of Defense.
Frank Parker had been the blue-eyed boy given all the most important, dangerous cases. "Back in the day, you could frighten a whole room full of really bad people just by dropping his name."
Hettie Longthorne was the Ringstone Witch buried in the family cemetery.
The Cover and Title
The cover is dark in blues and purple misting in a strange room with opposing arched windows, a pale blue light glowing from outside, on either side and a short railed staircase on both sides as well, with a headless man hanging in between. Security cameras frame the series information at the top and convey a sense of alertness, even as the text descends into a burnt white textured font for the author's name with a simpler font used for the title immediately below.
The title is what they fear, a Dead Man Walking.
My Take
I sure enjoyed reading Ishmael sidestep the new Colonel who is trying so hard to shove aside the deal Ishmael made with the Organization. Naturally, I also liked how much Ishmael enjoyed making the Colonel uncomfortable with Ishmael's choices, *snicker* Our protagonists do employ a lot of snark, lol.
I do like Penny; she reminds me of Shotgun Suzie from Green's Nightside and Molly Metcalf from his Secret Histories, confident and something of a loose cannon.
Now Ishmael, he's a James Bond-like character whose mind we read thanks to Green using first person protagonist point-of-view. He reminds me of Jack Reacher with the same calculating mind, as he assesses situations and personalities. He's such a cool customer; I could learn a lot from him on how to handle confrontational situations.
I do wish Green had increased the tension about what Parker knows…that Ishmael (and us) want to know. He raised the issues, but then left them. Well, okay, it's probably better for my peace of mind that I'm not obsessing about it, but…ya know… As for the doctors, I couldn't help but enjoy their comeuppance from their arrogant attitudes to the truths of their characters.
Parker does release the names of the last two Colonels: Oliver Cranleigh and James Belcourt, but only slips out teases of what else he know. It's a sticky conundrum Green sets up, with all the inherent problems in determining if Parker really is Parker.
Using a variation on the flashing arrow plot beat, Green rode a fine line between how-can-they-not-question and how-the-heck in determining the truth behind these murders.
It comes across as a complex story, but in the end, it's pretty simple with its theme of family wronged.
The Story
Frank Parker had been the best, the absolute best until he went rogue and worked for anyone who would pay him. Now he wants to come home.
The Characters
In 1963, Ishmael Jones survived the crash of his spaceship and life on this planet partly through the transformations the damaged ship managed. Now he ensures his safety by spying for the British government. Penny Belcourt is his unofficial partner since events at Belcourt Manor in The Dark Side of the Road , 1; the one person Ishmael trusts to not stick a knife in his back.
The Organization is…
…so secret that no one knows it exists, except for a very few. The new Colonel is much less accommodating and more starched-up than the last one. He acts as the point-of-contact for their agents.
Ringstone Lodge is…
…a country house in Yorkshire and notorious within the Organization, enough that it even frightens Ishmael. The former Regimental Sergeant Major, Donald MacKay, is head of security, retired from a Highland regiment. The belligerent Alan Baxter and Karl Redd are guards supplied by the Organization. The interrogators are the too-excited Dr. Alice Hayley and her submissive, more academic partner, Dr. Robert Doyle. Philip Martin is the resident technician, brilliant with computers, from the Ministry of Defense.
Frank Parker had been the blue-eyed boy given all the most important, dangerous cases. "Back in the day, you could frighten a whole room full of really bad people just by dropping his name."
Hettie Longthorne was the Ringstone Witch buried in the family cemetery.
The Cover and Title
The cover is dark in blues and purple misting in a strange room with opposing arched windows, a pale blue light glowing from outside, on either side and a short railed staircase on both sides as well, with a headless man hanging in between. Security cameras frame the series information at the top and convey a sense of alertness, even as the text descends into a burnt white textured font for the author's name with a simpler font used for the title immediately below.
The title is what they fear, a Dead Man Walking.
August 31, 2018
I do not remember the first one being this easy to figure out, though I may have blocked that aspect out.
I will continue to read the series. His sense of humor and the mystery of Ishmael is enough to keep me reading, but this one was painful, and I REALLY HATE HAVING TO SAY THAT!
Please let the next one be better. Please. Please?
I will continue to read the series. His sense of humor and the mystery of Ishmael is enough to keep me reading, but this one was painful, and I REALLY HATE HAVING TO SAY THAT!
Please let the next one be better. Please. Please?
July 19, 2020
Here is the second of the Ishmael Jones stories - it does amuse me that Simon Green has a very distinctive style and focus for his stories (not to mention take of dialogue and characters) which is pretty well established.
So when the publishers start promoting this series as a mystery with a dark twist you can sort of start to see where things are going even if you cannot work out what is going on. That said if you enjoy a book by Simon R Green you are pretty much going to like any of his books - which is good since I do enjoy the Nightside series.
But what to say about the story - well its pretty standard fair -considering it is only the second in the series. However you can work along the lines that Ishmael gets called in - bodies start dropping like flies is more and more bizarre and gruesome fashion until at some point Ishmael and his particular skill set come to the rescue.
That is rather over simplifying it however for he its not the end destination that is the goal - its what happens along the way that is the fun part and here I can assure you that Mr Green does not disappoint. I guess I need to look up the next instalment now...
So when the publishers start promoting this series as a mystery with a dark twist you can sort of start to see where things are going even if you cannot work out what is going on. That said if you enjoy a book by Simon R Green you are pretty much going to like any of his books - which is good since I do enjoy the Nightside series.
But what to say about the story - well its pretty standard fair -considering it is only the second in the series. However you can work along the lines that Ishmael gets called in - bodies start dropping like flies is more and more bizarre and gruesome fashion until at some point Ishmael and his particular skill set come to the rescue.
That is rather over simplifying it however for he its not the end destination that is the goal - its what happens along the way that is the fun part and here I can assure you that Mr Green does not disappoint. I guess I need to look up the next instalment now...
July 26, 2025
Much like the first book, another locked door mystery. Penny is still around for some reason. ln the first one at least she was comic relief, but she really has no purpose that l can see in this book.
l'm up in the air about continuing the series.
l'm up in the air about continuing the series.
January 22, 2018
Ishmael is such a fun character. This second book in the series wasn't quite as much fun as the first, but close. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We have another "locked room" mystery in an old manor with a harsh history that belongs to the Organization. Ishmael is brought there to confirm the identity of a prisoner who was a field agent for the Organization that went rogue and was off the radar for several years. Penny accompanies him. Murder and mayhem ensue. I did figure it out and there were a couple of instances that I felt Ishmael was a bit behind the curve. Still, lots of fun and I look forward to more.
February 12, 2017
*Book source ~ Library
Ishmael Jones, as he’s known today, is a man living in the shadows, doing shadowy work for a secretive company. His employer, The Organization, has sent him to verify a rogue agent is who he says he is, but things go horribly wrong and now he has to find a killer before the killer terminates everyone at Ringstone Lodge. Being a detective isn’t his forte, but he’s the only one he trusts to do the job. Now, if only he can figure things out before everyone is murdered.
Still enjoying this series though it can be quit dumb at times. Seriously. Or maybe I’m not getting all the humor in it. Is it poking fun at itself? I do find some parts amusing, but some of it just makes me roll my eyes so hard. Unlike the last book where I could not get a handle on who the killer was, I had a strong suspicion in this one nearly from the start. For someone who’s supposed to be intelligent Ishmael can be pretty stupid at times. Some comic relief and a small amount of insight in the form of his girlfriend Penny, but mostly she’s just useless. In any case, it’s still a fast read and Ishmael is an interesting character.
Ishmael Jones, as he’s known today, is a man living in the shadows, doing shadowy work for a secretive company. His employer, The Organization, has sent him to verify a rogue agent is who he says he is, but things go horribly wrong and now he has to find a killer before the killer terminates everyone at Ringstone Lodge. Being a detective isn’t his forte, but he’s the only one he trusts to do the job. Now, if only he can figure things out before everyone is murdered.
Still enjoying this series though it can be quit dumb at times. Seriously. Or maybe I’m not getting all the humor in it. Is it poking fun at itself? I do find some parts amusing, but some of it just makes me roll my eyes so hard. Unlike the last book where I could not get a handle on who the killer was, I had a strong suspicion in this one nearly from the start. For someone who’s supposed to be intelligent Ishmael can be pretty stupid at times. Some comic relief and a small amount of insight in the form of his girlfriend Penny, but mostly she’s just useless. In any case, it’s still a fast read and Ishmael is an interesting character.
May 29, 2018
This is the second book in the series. I enjoyed the first book in the series, and thought it was a good set up for a series with a difference. Unfortunately, this sequel is set in a country house, just like the first book. It is a different country house - being a secret interrogation site - but overall it is another bunch of people trapped in another country house. I am not a great fan of the scenario - read an occasional one - but two in a row based on the same premise didn't work for me. Also, fairly early on, I did think "hang on, what could be happening is...." and yes, it was. Overall the book is well written with a good sense of tension and all the people in the house are very much individuals.
If the blurb on the third book has a totally different set-up I might read it, as I do like Ishmael Jones and Penny and they are a bit different.
If you are into country house mysteries, then this book might well be fine for you.
If the blurb on the third book has a totally different set-up I might read it, as I do like Ishmael Jones and Penny and they are a bit different.
If you are into country house mysteries, then this book might well be fine for you.
May 15, 2016
Review: DEAD MAN WALKING by Simon Green
[An Ishmael Jones Mystery #2]
Prolific author Simon Green combines science fiction, horror, and suspenseful mystery in this genre-blending series, which commenced with the wonderful THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD. Ishmael Jones is a secret agent's secret agent, in the employ of The Organization, an ultra-covert agency. Ishmael has not changed an iota since 1963, and with good reason. In this installment, he is tasked by his new handler to observe the progress of an interrogation in North Yorkshire, of someone purporting to be a former Organization special agent. But nothing is ever simple as it seems, and Ishmael and his sidekick Penny Belcourt are led quite the merry chase, for their sanity and their lives.
[An Ishmael Jones Mystery #2]
Prolific author Simon Green combines science fiction, horror, and suspenseful mystery in this genre-blending series, which commenced with the wonderful THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD. Ishmael Jones is a secret agent's secret agent, in the employ of The Organization, an ultra-covert agency. Ishmael has not changed an iota since 1963, and with good reason. In this installment, he is tasked by his new handler to observe the progress of an interrogation in North Yorkshire, of someone purporting to be a former Organization special agent. But nothing is ever simple as it seems, and Ishmael and his sidekick Penny Belcourt are led quite the merry chase, for their sanity and their lives.
July 27, 2018
Oh dear, what a cliche!!!!
December 30, 2019
I really like this series because it is super fun. Just so much fun. You ought not overthink it or demand much of it. However, it is really fun and that's a large part of why I read novels.
I read the first in the series over the winter holidays a few years ago. Here it is another holiday break (albeit, 70+ degrees and partly sunny) and I read this second novel. Its OK that the weather was what it was - unlike in the first novel.
Penny, the supporting character to Ishmael Jones, has several laugh aloud remarks. Is it a little goofy? Yes, but its a lot of fun. As far as the actual mystery - well, I took a dislike to the culprit early on. It was kind of obvious, honestly.
Yeah I'm planning on reading the next in the series!
I read the first in the series over the winter holidays a few years ago. Here it is another holiday break (albeit, 70+ degrees and partly sunny) and I read this second novel. Its OK that the weather was what it was - unlike in the first novel.
Penny, the supporting character to Ishmael Jones, has several laugh aloud remarks. Is it a little goofy? Yes, but its a lot of fun. As far as the actual mystery - well, I took a dislike to the culprit early on. It was kind of obvious, honestly.
Yeah I'm planning on reading the next in the series!
September 20, 2022
This is a spy intrigue/locked room mystery/horror novel with a touch of dark humor that faithfully reproduces the entertainment value of the first entry in this series. Little is explored outside the core mystery - next to no expanded backstory on our characters or their vague employer. Hopefully, further entries will remember to include a little bit of lore expansion, too. I look forward to finding out.
April 5, 2017
An entertaining hybrid with a little Sci-Fi and mostly an English 'closed room' type mystery.
Similar in plot and method to the first book in the series. I'd like to see the main character, Ishmael developed a bit more next time, or if not, retired.
Similar in plot and method to the first book in the series. I'd like to see the main character, Ishmael developed a bit more next time, or if not, retired.
July 10, 2023
Book 2 - Dead Man Walking - 3 stars - 7/10/23
June 7, 2016
Ishmael Jones is called in for a case involving another agent. Frank Parker, the other agent, had went rogue a few years ago, and now is back wanting to spill all the secrets he’s learned while working for the other side. There’s only one problem: he’s changed his appearance so many times, the Organization isn’t sure it’s really him. He’s been taken to Ringstone Lodge in Yorkshire, a secure location where no one should be able to get to him, and Ishmael has been called in as added security. As a condition for his assignment, Penny goes with him. Once there, mysterious sightings and murders begin happening, just like his last case. Will Ishmael and Penny be the last ones standing? Or will the killer get to them next?
As are most of the books written by Mr. Green, this book is excellently written, the mystery is tight, and the action is non-stop. I had a really hard time putting this down, and, to be honest, I stayed up a little too late finishing it. I still find the protagonist Ishmael to still be a little mysterious, but we do find out a little more of his backstory in this book, and now I’m intrigued to find out more. I love how this series combines a little bit of the paranormal with a great mystery, not enough for it to be urban fantasy, but enough that urban fantasy readers will like this. The only thing I found the littlest bit off-putting was the identity of the murder. It was just a tad too obvious, but don’t let that turn you off. If you are new to this series, you can definitely start with this one as there really isn’t anything you’ll miss from the first one. However, the first one is great too. I highly recommend this series and this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review. This same review will be posted on both Goodreads and Amazon.
As are most of the books written by Mr. Green, this book is excellently written, the mystery is tight, and the action is non-stop. I had a really hard time putting this down, and, to be honest, I stayed up a little too late finishing it. I still find the protagonist Ishmael to still be a little mysterious, but we do find out a little more of his backstory in this book, and now I’m intrigued to find out more. I love how this series combines a little bit of the paranormal with a great mystery, not enough for it to be urban fantasy, but enough that urban fantasy readers will like this. The only thing I found the littlest bit off-putting was the identity of the murder. It was just a tad too obvious, but don’t let that turn you off. If you are new to this series, you can definitely start with this one as there really isn’t anything you’ll miss from the first one. However, the first one is great too. I highly recommend this series and this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review. This same review will be posted on both Goodreads and Amazon.
September 26, 2016
Frank Parker has been a rogue agent for the Organization for many years. Now he is back, and wants to tell his secrets about deception in the Organization. The Organization has called in Ishmael Jones, one of their top agents, to interview Parker. The Organization sends Ishmael to Ringstone Lodge, where Parker waits, being secured by hired guards and other members of the Organization. Ishmael has one meeting with Parker, and then all hell breaks loose. Parker is murdered, but the cameras didn't capture the murder. Then Parker's body goes missing, and again, the cameras weren't recording. As other strange events occur, everyone at Ringstone Lodge becomes a suspect, and no one can escape notice. This book was not bad, but it reminded me why I don't read straight mysteries very often: there are a few people locked away together, something bad happens, everyone is a suspect, and the person who seems way too obvious to be the culprit really is the culprit. I just don't enjoy reading that type of books, so one in a long while is enough for me. I prefer the more suspense/psychological thriller books, which this was not. As I said, not bad, just not my favorite genre.
November 3, 2017
The same plot again?The same outrun the gun?The same victim by victim deaths?The same who is the killer?I am a big fan of Simon but this is basically a rerun of book one.Although it is linked to Black heir,one would expect more interesting scenarios or characters.But it still holds you to find out who the killer is.The calm and dead humor of Ishmael and the cuteness of Penny makes you go on to finish the book.Hope book three would be a step up.
May 18, 2020
I gave the series another try. First book got very lame at the end.
This one again.
You really do not have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out what is going on at about the middle of the book but i kept hoping it would not come to that.
Really disappointing.
The parts that would be interesting are just salad dressing.
The book tries to put a modern twist on murder miseries but it feels like fast-food trying to imitate a proper meal.
Fills you up but the aftertaste is really not worth it.
This one again.
You really do not have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out what is going on at about the middle of the book but i kept hoping it would not come to that.
Really disappointing.
The parts that would be interesting are just salad dressing.
The book tries to put a modern twist on murder miseries but it feels like fast-food trying to imitate a proper meal.
Fills you up but the aftertaste is really not worth it.
November 29, 2016
Like the previous book in the series, I read this in one day. I think Green copied the previous book and put in small variations to make it sound original. But hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it! I still love it and count it among my list of favorites.
December 12, 2016
I love Simon R Green, but this series is not nearly as good as the Nightside or Droods. But, if SRG writes it, I will read it.
October 14, 2018
Originally published at Reading Reality
This was originally going to be my Halloween book for this year, because the Ishmael Jones series, while not horror, is certainly more horror- adjacent than Simon R. Green’s usual books – although the Nightside comes almost as close – with a higher quotient of weird.
Dead Man Walking definitely has elements that would have made it a great Halloween story, because for much of the book it has all the feels of a classic ghost story. An ill-assorted group of people is locked up in an old house where strange things keep happening – including all the hallmarks of a ghostly haunting.
There are plenty of creaking stairs – not to mention hallways. Doors get knocked on and there’s no one there – but footsteps were definitely heard before the knock. People keep ending up dead with no evidence of an attacker – and then their bodies get whisked away when no one is looking – not even the security cameras.
Not that there aren’t PLENTY of those.
Because this particular country house party takes place at one of those secret houses where shady organizations “debrief” people who don’t want to be debriefed and who can’t be admitted to having been there in the first place – but where their enemies probably want to get to them – or at them – no matter what it takes.
One of those legendary shady agents has decided to finally come in from the cold after years of working for the opposition. Not that THAT isn’t a loose term, considering that the Organization that Ishmael Jones works for – and that the shady agent used to work for before he went to the dark side (for very loose definitions of both dark and side).
Frank Parker claims to have all the dirt on traitors within the Organization. But he’s had his face changed so many times that no one can have any possible clue whether he is who he says he is. And while you’d think DNA might be an option – first there has to be a sample to match with. And there isn’t. Not that Ishmael Jones has let the Organization have any bits of him to play with either.
Ishmael Jones has been “invited” by the Organization to come to their little “safe” house in the remote English countryside to assist the official interrogators with determining whether Frank Parker really is who he says he is and whether he really might know something worth protecting him for.
It’s all fun and spy games until Frank’s corpse is discovered inside his locked and secured cell. And those ubiquitous security cameras have no record of the door even being opened – let alone of anyone going inside. Of course they were mysteriously “off” for the duration of whatever happened.
Then Frank’s body is whisked away – and there’s no record of that, either.
And that’s when the fun really begins…
Escape Rating B+: Just as when I read the first book in this series, The Dark Side of the Road, a few months ago, this turned out to be the right book at the right time. I was in the mood for some serious snark – and this author always delivers.
Now that I’ve read the second book in the series (and I’m planning on reading the third, Very Important Corpses, for Halloween) I see them as science fictional urban fantasy. Think of Men in Black. OK, laugh a bit, then think about the premise.
The Men in Black series was about a secret organization that managed the presence of aliens among us. Aliens who usually, but not always, were able to masquerade as human. Ishmael Jones, the protagonist of this series, is both one of those Men in Black and one of the aliens among us.
Sort of on the principle of setting a thief to catch a thief.
He’s good at his job because he knows just how to hide more-or-less in plain sight – and because he needs the Organization to cover for the oddities he can’t hide. After all, he’s looked exactly the same since he crash-landed on Earth in 1963. He also has a few useful and unusual skills, but it’s his unchanging appearance that is the most difficult to completely conceal. In our world of increasing connectivity and documentation, looking 25 forever is hard to hide.
His partner, Penny Belcourt, the last survivor of the mess he encountered in The Dark Side of the Road, is there both to provide him with a link to humanity and to provide us the readers with a point of view character. She asks all the questions that we want to ask.
She’s also plenty badass in her own right.
Like that first book, Dead Man Walking is also a twist-writ-large on the classic country house mystery. Particularly Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None – although Dead Man Walking ends up with a few more survivors. But it is every bit as twisty as possible.
Dead Man Walking is a mystery that turns into a ghost story that turns back into a mystery. And it’s loads of creepy fun every creaking step of the way.
This was originally going to be my Halloween book for this year, because the Ishmael Jones series, while not horror, is certainly more horror- adjacent than Simon R. Green’s usual books – although the Nightside comes almost as close – with a higher quotient of weird.
Dead Man Walking definitely has elements that would have made it a great Halloween story, because for much of the book it has all the feels of a classic ghost story. An ill-assorted group of people is locked up in an old house where strange things keep happening – including all the hallmarks of a ghostly haunting.
There are plenty of creaking stairs – not to mention hallways. Doors get knocked on and there’s no one there – but footsteps were definitely heard before the knock. People keep ending up dead with no evidence of an attacker – and then their bodies get whisked away when no one is looking – not even the security cameras.
Not that there aren’t PLENTY of those.
Because this particular country house party takes place at one of those secret houses where shady organizations “debrief” people who don’t want to be debriefed and who can’t be admitted to having been there in the first place – but where their enemies probably want to get to them – or at them – no matter what it takes.
One of those legendary shady agents has decided to finally come in from the cold after years of working for the opposition. Not that THAT isn’t a loose term, considering that the Organization that Ishmael Jones works for – and that the shady agent used to work for before he went to the dark side (for very loose definitions of both dark and side).
Frank Parker claims to have all the dirt on traitors within the Organization. But he’s had his face changed so many times that no one can have any possible clue whether he is who he says he is. And while you’d think DNA might be an option – first there has to be a sample to match with. And there isn’t. Not that Ishmael Jones has let the Organization have any bits of him to play with either.
Ishmael Jones has been “invited” by the Organization to come to their little “safe” house in the remote English countryside to assist the official interrogators with determining whether Frank Parker really is who he says he is and whether he really might know something worth protecting him for.
It’s all fun and spy games until Frank’s corpse is discovered inside his locked and secured cell. And those ubiquitous security cameras have no record of the door even being opened – let alone of anyone going inside. Of course they were mysteriously “off” for the duration of whatever happened.
Then Frank’s body is whisked away – and there’s no record of that, either.
And that’s when the fun really begins…
Escape Rating B+: Just as when I read the first book in this series, The Dark Side of the Road, a few months ago, this turned out to be the right book at the right time. I was in the mood for some serious snark – and this author always delivers.
Now that I’ve read the second book in the series (and I’m planning on reading the third, Very Important Corpses, for Halloween) I see them as science fictional urban fantasy. Think of Men in Black. OK, laugh a bit, then think about the premise.
The Men in Black series was about a secret organization that managed the presence of aliens among us. Aliens who usually, but not always, were able to masquerade as human. Ishmael Jones, the protagonist of this series, is both one of those Men in Black and one of the aliens among us.
Sort of on the principle of setting a thief to catch a thief.
He’s good at his job because he knows just how to hide more-or-less in plain sight – and because he needs the Organization to cover for the oddities he can’t hide. After all, he’s looked exactly the same since he crash-landed on Earth in 1963. He also has a few useful and unusual skills, but it’s his unchanging appearance that is the most difficult to completely conceal. In our world of increasing connectivity and documentation, looking 25 forever is hard to hide.
His partner, Penny Belcourt, the last survivor of the mess he encountered in The Dark Side of the Road, is there both to provide him with a link to humanity and to provide us the readers with a point of view character. She asks all the questions that we want to ask.
She’s also plenty badass in her own right.
Like that first book, Dead Man Walking is also a twist-writ-large on the classic country house mystery. Particularly Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None – although Dead Man Walking ends up with a few more survivors. But it is every bit as twisty as possible.
Dead Man Walking is a mystery that turns into a ghost story that turns back into a mystery. And it’s loads of creepy fun every creaking step of the way.
November 5, 2023
Dead Man Walking, by Simon R. Green
Ishmael Jones, 02
★★★★☆
208 Pages
1st person, single character POV
Themes: murder, science fiction, aliens, secret organisations, forced proximity
Triggers: mentions of gore, violence and supernatural beings
Genre: Contemporary, Murder Mystery, Science Fiction, Crime
~
Dead Man Walking is the second book in the Ishmael Jones series and takes place a year after the events of Book 1. This time, we have a locked room mystery, more forced proximity as a building goes into lockdown, and more new highly suspicious characters.
Ishmael and Penny are back, working as a team this time. Penny apparently did some training in weapons and self-defence, so she's more than just a pretty face, add that onto her strong resolve in a crisis, her romantic partnership with Ishmael and the fact she's a highly sensible quick thinker and she's more than proven her place in the series. I'm so glad she's more than just his girlfriend or a pretty face to distract people, as I worried she might be. I've lost faith in women “sidekicks” – for want of a better term – being showcased appropriately, but Green does a great job making the most of the strong woman she is and making sure she's always got a part to play.
As well as the recurring characters – and the new Colonel too – we have a host of new characters. The plot is basically what the blurb says and picks up exactly there: Ishmael is brought in to speak to Frank Parker, a notorious ex agent who went away to work for the opposition many years ago and who has now handed himself in for interrogation, for reasons no one understands. He claims to have information about traitors within the Organisation, and Ishmael is sent to join an interrogation team, to find out if that's true or not. There's also the complication of Frank having had repeated plastic surgery to disguise himself while on the run from the Organisation, so they need Ishmael to confirm if he really is Frank Parker, after all.
It makes for an interesting story. Combining the high stakes of what Parker might know, whether he really is who he claims or the opposition trying to get into the Organisation's stronghold, with a locked-room mystery, the forced proximity of lockdown, and a high-tech atmosphere allows for a story full of interest, intrigue and wrong turns. Everyone is suspicious, everyone a suspect, and the only people Ishmael and Penny can trust are each other.
The new characters are:
MacKay – an ex-military man who is in charge of the facility
Martin – a young tech genius who oversees the intense security of the facility
Hayley and Doyle – two psychoanalysts brought in to interrogate Parker
Redd and Baxter – two security personnel
and Parker himself – an ex-agent under investigation
All other members of the facility were sent away when Frank Parker arrived, to keep the secret of his arrival and anything he might say or be overheard. Surprisingly the facility is an intense stronghold that makes Ishmael nervous, due to its high tech security and the unknown things that go on there. The building has a history of being haunted, but Ishmael also knows that many people who go in there for interrogation might never be seen again and that there are too many people who would like to find out exactly what he is and what he's capable of and the best place to catch him is in that facility. From the start, he's on his guard and never quite settles, which means that he's often distracted from the case.
There was also some great representation within the story: both with a gay couple, and an age gap couple who were also inter-racial. I love a good, strong diversity rep in mainstream stories, so this was nice to see and done sensitively.
~
Overall, again this was a strong murder mystery wrapped up in Ishmael's personal life. I liked the blend of both, as it was a stronger story than Book 1 and much better paced. I do feel like the 40% first death and forced proximity may be a pattern or blueprint for the series, but that's not always a bad thing in a murder mystery.
I loved the new characters, as well as Penny and Ishmael's character growth. It was great to see that neither were as helpless as the previous book, though there were still moments that felt dragged out beyond need.
~
Favourite Quote
“See? Isn't this fun? Paranoia, a game the whole family can play.”
Ishmael Jones, 02
★★★★☆
208 Pages
1st person, single character POV
Themes: murder, science fiction, aliens, secret organisations, forced proximity
Triggers: mentions of gore, violence and supernatural beings
Genre: Contemporary, Murder Mystery, Science Fiction, Crime
~
Dead Man Walking is the second book in the Ishmael Jones series and takes place a year after the events of Book 1. This time, we have a locked room mystery, more forced proximity as a building goes into lockdown, and more new highly suspicious characters.
Ishmael and Penny are back, working as a team this time. Penny apparently did some training in weapons and self-defence, so she's more than just a pretty face, add that onto her strong resolve in a crisis, her romantic partnership with Ishmael and the fact she's a highly sensible quick thinker and she's more than proven her place in the series. I'm so glad she's more than just his girlfriend or a pretty face to distract people, as I worried she might be. I've lost faith in women “sidekicks” – for want of a better term – being showcased appropriately, but Green does a great job making the most of the strong woman she is and making sure she's always got a part to play.
As well as the recurring characters – and the new Colonel too – we have a host of new characters. The plot is basically what the blurb says and picks up exactly there: Ishmael is brought in to speak to Frank Parker, a notorious ex agent who went away to work for the opposition many years ago and who has now handed himself in for interrogation, for reasons no one understands. He claims to have information about traitors within the Organisation, and Ishmael is sent to join an interrogation team, to find out if that's true or not. There's also the complication of Frank having had repeated plastic surgery to disguise himself while on the run from the Organisation, so they need Ishmael to confirm if he really is Frank Parker, after all.
It makes for an interesting story. Combining the high stakes of what Parker might know, whether he really is who he claims or the opposition trying to get into the Organisation's stronghold, with a locked-room mystery, the forced proximity of lockdown, and a high-tech atmosphere allows for a story full of interest, intrigue and wrong turns. Everyone is suspicious, everyone a suspect, and the only people Ishmael and Penny can trust are each other.
The new characters are:
MacKay – an ex-military man who is in charge of the facility
Martin – a young tech genius who oversees the intense security of the facility
Hayley and Doyle – two psychoanalysts brought in to interrogate Parker
Redd and Baxter – two security personnel
and Parker himself – an ex-agent under investigation
All other members of the facility were sent away when Frank Parker arrived, to keep the secret of his arrival and anything he might say or be overheard. Surprisingly the facility is an intense stronghold that makes Ishmael nervous, due to its high tech security and the unknown things that go on there. The building has a history of being haunted, but Ishmael also knows that many people who go in there for interrogation might never be seen again and that there are too many people who would like to find out exactly what he is and what he's capable of and the best place to catch him is in that facility. From the start, he's on his guard and never quite settles, which means that he's often distracted from the case.
There was also some great representation within the story: both with a gay couple, and an age gap couple who were also inter-racial. I love a good, strong diversity rep in mainstream stories, so this was nice to see and done sensitively.
~
Overall, again this was a strong murder mystery wrapped up in Ishmael's personal life. I liked the blend of both, as it was a stronger story than Book 1 and much better paced. I do feel like the 40% first death and forced proximity may be a pattern or blueprint for the series, but that's not always a bad thing in a murder mystery.
I loved the new characters, as well as Penny and Ishmael's character growth. It was great to see that neither were as helpless as the previous book, though there were still moments that felt dragged out beyond need.
~
Favourite Quote
“See? Isn't this fun? Paranoia, a game the whole family can play.”
November 23, 2021
Green's Nightside and Secret Histories series each deal with the supernatural in particular ways; they eventually cross over (I've finished the first, continuing the second), and the effect is always interesting. This series, featuring Ishmael Jones, presents another type of hero whose nature (and types of mysteries) aren't necessarily so mystical, magical, and/or demonic. It's a refreshing change, for both reader and author (I suspect), and this take on the famous "locked room" puzzle is an engaging read from start to finish.
Without revealing spoilers, I can say that little in the story is quite what it seems at first blush. Nothing new there, for any mystery, including this happy variation of the classic English manor house murder (yes, with a locked room as well, and a high tech one at that). What sets this mystery apart from others is that, even though we're armed with the proper amount of mistrust, ready for (another cliché) the "usual suspects" to be something other than what's presented, there are few that actually go the way we expect. I'll admit, I was reasonably sure of the howdunit, and the whodunit followed logically from that; however, it was a good ride nonetheless, and well worth the time.
One last observation. Not many authors would have the how's-your-father to dare using the opening line of "Call me Ishmael" and get away with it. The flea in your ear, however: Is he merely aping Melville, for the laugh, or does the meaning of the name have some significance? Given Jones' background story, "God listens" might have some application here. Just wondering.
Without revealing spoilers, I can say that little in the story is quite what it seems at first blush. Nothing new there, for any mystery, including this happy variation of the classic English manor house murder (yes, with a locked room as well, and a high tech one at that). What sets this mystery apart from others is that, even though we're armed with the proper amount of mistrust, ready for (another cliché) the "usual suspects" to be something other than what's presented, there are few that actually go the way we expect. I'll admit, I was reasonably sure of the howdunit, and the whodunit followed logically from that; however, it was a good ride nonetheless, and well worth the time.
One last observation. Not many authors would have the how's-your-father to dare using the opening line of "Call me Ishmael" and get away with it. The flea in your ear, however: Is he merely aping Melville, for the laugh, or does the meaning of the name have some significance? Given Jones' background story, "God listens" might have some application here. Just wondering.
May 7, 2021
In a lot of ways this novel felt like a rehash of the previous novel. Ishmael was asked to uncover secrets from an ex-spy at a secret, undercover, and isolated location. Penny came along and a quick information gathering mission becomes a murder investigation. Although the plot felt very similar, enough hints about Ishmaels past were dropped to keep me interested. The actual murder investigation was bland, three months after reading the book I completely forgot this part of the novel.
The location, Ringstone, was interesting but nothing unique or memorable. It was a standard undercover haunted base. The characters were good, I like Ishmael better though. Ishmael has cool powers (weird sometimes, especially in Death Shall Come when he seemed too much like a bloodhound) which allowed him to be more action orientated. Penny felt like a standard sidekick, didn’t contribute too much to the plot other than a person to bounce ideas off and to offer some humours dialogue.
Overall this was an okay urban-fantasy novel. I like the supernatural element to each novel in the series. I love the audio version too, GraphicAudio did a great job. The weakest novel out of the first four (only got that far). I plan to continue the series.
The location, Ringstone, was interesting but nothing unique or memorable. It was a standard undercover haunted base. The characters were good, I like Ishmael better though. Ishmael has cool powers (weird sometimes, especially in Death Shall Come when he seemed too much like a bloodhound) which allowed him to be more action orientated. Penny felt like a standard sidekick, didn’t contribute too much to the plot other than a person to bounce ideas off and to offer some humours dialogue.
Overall this was an okay urban-fantasy novel. I like the supernatural element to each novel in the series. I love the audio version too, GraphicAudio did a great job. The weakest novel out of the first four (only got that far). I plan to continue the series.
March 27, 2020
Amazing how much can be packed into a 200 page book! Ishmael Jones and his sidekick (lover) Penny are sent to a hidden place to manage the interrogation of a man who disappeared years ago and now wants back into the Organization and has secrets to share/bargain with. Only 7 people are at the Lodge, and one by one they start to disappear. The computer used to monitor security seems to have a mind of its own, and strange noises and happenings occur. Ishmael isn't buying it, though. Someone murdered the agent, Parker. And someone is murdering the others. Ishmael Jones does not believe in ghosts, but there is something going on that seems to defy explanation. After finding a secret panel that leads to all kinds of tunnels and rooms around and beneath the Lodge, Ishmael and Penny discover 3 corpses. The only disappointment I have is that I was able to figure out the who the killer was pretty quickly. It seemed really obvious, and I was surprised no one else figured it out until almost the end. Still, a good read.
August 8, 2019
Dead Man Walking is the second book in the Ishmael Jones series. This time around, Ismael is called to interrogate an agent the has "come in from the cold". Of course, strange deaths and mysterious hi-jinx ensues.
I thought this was a solid follow up to the first book. Ishmael is a character that I enjoy spending time with. His girlfriend Penny is back with him on this mystery. I love their relationship. Their banter is fun and very amusing. The set up here is very much like the fist book. They are in a house and people are dying. However, that is where the similarity ends. The murders are pretty gruesome and the house is pretty creepy. That's all I'll say about it so I don't give away anything else.
One thing I will add is I wish we got an answer to was who Ishmael really is and where he comes from. I'm hoping later in the series, we start to get some answers. I definitely recommend this one. I have the next book, Very Important Corpses on my TBR!
I thought this was a solid follow up to the first book. Ishmael is a character that I enjoy spending time with. His girlfriend Penny is back with him on this mystery. I love their relationship. Their banter is fun and very amusing. The set up here is very much like the fist book. They are in a house and people are dying. However, that is where the similarity ends. The murders are pretty gruesome and the house is pretty creepy. That's all I'll say about it so I don't give away anything else.
One thing I will add is I wish we got an answer to was who Ishmael really is and where he comes from. I'm hoping later in the series, we start to get some answers. I definitely recommend this one. I have the next book, Very Important Corpses on my TBR!
May 6, 2020
A REALLY REALLY good book!
I had a little trouble with Book 1, because all of a sudden Penny went from a dumb, spoiled rich girl to the best possible assistant/lover a man could want. But since her prior behavior is not evident in this book, she is pretty perfect--maybe just a little too perfect, but mostly believable, anyway. This book is extremely well written. It grabbed me on Page 1 and I literally could not put it down. The plot was original and very well thought out. The characters remained true throughout, interacted well, and were mostly believable. I did figure out who-done-it fairly early on, but it was possible I was wrong, and in any event it did not diminish my enjoyment at all. What a great writer! I am running to get the next installment. Thank you, Mr. G; keep them coming, please, please, please . . . .
I had a little trouble with Book 1, because all of a sudden Penny went from a dumb, spoiled rich girl to the best possible assistant/lover a man could want. But since her prior behavior is not evident in this book, she is pretty perfect--maybe just a little too perfect, but mostly believable, anyway. This book is extremely well written. It grabbed me on Page 1 and I literally could not put it down. The plot was original and very well thought out. The characters remained true throughout, interacted well, and were mostly believable. I did figure out who-done-it fairly early on, but it was possible I was wrong, and in any event it did not diminish my enjoyment at all. What a great writer! I am running to get the next installment. Thank you, Mr. G; keep them coming, please, please, please . . . .
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