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Secret Histories #10
Dr. DOA
From the New York Times bestselling author of From a Drood to a Kill comes the next Secret Histories adventure, now in paperback!
The name is Drood, Eddie Drood, also known as Shaman Bond. My family has been safeguarding humanity for generations, facing the hidden horrors of the world so you can sleep at night and remain oblivious to the existence of the monstrous nightmares among us.
Speaking of predatory night terrors, there is a man who gets away with murder. A man who specializes in removing the problems from other people’s lives by killing the people who cause those problems. He operates from the darkest shadows of the hidden world, coming and going unseen. No one knows who he is, just his nom de Dr. DOA.
Somehow this demented doc poisoned me. I don’t know how he did it, when or where, but whatever is coursing through my veins seems to be immune to magic cures and treatments. But that’s not going to stop me from finding him and whoever hired him and giving them both a taste of their own medicine....
The name is Drood, Eddie Drood, also known as Shaman Bond. My family has been safeguarding humanity for generations, facing the hidden horrors of the world so you can sleep at night and remain oblivious to the existence of the monstrous nightmares among us.
Speaking of predatory night terrors, there is a man who gets away with murder. A man who specializes in removing the problems from other people’s lives by killing the people who cause those problems. He operates from the darkest shadows of the hidden world, coming and going unseen. No one knows who he is, just his nom de Dr. DOA.
Somehow this demented doc poisoned me. I don’t know how he did it, when or where, but whatever is coursing through my veins seems to be immune to magic cures and treatments. But that’s not going to stop me from finding him and whoever hired him and giving them both a taste of their own medicine....
369 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 7, 2016
59 people are currently reading
757 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
February 9, 2021
Somehow, I think I've fallen off the Simon Green bandwagon. All the usual Green stuff was there, but it felt like I'd heard it all before. There's a pretty decent plot in here, and some good action sequences, but the characters don't really grab me.
July 13, 2016
Simon Green is not the best urban fantasy author out there, but he is certainly one of the most consistent. His Nightside, Ghost Finders and Secret Histories novels are rarely astounding, but are always entertaining, fast and fun. This, the tenth Secret Histories novel, is no exception.
First, the downsides. This book is basically just a series of side-plots stitched together to novel-length. The main story (Eddie Drood is poisoned, and must hunt down his murderer) is abandoned very quickly for a wild goose chase for a cure. It isn't until the tail end that the chase for the culprit is resumed and, though the result ties in beautifully with series lore, the final confrontation is perfunctory at best. I don't have issues with the cliffhanger ending, though others do. I just didn't like that the final battle was relegated to the last 4-5 pages of the book.
On the other hand, the characters in this series are still a lot of fun, and the subplots are all fascinating. It does get a little mopey and heavy-handed at times, but the quick pace means you'll be out of the doldrums before major frustration sets in. The action sequences are swell, as usual, and the humor is on point.
All in all, this is a solid entry in a solid series. If you're a fan of Green, this is a perfectly decent place to get your kicks. Just don't expect anything life-changing.
First, the downsides. This book is basically just a series of side-plots stitched together to novel-length. The main story (Eddie Drood is poisoned, and must hunt down his murderer) is abandoned very quickly for a wild goose chase for a cure. It isn't until the tail end that the chase for the culprit is resumed and, though the result ties in beautifully with series lore, the final confrontation is perfunctory at best. I don't have issues with the cliffhanger ending, though others do. I just didn't like that the final battle was relegated to the last 4-5 pages of the book.
On the other hand, the characters in this series are still a lot of fun, and the subplots are all fascinating. It does get a little mopey and heavy-handed at times, but the quick pace means you'll be out of the doldrums before major frustration sets in. The action sequences are swell, as usual, and the humor is on point.
All in all, this is a solid entry in a solid series. If you're a fan of Green, this is a perfectly decent place to get your kicks. Just don't expect anything life-changing.
June 17, 2017
Meh. Maybe I'm just getting tired of the Droods. When this series was first started it seemed to be about this interesting supernatural spy Shaman Bond. I liked Shaman. Then Eddie started getting lazy and instead of using Shaman's wits he started just falling back on Eddie's invincible armor. In my opinion the more the armor comes out the worse the book is.
At least Eddie and Molly didn't spend half the book fighting off vast armies coming to kill them. However without that standard plot device some if the inconsistencies came glaring through. For some reason Molly was too drained through the entire book to do much magic. Then two pages later she would save their assets with some big spell. Then be too tired to teleport them away, making them rely on the Merlin Glass, which turns into a major plot point. As if realizing the silliness of Molly's lack of teleportation, Green even has her compare it to wrestling with the universe, which might be true but didn't seem to stop her in the past. As others have said, this book didn't even conclude.
I'll probably read the next just to get to the conclusion, but then I think the Droods and I are done.
At least Eddie and Molly didn't spend half the book fighting off vast armies coming to kill them. However without that standard plot device some if the inconsistencies came glaring through. For some reason Molly was too drained through the entire book to do much magic. Then two pages later she would save their assets with some big spell. Then be too tired to teleport them away, making them rely on the Merlin Glass, which turns into a major plot point. As if realizing the silliness of Molly's lack of teleportation, Green even has her compare it to wrestling with the universe, which might be true but didn't seem to stop her in the past. As others have said, this book didn't even conclude.
I'll probably read the next just to get to the conclusion, but then I think the Droods and I are done.
June 25, 2016
Not good Mr Green.
This book was a bit different from the rest of this series, because it was only half a story. Nothing really got resolved. Only the minor story inside the main one.
If you have been a fan of this series, I guess you should read this one too, cause the next one might be good. And it wasn't like this one was a pain to read. It was full of action and different mini stories. Just, don't get your hopes up.
This book was a bit different from the rest of this series, because it was only half a story. Nothing really got resolved. Only the minor story inside the main one.
If you have been a fan of this series, I guess you should read this one too, cause the next one might be good. And it wasn't like this one was a pain to read. It was full of action and different mini stories. Just, don't get your hopes up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2017
Tenth in the Secret Histories espionage urban fantasy series and revolving around Eddie Drood, from a family of secret agents out saving the world from aliens…and things that go bump in the night.
My Take
Green is crazy. He’s gotta be with that imagination he has! And it always surprises me how incredibly creative he is — makes me wonder if his wife ever gets scared, lol.
It’s a frame story with a number of vignettes of Eddie and Molly running about — all told from a first-person protagonist point-of-view from Eddie’s perspective — trying to find a cure, and encountering groups who are beyond strange, and yes, even beyond seriously gut-wrenching creepy.
Green really knows how to tease it out! It took pages before we finally find out just why it is that Eddie is in such trouble. And you’ll have to read Moonbreaker , 11, to find out how it turns out!
It’s entertaining, hilarious, and rather annoying with that deus ex machina near the end, but then Green drops that cliffhanger of an ending on us. Talk about being caught flat-footed!
The Story
Eddie Drood is a dead man walking, yet the Family demands his aid when a new secret organization steps outside the bounds of what Droods will accept.
It’s only the start of the strange path Eddie and Molly Metcalfe will follow, as they hunt for Dr. DOA, the man who murdered Eddie.
The Characters
Eddie Drood is a very secret agent, one of the terrifying Droods. Shaman Bond is his friendly alias. His parents, Emily and Charles, are in London putting together a new Department of Uncanny.
Molly Metcalfe is the Wild Witch of the Woods, near the top of every wanted list in this world and others. She’s also Eddie’s girlfriend. One of her alter egos is as Roxie Hazzard. Isabella and Louisa are her equally wanted supernatural terrorist sisters.
The Deep Down Pit in Wales made…
…a good hiding place for supernatural terrorists: The Ghostly Gunman, a.k.a., Ben Luger, one of the world’s best-paid political assassins — until he tried for the wrong guy; the Fury, a.k.a., Angelica Wilde; her husband, Armin del Santos, a.k.a., the Rage; the Damned; and, Chakra Cutie who used to train girls to weaponize their sexuality.
The Droods have…
…been protecting the world ever since they were Druids. Headquarters is the very protected Drood Hall (the scarecrows are stuffed enemies forced to protect). The Serjeant-at-Arms is the Head of Security, enforcing discipline and loving his work. Margaret, the former head gardener known as Capability Maggie, is the Matriarch, the head of the family ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5). Elliot is the pilot for the Blackhawke jet. Kate is Eddie’s handler back at the Hall. Dr. Mary Drood is in charge of the Special Isolation Area. Dylan Drood had been one of Eddie’s childhood friends. Uncle James was a favorite uncle, like a father to Eddie, until he betrayed him.
William the Librarian is coming back to normal aided by his wife, Ammonia Vom Acht ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5), the most powerful telepath in the world. Yorith is William’s assistant. There’s an Old Library where the Pook hangs out ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5) and the Library. The dragon head is still out in the gardens, alive ( From Hell with Love , 4). Scraps.2 is a brilliant robot dog built by Uncle Jack, the former Armourer whose position has been filled by Maxwell and Victoria Drood. Christopher. Cuthbert didn’t make it. Ethel is an alien entity who is the source of the Drood power and resides in the Sanctity ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5). The Drood Inquirer is the underground family newsletter.
Edmund Drood is from another Hall from another Dimension.
The Wulfshead Club is…
…a bar where the weird go. People like Waterloo Lillian; Janissary Jane; Monkton Farley, the famed consulting detective; Persecution Psmith is a Puritan adventurer agent for the Good, too morally upright for words; Enid is the Midnight Masque who can look like anyone; and, Harry Fabulous who used to be the go-to guy for anything bad. The Management owes Eddie a favor. The Roaring Boys are the club protectors.
The Peter Paul Clinic can…
…save anyone. Dr. Benway and Dr. Raven are partners. Adam is their prize “patient”.
Cassandra, Inc. is…
…a new “bad-guy” organization that claims it can see the future.
Dr. DOA was thought to be an urban legend who kills from the shadows and is never noticed. Merlin Satanspawn was the original Merlin and gave the Droods a suspect Merlin Glass. The Manichean Monk is a spiritual enforcer specializing in righteous retribution, hunting down sinners for the Church of Last Resort. Moxton’s Mistake had been a living rogue armour ( Live and Let Drood , 6). Jack a Napes, a trickster adventurer who dedicates his life to a cause, is a title only granted by the acclaim of your peers. The Demon Demoiselle. The Psychic Surgeon can cut anything out of you, including the bad from your soul. Jack Shelter had been a poltergeist handler.
The Survivors are…
…a group based in Under the Mountain whose members are dedicated to staying alive in the face of anything. The Overseers are those really in charge. Dr. Melmoth is the head research scientist. The Soul Witch is the head of their Magic Division. Bishop Beastly is the head of Death-related Studies.
Black Heir is…
…an alien artifacts salvage company under Drood scrutiny. Who have moved house. Again. They’ve left the Caretaker to watch over the house. The government stirred them up, hoping to make trouble for the Droods.
The Immortals were…
…originally created by the first alien entity who helped the Droods, the Heart ( From Hell with Love , 4). Django Westphalion is one of the few surviving Immortals.
Lud’s Ward will turn any attack on its wearer back on the attacker. The Overnet is the Internet’s shadowy twin, deeper than the Darknet. A vampire jewel is a vampire distilled down to its basic essence. The Organisation set up the Pacts and Agreements that keep aliens and others from misbehaving. The Hiring Ground, which is all about commerce, is way downmarket from the Hiring Hall.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a sci-fi comic of reds and grays, from the red alien ship against a red sky that descends into the white that highlights the silhouettes of a line of gun-toting soldiers, terrified to be confronted by Molly Metcalfe in form-fitting black leather, a smoking gun in one hand, wearing knee-high leather boots while Eddie is approaching from the right, looking quite respectable with his short curly hair in a deep gray suit jacket and trousers, the golden glove of his armor appearing on his left hand. The title is aslant at the top left in white and a pale yellow while the author’s name is spread across the bottom in white. The series info (thank you!) is a dark slant of script between Molly and Eddie.
The title is the man Eddie is hunting, Dr. DOA, if that is, Eddie wants to live.
My Take
Green is crazy. He’s gotta be with that imagination he has! And it always surprises me how incredibly creative he is — makes me wonder if his wife ever gets scared, lol.
It’s a frame story with a number of vignettes of Eddie and Molly running about — all told from a first-person protagonist point-of-view from Eddie’s perspective — trying to find a cure, and encountering groups who are beyond strange, and yes, even beyond seriously gut-wrenching creepy.
Green really knows how to tease it out! It took pages before we finally find out just why it is that Eddie is in such trouble. And you’ll have to read Moonbreaker , 11, to find out how it turns out!
It’s entertaining, hilarious, and rather annoying with that deus ex machina near the end, but then Green drops that cliffhanger of an ending on us. Talk about being caught flat-footed!
The Story
Eddie Drood is a dead man walking, yet the Family demands his aid when a new secret organization steps outside the bounds of what Droods will accept.
It’s only the start of the strange path Eddie and Molly Metcalfe will follow, as they hunt for Dr. DOA, the man who murdered Eddie.
The Characters
Eddie Drood is a very secret agent, one of the terrifying Droods. Shaman Bond is his friendly alias. His parents, Emily and Charles, are in London putting together a new Department of Uncanny.
Molly Metcalfe is the Wild Witch of the Woods, near the top of every wanted list in this world and others. She’s also Eddie’s girlfriend. One of her alter egos is as Roxie Hazzard. Isabella and Louisa are her equally wanted supernatural terrorist sisters.
The Deep Down Pit in Wales made…
…a good hiding place for supernatural terrorists: The Ghostly Gunman, a.k.a., Ben Luger, one of the world’s best-paid political assassins — until he tried for the wrong guy; the Fury, a.k.a., Angelica Wilde; her husband, Armin del Santos, a.k.a., the Rage; the Damned; and, Chakra Cutie who used to train girls to weaponize their sexuality.
The Droods have…
…been protecting the world ever since they were Druids. Headquarters is the very protected Drood Hall (the scarecrows are stuffed enemies forced to protect). The Serjeant-at-Arms is the Head of Security, enforcing discipline and loving his work. Margaret, the former head gardener known as Capability Maggie, is the Matriarch, the head of the family ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5). Elliot is the pilot for the Blackhawke jet. Kate is Eddie’s handler back at the Hall. Dr. Mary Drood is in charge of the Special Isolation Area. Dylan Drood had been one of Eddie’s childhood friends. Uncle James was a favorite uncle, like a father to Eddie, until he betrayed him.
William the Librarian is coming back to normal aided by his wife, Ammonia Vom Acht ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5), the most powerful telepath in the world. Yorith is William’s assistant. There’s an Old Library where the Pook hangs out ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5) and the Library. The dragon head is still out in the gardens, alive ( From Hell with Love , 4). Scraps.2 is a brilliant robot dog built by Uncle Jack, the former Armourer whose position has been filled by Maxwell and Victoria Drood. Christopher. Cuthbert didn’t make it. Ethel is an alien entity who is the source of the Drood power and resides in the Sanctity ( For Heaven's Eyes Only , 5). The Drood Inquirer is the underground family newsletter.
Edmund Drood is from another Hall from another Dimension.
The Wulfshead Club is…
…a bar where the weird go. People like Waterloo Lillian; Janissary Jane; Monkton Farley, the famed consulting detective; Persecution Psmith is a Puritan adventurer agent for the Good, too morally upright for words; Enid is the Midnight Masque who can look like anyone; and, Harry Fabulous who used to be the go-to guy for anything bad. The Management owes Eddie a favor. The Roaring Boys are the club protectors.
The Peter Paul Clinic can…
…save anyone. Dr. Benway and Dr. Raven are partners. Adam is their prize “patient”.
Cassandra, Inc. is…
…a new “bad-guy” organization that claims it can see the future.
Dr. DOA was thought to be an urban legend who kills from the shadows and is never noticed. Merlin Satanspawn was the original Merlin and gave the Droods a suspect Merlin Glass. The Manichean Monk is a spiritual enforcer specializing in righteous retribution, hunting down sinners for the Church of Last Resort. Moxton’s Mistake had been a living rogue armour ( Live and Let Drood , 6). Jack a Napes, a trickster adventurer who dedicates his life to a cause, is a title only granted by the acclaim of your peers. The Demon Demoiselle. The Psychic Surgeon can cut anything out of you, including the bad from your soul. Jack Shelter had been a poltergeist handler.
The Survivors are…
…a group based in Under the Mountain whose members are dedicated to staying alive in the face of anything. The Overseers are those really in charge. Dr. Melmoth is the head research scientist. The Soul Witch is the head of their Magic Division. Bishop Beastly is the head of Death-related Studies.
Black Heir is…
…an alien artifacts salvage company under Drood scrutiny. Who have moved house. Again. They’ve left the Caretaker to watch over the house. The government stirred them up, hoping to make trouble for the Droods.
The Immortals were…
…originally created by the first alien entity who helped the Droods, the Heart ( From Hell with Love , 4). Django Westphalion is one of the few surviving Immortals.
Lud’s Ward will turn any attack on its wearer back on the attacker. The Overnet is the Internet’s shadowy twin, deeper than the Darknet. A vampire jewel is a vampire distilled down to its basic essence. The Organisation set up the Pacts and Agreements that keep aliens and others from misbehaving. The Hiring Ground, which is all about commerce, is way downmarket from the Hiring Hall.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a sci-fi comic of reds and grays, from the red alien ship against a red sky that descends into the white that highlights the silhouettes of a line of gun-toting soldiers, terrified to be confronted by Molly Metcalfe in form-fitting black leather, a smoking gun in one hand, wearing knee-high leather boots while Eddie is approaching from the right, looking quite respectable with his short curly hair in a deep gray suit jacket and trousers, the golden glove of his armor appearing on his left hand. The title is aslant at the top left in white and a pale yellow while the author’s name is spread across the bottom in white. The series info (thank you!) is a dark slant of script between Molly and Eddie.
The title is the man Eddie is hunting, Dr. DOA, if that is, Eddie wants to live.
October 31, 2018
Aggh! Why would you do that?? Talk about leaving the poor reader hanging in the middle of the plot at the end of the book!
Seems I’ve worked out what the ‘R’ stands for in the author’s name:
Simon “Really-never-met-a-cliff-hanger-I-didn’t-like” Green
There was almost a literary lambasting, until I realised I could get the get volume immediately.
Lucky escape my friend.
Seems I’ve worked out what the ‘R’ stands for in the author’s name:
Simon “Really-never-met-a-cliff-hanger-I-didn’t-like” Green
There was almost a literary lambasting, until I realised I could get the get volume immediately.
Lucky escape my friend.
March 31, 2021
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous books and it's continued.
Eddie is mysteriously poisoned by an infamous assassin, Dr DOA a nefarious hitman who no one seems to know if he even exists. There is no cure and the only reason Eddie is even alive is his torq.
The entire book is Eddie and Molly chasing down various leads to find him and hope there's an antidote
Eddie is mysteriously poisoned by an infamous assassin, Dr DOA a nefarious hitman who no one seems to know if he even exists. There is no cure and the only reason Eddie is even alive is his torq.
The entire book is Eddie and Molly chasing down various leads to find him and hope there's an antidote
January 21, 2018
After taking a break from the Secret Histories series, I thought I'd give it another chance. I really did enjoy this book. Admittedly, Gideon Emery's performance in the audiobook really makes the book perk to life.
May 27, 2024
Stories are getting extremely repetitive. Every new place is the worse place with the worst people and viola they are easily defeated
November 5, 2024
A bit long and forced, but good.
November 14, 2017
Great series
Another great book in the series with a huge cliff hanger. Wonder what will happen next to Eddie and Molly...
Another great book in the series with a huge cliff hanger. Wonder what will happen next to Eddie and Molly...
July 8, 2016
***THIS BOOK WAS PROVIDED TO ME IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
When I received this book from the publisher I had no idea it was in fact book 10 in the series. I could tell from the wording on the cover that there had been previous adventures but I liked the idea so I decided to give it a try and was glad that I did.
A take on a futuristic James Bond and almost comic book like adventures this book was a fun read even with no prior knowledge of the characters. I had no problem jumping right in and following what was going on. I don't know if it is a general pattern to have so many plots that were in the end irrelevant, almost asides, to the main story but whilst they didn't bother me as the characters we met were interesting, they did at times feel a little like word count padding.
The main story was good and kept me turning the pages although I had a feeling it was not all going to get wrapped up when about 30 pages to the end there was just too much left unanswered. Some of the twists were clever, some I worked out, but all kept me reading.
I can say if my rating would almost certainly not have changed with prior character knowledge (although I may now be hunting out some earlier adventures) and this gets a solid 4 stars from me and I look forward to the next one!
V""V
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fan Site: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.NG***
When I received this book from the publisher I had no idea it was in fact book 10 in the series. I could tell from the wording on the cover that there had been previous adventures but I liked the idea so I decided to give it a try and was glad that I did.
A take on a futuristic James Bond and almost comic book like adventures this book was a fun read even with no prior knowledge of the characters. I had no problem jumping right in and following what was going on. I don't know if it is a general pattern to have so many plots that were in the end irrelevant, almost asides, to the main story but whilst they didn't bother me as the characters we met were interesting, they did at times feel a little like word count padding.
The main story was good and kept me turning the pages although I had a feeling it was not all going to get wrapped up when about 30 pages to the end there was just too much left unanswered. Some of the twists were clever, some I worked out, but all kept me reading.
I can say if my rating would almost certainly not have changed with prior character knowledge (although I may now be hunting out some earlier adventures) and this gets a solid 4 stars from me and I look forward to the next one!
V""V
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fan Site: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.NG***
June 6, 2016
I received a free ARC through Netgalley.com from the publisher, ROC, in exchange for a review.
This is book ten in the Secret Histories story, which is centered around one Eddie Drood, member of one of the most powerful, and secretive families in the world. As expected, the story is a continuation from the previous book, with just a short clip of time having passed in the story world. Eddie, and his girl, a most powerful witch, Molly, get pulled back into the family matters, only to discover that Eddie has been poisoned .... and the rest you can glean from the short synopsis above.
I have read this complete series (to-date) and though sometimes feels a bit predictable, is still entertaining to read due to the snarkiness and sarcasm the characters share with each other. Though there are links to another series by this author (Nightside) I haven't had the desire to try that series yet.I will say one spoiler ... they left a large opening for more books to follow this one.
This is book ten in the Secret Histories story, which is centered around one Eddie Drood, member of one of the most powerful, and secretive families in the world. As expected, the story is a continuation from the previous book, with just a short clip of time having passed in the story world. Eddie, and his girl, a most powerful witch, Molly, get pulled back into the family matters, only to discover that Eddie has been poisoned .... and the rest you can glean from the short synopsis above.
I have read this complete series (to-date) and though sometimes feels a bit predictable, is still entertaining to read due to the snarkiness and sarcasm the characters share with each other. Though there are links to another series by this author (Nightside) I haven't had the desire to try that series yet.I will say one spoiler ... they left a large opening for more books to follow this one.
July 6, 2016
It seems that you have the whole time in the world, until you don't. Someone has poisoned Eddie, someone called Dr. DOA. Nobody knows who he is or how he has done it. But Eddie has vowed to find him and make him pay... before he dies.
Usually in book #10 of any given series, the author runs out of steam. I have seen it many times, with people who I thought can do no wrong. But not with Simon. He gets better and better. Dr. Doa is an amazing novel and showcases his wild imagination. I am already waiting for the next one!
Review in Bulgarian here:
http://citadelata.com/dr-doa/
Usually in book #10 of any given series, the author runs out of steam. I have seen it many times, with people who I thought can do no wrong. But not with Simon. He gets better and better. Dr. Doa is an amazing novel and showcases his wild imagination. I am already waiting for the next one!
Review in Bulgarian here:
http://citadelata.com/dr-doa/
July 28, 2020
Been a while since I've read any of the Drood books and I'd almost forgotten all their faults, but this book brought them all back to mind. This series is best enjoyed with your brain turned off and simply taking in all the weird scenes Green describes to you, but if you ever let your brain wake up a bit, you may notice problems:
* Extreme overuse of expository dialogue. Almost all the characters will just announce things out loud that they would already know and often a regular series reader would know as well. "Oh hello, you are so-and-so, rumored to have gained your powers by doing this-and-that, and everyone is scared of you! How are you?" That sort of thing.
* Eddie's armor and Molly's powers don't seem to work in a consistent way, but work or fail as it supports the plot.
* Eddie is supposed to be a great spy, right? But his approach to every problem is go to the bar, socialize as "Shaman Bond" who by all rights everyone should know is a Drood by at least 5 books ago, then go to the one lead he got, armor up when any resistance is encountered, beat people up, if armor fails then one of the Armourer's tools should work conveniently, interrogate, then go to next thing. This is basically every book.
* Green has always been bad with handling power creep. Everything is strong so it's just a crapshoot what will beat what. Usually Drood armor wins except for a few times where it is convenient for it to be suppressed, often by random things that it seems like it shouldn't be suppressed by.
But you know? I'm 10 books deep and there's only 2 left, so I'll probably finish them anyway and hope for some interesting variation.
* Extreme overuse of expository dialogue. Almost all the characters will just announce things out loud that they would already know and often a regular series reader would know as well. "Oh hello, you are so-and-so, rumored to have gained your powers by doing this-and-that, and everyone is scared of you! How are you?" That sort of thing.
* Eddie's armor and Molly's powers don't seem to work in a consistent way, but work or fail as it supports the plot.
* Eddie is supposed to be a great spy, right? But his approach to every problem is go to the bar, socialize as "Shaman Bond" who by all rights everyone should know is a Drood by at least 5 books ago, then go to the one lead he got, armor up when any resistance is encountered, beat people up, if armor fails then one of the Armourer's tools should work conveniently, interrogate, then go to next thing. This is basically every book.
* Green has always been bad with handling power creep. Everything is strong so it's just a crapshoot what will beat what. Usually Drood armor wins except for a few times where it is convenient for it to be suppressed, often by random things that it seems like it shouldn't be suppressed by.
But you know? I'm 10 books deep and there's only 2 left, so I'll probably finish them anyway and hope for some interesting variation.
February 4, 2020
This series...oh, this series. I still can't decide if I like Simon R Green. I'm not sure what that says about me that I keep reading his books. The Nightside series was a smidge more enjoyable, but began to sort of blur all together after a while. I feel like this series started blurry, and has remained blurry throughout. James Bond puns aside, we have Eddie being a part of a family of armored secret agents, but he still never seems to trust them, then they act completely unreasonably and he has to go against the family, but he's right, and eventually they get into trouble and it's back to "Anything for the family." Did all of that happen in this book? I don't remember. That's right. It's all just a blur. I remember he got poisoned by Dr. DOA, the most deadly Bond villain of them all, who turns out to be the . Did that happen in this book or the next one? I don't remember. It's all a blur. Suffice to say, the main characters walk around and do a lot of posturing and threatening using their reputations and it seems to get them anywhere they need.
The story ends on a cliffhanger. I'm sure there will be some new secret thing we haven't heard of before, and maybe Eddie will have to go against the family to save it from itself. Stay tuned.
April 15, 2022
Overal entertaining but ultimately pointless. With the long running series some of the usual signs of franchise iverprolonging start to show, hard. Power imbalances and made up perils not properly justified only to keep the plot going, but what really made the book ultimately unfulfilling was the ending. Not because it was left open ended, I’ve liked plenty of open ended books in the past, but rather jow lazily that “conclusion” was brought about. Seriously? They decided to just casually take their time chasing Dr DOA at rhe end because “they knew he wouldn’t escape”, because “he stilñ had something planned”? Isn’t knowing he has something planned more, not less reason to rush ASAP before he has time to do whatever the fuck he was going to do? And then, they just walk after him through the hole in reality without making sure he can’t sneak up behind them and shut them out? Am I supposed to believe that the man he’s worked so hard over countless novels to establish to be the best secret agent in the world is fucking stupid enough to be undone by such a childish ploy? I mean fuck, this has to be the dumbest trap unleashed on him, but this one gets him? Again the problem is not the open ending, it’s how forced and poorly set up it was that ruins it all. Like most said, I’ll go through the motions of the next one to find out how it ends, but no more Drood for me after that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2019
Dr. DOA is the tenth 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.
The Drood family has been keeping the world safe for years, utilizing the torcs that provide them armor in order to do so. The Droods aren't immortal, but they do feel practically invincible. Unfortunately, Eddie's time is up and he's now a dead man walking. Eddie is at a critical turning point in his life, as he is re-evaluating everything around him. He doesn't expect to live long but he can't stop being a Drood and is determined to uncover who is killing him.
Dr. DOA is written rather well. Green artfully blends together the best elements of the urban fantasy and spy genres. Eddie Drood has a wonderfully snarky sense of humor and brings great levity to a dark narrative and his relationship with his girlfriend Molly Metcalf shows great devotion to one another.
All in all, Dr. DOA is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
The Drood family has been keeping the world safe for years, utilizing the torcs that provide them armor in order to do so. The Droods aren't immortal, but they do feel practically invincible. Unfortunately, Eddie's time is up and he's now a dead man walking. Eddie is at a critical turning point in his life, as he is re-evaluating everything around him. He doesn't expect to live long but he can't stop being a Drood and is determined to uncover who is killing him.
Dr. DOA is written rather well. Green artfully blends together the best elements of the urban fantasy and spy genres. Eddie Drood has a wonderfully snarky sense of humor and brings great levity to a dark narrative and his relationship with his girlfriend Molly Metcalf shows great devotion to one another.
All in all, Dr. DOA is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
January 20, 2018
Unexpectedly within this action, action, action story is a mediation on life and dying. Which is kinda cool. What will we do to live? What are we willing to believe to extend our own life? What are we willing to ignore, who are we willing to let suffer so we may thrive? But then it goes back to action, action, extensive world building, and more action.
And then there's the fact it's really not a full story. Just the first half of a two-parter with minimal resolution. I'd guess it was split up this way because it's about the right length for a book in the series and two books sell for more than one. I may be cynical.
And then there's the fact it's really not a full story. Just the first half of a two-parter with minimal resolution. I'd guess it was split up this way because it's about the right length for a book in the series and two books sell for more than one. I may be cynical.
May 25, 2017
I've enjoyed the series I've read by Mr. Green (Nightside and Secret Histories) simply because they were fun, cleanish and action packed. The book before this one seemed like a repeat of his other books, but let's be honest, most of these particular books have a rhythm. However, I can genuinely say this one was different than the others. Eddie has to face death-which makes his reactions more interesting and a bit deeper than usual. Yet, somehow, Mr. Green kept the character of both Molly and Eddie consistent and positive. I'm looking forward to reading the next book as a result.
May 8, 2019
I enjoyed it. The main character, Eddie Drood, is almost indistinguishable from Ishmael Jones, except that Ishmael is alien and doesn't have the torc armor. Their speech is the same, their abilities and viewpoints the same, and oddly they even have pretty much the same girlfriend, except that Ishmael's isn't a witch.
The first of this series I tried I just couldn't get through, so I've avoided the Secret Histories series until I picked up this one. I liked it well enough that I'll give the series another chance. I prefer his Nightside books.
The first of this series I tried I just couldn't get through, so I've avoided the Secret Histories series until I picked up this one. I liked it well enough that I'll give the series another chance. I prefer his Nightside books.
November 12, 2021
☆☆ SPOILER ALERT ☆☆
It was a bit disappointing.
1st. Molly doesn't need rescuing or protecting most of the time. Why does her powers run out like a jug of water?
2nd Every second sentence out of Eddie's mouth was "I'm dying " in some silly and over used way.
3rd With all the super secret and special things that go on in this series, the two of them can't find a cure for an unusual poisoning? Be for real.
Also Druid armor is unbeatable, until it is.... 🤨😒
I was unimpressed...(kissing his teeth in the way that he does)
It was a bit disappointing.
1st. Molly doesn't need rescuing or protecting most of the time. Why does her powers run out like a jug of water?
2nd Every second sentence out of Eddie's mouth was "I'm dying " in some silly and over used way.
3rd With all the super secret and special things that go on in this series, the two of them can't find a cure for an unusual poisoning? Be for real.
Also Druid armor is unbeatable, until it is.... 🤨😒
I was unimpressed...(kissing his teeth in the way that he does)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2022
These Secret Histories novels have a pattern about them where the main characters go on a stand-alone adventure in the first chapter, the plot is set up in the second chapter, the whole book sets up a new distraction page after page after page, then the last chapter is where everything comes together in a lackluster way. That's this book. It's entertaining, but this far into the series, nothing is new, and it's vastly predictable. It did have a nice cliffhanger, but it'll probably get resolved in the first chapter of the next one...
February 17, 2022
It's a murder mystery with a twisted and complicated plot. Eddie Drood has been poisoned by the mysterious Dr. DOA, an assassin with a perfect track record. Who is this mystery man and can Eddie find him and find the cure for the poison before time runs out? The chase is on and Eddie and his lover Moly Metcalf will look under every rock of the hidden world to save Eddie's life and stop Dr. DOA. The answers will shock you and lead to more adventures.
January 19, 2021
Wow, I really need to read the first nine novels in this series and then come back to this one again. To make it worse, the book ended on a cliffhanger. Great prose, as always, from Green. If you have not read any of the prior books, DO NOT START WITH THIS ONE! Otherwise ...
Find it. Get it. Read it.
Find it. Get it. Read it.
June 5, 2017
I like Simon Green but this serie becomes ...too easy, too predictable.
we kind of ..know already how this will end...
I gave 3 star because it's still a pleasure to read Simon Green but I hope the next one will just be a mind blowing !!:)
we kind of ..know already how this will end...
I gave 3 star because it's still a pleasure to read Simon Green but I hope the next one will just be a mind blowing !!:)
September 29, 2017
These are fun books to read. Nothing overly serious or heavy but a good romp through the supernatural world that I hope doesn't exist. Not Green's best work however. I prefer his Deathstalker series, but I do enjoy reading these. Worth the time to read if you haven't already.
February 5, 2018
Eddie's been poisoned with something that no-one can analyze, nobody is talking to Ethyl and won't tell Eddie why, and the book ends on a cliff-hanger. I have to hunt down Moonbreaker the very next time I'm in the library!
September 10, 2018
I borrowed this book from my son and found it has the same problem as the last few Secret Histories novels far too much talking, bad guys stand there while they discuss things.
Then SPOILER the evil twin plot old, old, old, and it was annoying that it didn't end properly.
Then SPOILER the evil twin plot old, old, old, and it was annoying that it didn't end properly.
November 1, 2018
I am afraid I am beginning to find these books very formulaic. I enjoy them overall but I can almost predict the moves that Green is going to make with Eddie and Molly. I hope that Moonbreaker and Nightfall are better than this.
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