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Ishmael Jones #5
Into the Thinnest of Air
Dinner at an ancient Cornish inn leads to one baffling disappearance after another in the latest intriguing Ishmael Jones mystery.
"It's just a nice weekend, in a nice country inn. Nothing bad is going to happen ..."
Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny are attending the re-opening of Tyrone's Castle, an ancient Cornish inn originally built by smugglers. Over dinner that night, the guests entertain one another with ghost stories inspired by local legends and superstitions. But it would appear that the curse of Tyrone's Castle has struck for real when one of their number disappears into thin air. And then another . . .
Is the inn really subject to an ancient curse? Sceptical of ghost stories, Ishmael believes the key to the mystery lies in the present rather than the past. But with no bodies, no evidence and no clues to go on, how can he prove it?
"It's just a nice weekend, in a nice country inn. Nothing bad is going to happen ..."
Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny are attending the re-opening of Tyrone's Castle, an ancient Cornish inn originally built by smugglers. Over dinner that night, the guests entertain one another with ghost stories inspired by local legends and superstitions. But it would appear that the curse of Tyrone's Castle has struck for real when one of their number disappears into thin air. And then another . . .
Is the inn really subject to an ancient curse? Sceptical of ghost stories, Ishmael believes the key to the mystery lies in the present rather than the past. But with no bodies, no evidence and no clues to go on, how can he prove it?
167 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2018
34 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Simon R. Green
312 books3,208 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 85 reviews
February 11, 2018
When I chose to read this, I didn't realise that it was the fifth in the Ishmael Jones series or that it was a paranormal mystery. However, this worked reasonably well as a standalone and it turned out to be a fun and entertaining read. There is reference to Moby Dick with the line 'Call me Ishmael', Ishmael is an alien who became stranded on earth, becoming acclimatised as a human, although the fact that he does not age has meant he stays nowhere for long. Things began to change when he become close to Penny and came to live with her. The book opens in Cornwall with a long ago Innkeeper of Tyrone's Castle who murders his Christmas dinner guests, claiming to hear voices in his head, resulting in him being hanged. In the present, Penny is taking up an invitation from Albert and Olivia Calvert, whom she hasn't seen in 20 years, for the re-opening of Tyrone's Castle. They are hoping to benefit from the tourist trade, planning to lure them in with the place's dark tragic history and ghost stories. Penny urges Ishmael to join her in a relaxing break from working for a covert organisation.
Needless to say, their dreams of a weekend break are but a pipe dream. As soon as they arrive they experience strange happenings. At the dinner, there are tensions between the guests and before long, the guests begin to narrate ghost tales based on the local folklore. And wait for it, the guests begin to disappear, including within locked rooms. Despite his background, Ishmael is inclined to not believe in spooky ghostly explanations, he favours the theory that the answers are much more likely to lie in the present rather than in the place's disturbing past. This is an absorbing story with a supernatural investigator, gruesome murders and a creepy narrative. Not what I was expecting, but enjoyable nevertheless. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries, then this is for you. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
Needless to say, their dreams of a weekend break are but a pipe dream. As soon as they arrive they experience strange happenings. At the dinner, there are tensions between the guests and before long, the guests begin to narrate ghost tales based on the local folklore. And wait for it, the guests begin to disappear, including within locked rooms. Despite his background, Ishmael is inclined to not believe in spooky ghostly explanations, he favours the theory that the answers are much more likely to lie in the present rather than in the place's disturbing past. This is an absorbing story with a supernatural investigator, gruesome murders and a creepy narrative. Not what I was expecting, but enjoyable nevertheless. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries, then this is for you. Many thanks to Severn House for an ARC.
March 10, 2018
EXCERPT: Black Rock Towen and its surroundings have a long-standing reputation as a place where people go missing. Never any clues or even a warning. They just disappear without a trace when no one's looking.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Dinner at an ancient Cornish inn leads to one baffling disappearance after another in the latest intriguing Ishmael Jones mystery.
"It's just a nice weekend, in a nice country inn. Nothing bad is going to happen ..."
Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny are attending the re-opening of Tyrone's Castle, an ancient Cornish inn originally built by smugglers. Over dinner that night, the guests entertain one another with ghost stories inspired by local legends and superstitions. But it would appear that the curse of Tyrone's Castle has struck for real when one of their number disappears into thin air. And then another . . .
Is the inn really subject to an ancient curse? Sceptical of ghost stories, Ishmael believes the key to the mystery lies in the present rather than the past. But with no bodies, no evidence and no clues to go on, how can he prove it?
MY THOUGHTS: I came into this book, #5 in the Ishmael Jones series, completely ignorant of Jones's background. Had I known his background, I probably never would have picked this book to read. And that would have been a great pity, because I would have missed out on a amusing, well written mystery with just a touch of something extra. For Ishmael is an alien who, stranded on earth, has taken on human form with, of course, a few idiosyncrasies.
The author, Simon R Green, has done a magnificent job in portraying this group of people who, with the exception of Ishmael and Penny, were old friends reuniting after many years separation. But while all appears friendly on the surface, there are little jibes and digs with more barbs than could be expected from real friends. There is an underlying animosity that no one is willing to admit to, until the innkeeper's wife vanishes. Green's dialogue is superb, as is his talent for creating a creepy atmosphere. And while I would rather have not read about an alien, that aspect didn’t weigh heavily on the plot.
This variation on a locked room mystery was an entertaining read and, yes, I would read other books in this series and by this author. This book is well able to be read as a stand-alone mystery. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Into the Thinnest Air by Simon R Green for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Dinner at an ancient Cornish inn leads to one baffling disappearance after another in the latest intriguing Ishmael Jones mystery.
"It's just a nice weekend, in a nice country inn. Nothing bad is going to happen ..."
Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny are attending the re-opening of Tyrone's Castle, an ancient Cornish inn originally built by smugglers. Over dinner that night, the guests entertain one another with ghost stories inspired by local legends and superstitions. But it would appear that the curse of Tyrone's Castle has struck for real when one of their number disappears into thin air. And then another . . .
Is the inn really subject to an ancient curse? Sceptical of ghost stories, Ishmael believes the key to the mystery lies in the present rather than the past. But with no bodies, no evidence and no clues to go on, how can he prove it?
MY THOUGHTS: I came into this book, #5 in the Ishmael Jones series, completely ignorant of Jones's background. Had I known his background, I probably never would have picked this book to read. And that would have been a great pity, because I would have missed out on a amusing, well written mystery with just a touch of something extra. For Ishmael is an alien who, stranded on earth, has taken on human form with, of course, a few idiosyncrasies.
The author, Simon R Green, has done a magnificent job in portraying this group of people who, with the exception of Ishmael and Penny, were old friends reuniting after many years separation. But while all appears friendly on the surface, there are little jibes and digs with more barbs than could be expected from real friends. There is an underlying animosity that no one is willing to admit to, until the innkeeper's wife vanishes. Green's dialogue is superb, as is his talent for creating a creepy atmosphere. And while I would rather have not read about an alien, that aspect didn’t weigh heavily on the plot.
This variation on a locked room mystery was an entertaining read and, yes, I would read other books in this series and by this author. This book is well able to be read as a stand-alone mystery. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Into the Thinnest Air by Simon R Green for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
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)
January 18, 2020
As this is book 5 in the series and I have read them all have I started to see a pattern to these tales. Well, you only have to read two books to see a pattern. Ishmael Jones and Penny travel to a remote place and in the castle/old mansion, etc. weird shit happens and many people die horribly.
Dead Man Walking the first book I read in this series (and book two in the series) is still my favorite Ishmael Jones book. I think because the concept was new and I was intrigued by his past and all the gory deaths, of course, made the book awesome. Yeah, I'm very easy to please.
Into the Thinnest of Air is so far the one book that I feel is not really working for me. Sure, there were some funny moments between Ishmael and Penny, but the funny banter felt lighter than usual and the mystery of the Tyrone Castle felt neither intriguing nor especially mysterious. People that kept mysteriously disappearing? Not as interesting as people suddenly being brutally murdered along the way by some mysterious foe. And, the ending, well I was not terribly surprised, to be honest. I do hope the next book is better.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
Dead Man Walking the first book I read in this series (and book two in the series) is still my favorite Ishmael Jones book. I think because the concept was new and I was intrigued by his past and all the gory deaths, of course, made the book awesome. Yeah, I'm very easy to please.
Into the Thinnest of Air is so far the one book that I feel is not really working for me. Sure, there were some funny moments between Ishmael and Penny, but the funny banter felt lighter than usual and the mystery of the Tyrone Castle felt neither intriguing nor especially mysterious. People that kept mysteriously disappearing? Not as interesting as people suddenly being brutally murdered along the way by some mysterious foe. And, the ending, well I was not terribly surprised, to be honest. I do hope the next book is better.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.
January 14, 2019
Into the Thinnest of Air, the 5th of the Ishmael Jones series, follows the formula of the preceding books...i.e. Ishmael and his partner and significant other Penny travel to the back of beyond to an isolated location and become involved in a strange and dangerous situation. But this time it isn’t work. It’s actually a social occasion; and Penny is with her plus one for a special dinner. Ishmael is the somewhat reluctant companion.
I really enjoyed this story with its change up of the formula which sees Ishmael stymied by conflicting clues after a strange disappearance in a reportedly long-haunted pub, recently revitalized and about to reopen to the public. Can he trust his usually very accurate and reliable senses and instincts? Well there is a book 6 which I intend to read soon, but that is all I will say. Still enjoying this series quite a lot.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story with its change up of the formula which sees Ishmael stymied by conflicting clues after a strange disappearance in a reportedly long-haunted pub, recently revitalized and about to reopen to the public. Can he trust his usually very accurate and reliable senses and instincts? Well there is a book 6 which I intend to read soon, but that is all I will say. Still enjoying this series quite a lot.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 9, 2017
Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny are back in their 5th adventure, Into the Thinnest of Air. Penny wants a relaxing weekend with her love....a nice, relaxing break at a country inn run by friends of her father. She hasn't seen Albert & Olivia Calvert for 20 years. They wanted to invite Penny's father to the grand opening of their restored period inn in Cornwall. When they discover her father has died, they invite Penny to join in the pre-opening private dinner. The Calverts are banking on the rather sordid history of the inn as a smuggler's den and the site of strange disappearances and multiple murders. They know tourists will love the dark history of the building, so they've put all their savings into restoring it. Strange things start happening almost immediately though.....it appears the inn's deadly past isn't going to let Ishmael and Penny have their relaxing weekend. One by one, the dinner guests start disappearing into thin air...even from locked rooms with no apparent other exits. Are the stories of an unleashed demon, a gate to hell and evil voices true??
The Nightside series made me a huge Simon R. Green fan. When I first heard about this strange supernatural investigator series, I jumped right on the Ishmael Jones bandwagon. After five great creepy tales so far, I'm so glad I did. The stories are always creepy-cool reads with weird twists, gruesome legends and frightening creatures. This story is a dark, scary locked room mystery. There's not a lot of fluff here.....the action moves relatively quickly, twisting this way and that, until the awesome conclusion. I find it funny that the one person in the room adamantly against believing in the supernatural is the one who is almost supernatural himself. Ishmael Jones is actually an alien being. He crashed onto the earth decades before. His ship changed his physical makeup to appear human in order for him to be safe on the planet until he could be found and rescued. He doesn't know much about his prior life -- where he is from, where the ship is, who might be coming to get him.....he can't remember. But he does have some cool skills that come with being an alien. That's why The Organization retains him as an investigator. Mad, mad skills. But his true nature has to remain secret. It's a bit like the X-Files might be if Fox Mulder were an alien and Dana Scully his human girlfriend. If there's something slightly weird going on.....it's a good bet that Ishmael and Penny will be sent to check it out. I felt a bit sorry for Penny this time.....she just wanted a weekend of peace. And they ended up chin-deep in weirdness anyway. I guess it comes with the territory.
Another winning story in the creepy-cool Ishmael Jones series. It's a quick read with lots of dark goings on....a secluded inn, tales of smugglers and demons, and disappearing guests. Poof....gone. Wicked! Loved it!
For more information on the author and his books, check out his website: http://simonrgreen.co.uk/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own....like this one....~Simon R. Green Rocks!~**
The Nightside series made me a huge Simon R. Green fan. When I first heard about this strange supernatural investigator series, I jumped right on the Ishmael Jones bandwagon. After five great creepy tales so far, I'm so glad I did. The stories are always creepy-cool reads with weird twists, gruesome legends and frightening creatures. This story is a dark, scary locked room mystery. There's not a lot of fluff here.....the action moves relatively quickly, twisting this way and that, until the awesome conclusion. I find it funny that the one person in the room adamantly against believing in the supernatural is the one who is almost supernatural himself. Ishmael Jones is actually an alien being. He crashed onto the earth decades before. His ship changed his physical makeup to appear human in order for him to be safe on the planet until he could be found and rescued. He doesn't know much about his prior life -- where he is from, where the ship is, who might be coming to get him.....he can't remember. But he does have some cool skills that come with being an alien. That's why The Organization retains him as an investigator. Mad, mad skills. But his true nature has to remain secret. It's a bit like the X-Files might be if Fox Mulder were an alien and Dana Scully his human girlfriend. If there's something slightly weird going on.....it's a good bet that Ishmael and Penny will be sent to check it out. I felt a bit sorry for Penny this time.....she just wanted a weekend of peace. And they ended up chin-deep in weirdness anyway. I guess it comes with the territory.
Another winning story in the creepy-cool Ishmael Jones series. It's a quick read with lots of dark goings on....a secluded inn, tales of smugglers and demons, and disappearing guests. Poof....gone. Wicked! Loved it!
For more information on the author and his books, check out his website: http://simonrgreen.co.uk/
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own....like this one....~Simon R. Green Rocks!~**
December 1, 2020
Into the Thinnest of Air
(Ishmael Jones #5)
by Simon R. Green
This book takes Ishmael and Penny on a "quiet" night out to an opening to a refurbished inn with a history. It was a smugglers inn and a site of a mass murder. Things don't end up being as quiet as the couple expected. People start disappearing. Pretty good story. I did figure out part of the story right away but not the who! I still enjoyed it a great deal!
(Ishmael Jones #5)
by Simon R. Green
This book takes Ishmael and Penny on a "quiet" night out to an opening to a refurbished inn with a history. It was a smugglers inn and a site of a mass murder. Things don't end up being as quiet as the couple expected. People start disappearing. Pretty good story. I did figure out part of the story right away but not the who! I still enjoyed it a great deal!
January 3, 2022
I have to say that this book did not catch my interest like the previous Ishmael Jones books and certainly not as much as other books I have read from Simon R Green.
So why didn't I enjoy it as much - well the whole story revolves around one location (I guess in theatre terms it would be a one room play or a drawing room play) which is no surprised considering it is explained in the blurb on the dustjacket.
And that is pretty much it - with the majority of the story focusing on the interactions between the various characters present in that room - it is really only in the last pages of the last chapter does it all become clear and to be honest by that point I had pretty much guessed what was going on (if not the why).
I guess for me this is the curse of the middle child (there are currently 10 books in the series although I have no idea if there are plans for more) and I think we are at that point where we have exhausted the introductions and set up and we are now ready for the main event the true storyline of the series.
I suppose I need to read the next one to see if that is true or not?
So why didn't I enjoy it as much - well the whole story revolves around one location (I guess in theatre terms it would be a one room play or a drawing room play) which is no surprised considering it is explained in the blurb on the dustjacket.
And that is pretty much it - with the majority of the story focusing on the interactions between the various characters present in that room - it is really only in the last pages of the last chapter does it all become clear and to be honest by that point I had pretty much guessed what was going on (if not the why).
I guess for me this is the curse of the middle child (there are currently 10 books in the series although I have no idea if there are plans for more) and I think we are at that point where we have exhausted the introductions and set up and we are now ready for the main event the true storyline of the series.
I suppose I need to read the next one to see if that is true or not?
November 17, 2017
Review: INTO THE THINNEST AIR by Simon R. Green
(An Ishmael Jones Mystery)
Anytime I start a story which begins "Call me Ishmael. Ishmael Jones." I am over the moon because I am about to embark on a science fiction-paranormal adventure guaranteed to carry me away, in delighted absorption. Mr. Green has a magical talent, immediately suspending disbelief. I love every novel in this series. This time, Ishmael and Penny visit a really isolated inn in Cornwall, situated at the cliff's edge, site of ugly historic murders and many divergent spooky tales. As the evening continues, events transpire apparently proving the tales to be true. Ishmael and Penny persevere to the end, finding opportunities to deliver poetic justice.
(An Ishmael Jones Mystery)
Anytime I start a story which begins "Call me Ishmael. Ishmael Jones." I am over the moon because I am about to embark on a science fiction-paranormal adventure guaranteed to carry me away, in delighted absorption. Mr. Green has a magical talent, immediately suspending disbelief. I love every novel in this series. This time, Ishmael and Penny visit a really isolated inn in Cornwall, situated at the cliff's edge, site of ugly historic murders and many divergent spooky tales. As the evening continues, events transpire apparently proving the tales to be true. Ishmael and Penny persevere to the end, finding opportunities to deliver poetic justice.
February 25, 2018
If you've read any of the others books in the series, by now you know what you are in for. A 'locked room' mystery, this one set in an ancient inn in Cornwall, haunt of ancient smugglers and scene of mysterious disappearances and historic poisonings. Penny is invited to a meal to mark the reopening of the inn by friends of her parents and of course, Ishmael goes too. It isn't long before the guests start disappearing one by one.
It was fairly easy to work out who was behind the odd occurrences and how it was done, in fact I can't believe it took Ishmael so long. It was still an entertaining read and I have grown to like Ishmael and can even put up with Penny at a push, but I would like the next case to be a little more complex.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers, Severn House, for the opportunity to review an ARC.
It was fairly easy to work out who was behind the odd occurrences and how it was done, in fact I can't believe it took Ishmael so long. It was still an entertaining read and I have grown to like Ishmael and can even put up with Penny at a push, but I would like the next case to be a little more complex.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers, Severn House, for the opportunity to review an ARC.
March 8, 2018
First Sentence: Back in Victorian times a certain Elliot Tyrone ran a very popular inn, the Castle.
Penny Belcourt has been invited to the reopening of Tyrone’s Castle in Cornwell. Penny askes her partner Ishmael Jones, to accompany so that they might have a “perfectly normal weekend” together. However, it seems that one of the inn’s legends may be more than a story as one-by-one, people disappear without a trace. Is there something supernatural at work? It’s up to Ishmael to find out before the night is over and everyone is gone.
A more intriguing opening or character I doubt you’ll find. From the first pages, Green gives us both the history and the setting, and a completely unique character.
Green’s attention to detail, both in terms of places—“Old-fashioned street lights were just coming on, their honey-yellow illumination shedding a pleasant glow across the scene. It was like driving through the picture on the lid of a box containing a childhood jigsaw puzzle.”—and people—“He was smartly if casually dressed, well into his forties, and almost entirely bald. His face was smooth and shiny, his eyes were a faded blue, and his innkeeper’s smile didn’t waver once. Perhaps only I would have noticed that it didn’t even come close to touching his eyes.”—put us into the story and make it real. His subtle humor lightens tense situations—“I gestured at the nearest open door. ‘Do you want to go in first, Penny?’ ‘After you,’ said Penny. ‘And don’t be afraid to hit anything that moves.’ ‘Sounds like a plan to me,’ I said.”
Starting a series with the newest book, rather than the first, puts pressure on the author to ensure new readers still have a sense of continuity with the primary characters. In spite of the information at the beginning, one is left with the knowledge that there are a lot of details one is missing. Another issue is that if the characters are at risk, one should care about them. Other than the protagonists, most of the characters here were so unpleasant, one doesn’t really care if they disappear, although that does change as the story progresses. Another issue was that although there was the mystery of what was happening, there was also always the sense that there would be a perfectly logical explanation.
The positives, however, where the clever method by which the disappearances were enacted and learning of the what happened to those who went missing.
“Into the Thinnest of Air” is not Green’s best book; one should go to the “Nightside” series, instead. While some of his strengths were there, the “well, maybe” aspect of his storytelling was missing. Even so, it was a pleasant, quick read.
INTO THE THINNEST OF AIR (Susp-Ishmael Jones-England-Contemp) - Okay
Green, Simon R. – 5th in series
Severn House – March 2018
Penny Belcourt has been invited to the reopening of Tyrone’s Castle in Cornwell. Penny askes her partner Ishmael Jones, to accompany so that they might have a “perfectly normal weekend” together. However, it seems that one of the inn’s legends may be more than a story as one-by-one, people disappear without a trace. Is there something supernatural at work? It’s up to Ishmael to find out before the night is over and everyone is gone.
A more intriguing opening or character I doubt you’ll find. From the first pages, Green gives us both the history and the setting, and a completely unique character.
Green’s attention to detail, both in terms of places—“Old-fashioned street lights were just coming on, their honey-yellow illumination shedding a pleasant glow across the scene. It was like driving through the picture on the lid of a box containing a childhood jigsaw puzzle.”—and people—“He was smartly if casually dressed, well into his forties, and almost entirely bald. His face was smooth and shiny, his eyes were a faded blue, and his innkeeper’s smile didn’t waver once. Perhaps only I would have noticed that it didn’t even come close to touching his eyes.”—put us into the story and make it real. His subtle humor lightens tense situations—“I gestured at the nearest open door. ‘Do you want to go in first, Penny?’ ‘After you,’ said Penny. ‘And don’t be afraid to hit anything that moves.’ ‘Sounds like a plan to me,’ I said.”
Starting a series with the newest book, rather than the first, puts pressure on the author to ensure new readers still have a sense of continuity with the primary characters. In spite of the information at the beginning, one is left with the knowledge that there are a lot of details one is missing. Another issue is that if the characters are at risk, one should care about them. Other than the protagonists, most of the characters here were so unpleasant, one doesn’t really care if they disappear, although that does change as the story progresses. Another issue was that although there was the mystery of what was happening, there was also always the sense that there would be a perfectly logical explanation.
The positives, however, where the clever method by which the disappearances were enacted and learning of the what happened to those who went missing.
“Into the Thinnest of Air” is not Green’s best book; one should go to the “Nightside” series, instead. While some of his strengths were there, the “well, maybe” aspect of his storytelling was missing. Even so, it was a pleasant, quick read.
INTO THE THINNEST OF AIR (Susp-Ishmael Jones-England-Contemp) - Okay
Green, Simon R. – 5th in series
Severn House – March 2018
November 17, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Simon R Green for my ARC of Into the Thinnest of Air which is Book 5 in the Ishmael Jones series.
Penny and Ishmael are off to a fancy dinner with some of Penny's father's friends in Cornwall. Having just acquired The Castle, an inn fraught with rumour of the supernatural, Albert & Olivia are hosting a dinner party to be staged exactly like the one where hundreds of years ago, the innkeeper killed all his diners because of voices he was hearing in his head.
But things start to go wrong when one by one, the guests are picked off and disappear, but only when left alone. Most of them think the explanation lies within the supernatural world of ghosts and bogeymen, but Ishmael just isn't convinced...
What I absolutely adore about the Ishmael Jones series is something I can't really put my finger on. But since reading book 3 last year I've been hooked. I've tried to describe them to my partner but I get as far as 'well it's about an alien who has become a sort of detective in the human world' and then realise I'm not doing it justice.
So all I can suggest is reading them for yourselves to really get the feel of why they're so great, they're such easy reads, designed to be devoured in one sitting. They're funny, I love the relationship between Penny and Ishmael, I love that Ishmael can do loads of cool stuff because he's an alien, but I also love that Penny, a human woman can also kick ass! I really need to get the 1st and 2nd Books read now.
Penny and Ishmael are off to a fancy dinner with some of Penny's father's friends in Cornwall. Having just acquired The Castle, an inn fraught with rumour of the supernatural, Albert & Olivia are hosting a dinner party to be staged exactly like the one where hundreds of years ago, the innkeeper killed all his diners because of voices he was hearing in his head.
But things start to go wrong when one by one, the guests are picked off and disappear, but only when left alone. Most of them think the explanation lies within the supernatural world of ghosts and bogeymen, but Ishmael just isn't convinced...
What I absolutely adore about the Ishmael Jones series is something I can't really put my finger on. But since reading book 3 last year I've been hooked. I've tried to describe them to my partner but I get as far as 'well it's about an alien who has become a sort of detective in the human world' and then realise I'm not doing it justice.
So all I can suggest is reading them for yourselves to really get the feel of why they're so great, they're such easy reads, designed to be devoured in one sitting. They're funny, I love the relationship between Penny and Ishmael, I love that Ishmael can do loads of cool stuff because he's an alien, but I also love that Penny, a human woman can also kick ass! I really need to get the 1st and 2nd Books read now.
February 22, 2018
I’ve been reading the Ishmael Jones Mystery series since Mr. Green started releasing them. At this point in the series, I am starting to feel that they are feeling the same. This one was slightly different, but the mystery was still a locked room, still one of the people who go missing, and like the rest, generally it’s always Penny and Ishmael who are left standing. That being said, I still frantically read every page of this book until the end, anxiously wanting to find out who the perpetrator/s was/were. And the end of this one left me feeling like it was too simple and Ishmael should have figured that out before the end because of his extra abilities. I can’t really say what I’d like because I don’t want to spoil the book, so I apologize if I’m a little vague. So, where do I stand with this book exactly? While the mysteries are all feeling the same, I still am glued to the pages because of Mr. Green’s engaging writing, the great relationship of Penny and Ishmael, and the fast pace of the writing, so I think I did overall like this book as it kept me entertained. If you liked the others, you will like this one. And, I think if you haven’t read the others, you will definitely love this one. Recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for the e-copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
September 18, 2018
This is an uncanny blend of a classic mystery story and a tiny bit of science fiction. I'm not a fan of science fiction but in this case, I'm almost relieved that Ishmael is kind of alien….
Ishmael and his sidekick Penny (she's human) find themselves in a renovated castle, at a private dinner for selected guests, just before the opening night.
Somehow though, no one makes it to dessert. And the dessert itself is rather unusual - more than one helping can possibly kill the diner. Then, the guests disappear. After the first disappearance, the guests think that maybe this is a hoax, as the history of the castle is one of violence and smuggling.
Until they get picked off one by one…
So how do people disappear without even a sound, in rooms where there is no exit? And why are they taken? Most importantly, are they alive or are they gone forever, as history suggests?
Ishmael and Penny have a conundrum to solve if it's solvable and if they can manage to not disappear.
I really enjoyed this tale of mystery.
A truly spellbinding read, with all the ingredients to keep you unable to put the book down!
Elsa
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Ishmael and his sidekick Penny (she's human) find themselves in a renovated castle, at a private dinner for selected guests, just before the opening night.
Somehow though, no one makes it to dessert. And the dessert itself is rather unusual - more than one helping can possibly kill the diner. Then, the guests disappear. After the first disappearance, the guests think that maybe this is a hoax, as the history of the castle is one of violence and smuggling.
Until they get picked off one by one…
So how do people disappear without even a sound, in rooms where there is no exit? And why are they taken? Most importantly, are they alive or are they gone forever, as history suggests?
Ishmael and Penny have a conundrum to solve if it's solvable and if they can manage to not disappear.
I really enjoyed this tale of mystery.
A truly spellbinding read, with all the ingredients to keep you unable to put the book down!
Elsa
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
April 10, 2024
“Into the Thinnest of Air” is the fifth book in the Ishmael Jones mystery series and focuses on solving the disappearance of several dinner guests at a restaurant opening attended by Ishmael and his partner Penny.
The novel consists of a prologue and eight chapters.
In the prologue, “Myths Ancient and Modern,” the reader is introduced an ancient myth of Elliot Tyrone, a well-respected innkeeper at a castle in the Cornish community of Black Rock Towne. At Tyrone’s annual Christmas dinner in 1886, townspeople are shocked after Tyrone kills all of his party guests through a poisonous dinner while his wife and two teenage daughters go missing. When asked why Tyrone killed all of his dinner guests, he replied that “the voices told him to” after which Tyrone is grabbed by townspeople and promptly hung from a tree. Legends are create involving a haunting of Tyrone, a ghost tree, and various murders committing crimes after being told to by mysterious, unseen voices.
For modern myths, the reader is introduced to the story of a 1963 alien starship crash leading to an alien being transformed into human form and having his memory erased. The alien now human man is revealed to have been on earth for fifty years without aging and works for a mysterious secret group known as “The Organization” which protects humanity from otherworldly threats and the alien/human introduces himself to the reader as Ishmael Jones.
In chapter one, “A Perfectly Normal Couple,” Ishmael shares how although he’s spent most of his life working and living on his own due to the fact that he doesn’t age, he has recently become romantically involved with a woman named Penny Belcourt. In addition to being on a romantic relationship with Penny, her and Ishmael also solve crimes together. Penny shares with Ishmael that she’s received an invitation to attend a restaurant opening at Tyrone’s Castle, being operated by friends of her recently deceased father. Although Ishmael is initially reluctant to attend the restaurant reopening in Cornwall, eventually, Penny is able to coax him into attending the opening as a way to have a weekend away like a normal couple. Although Ishmael offhandedly mentions that every time they go out of town, someone dies, Penny dismisses his concerns, and they head to Tyrone’s Castle in Cornwall.
In chapter two “A Celebration of Murder,” Ishmael and Penny arrive at Black Rock at Towen and are surprised by how far the castle is away from town. Although Ishmael is intrigued by the mystery of Tyrone’s Castle and the surrounding area, Penny reminds Ishmael that they are only there to enjoy a free meal and to act like a normal couple. Upon entering the restaurant, Ishmael and Penny are greeted coldly but all is well once the innkeeper and former friend of Penny’s father Albert Calvert, sees Penny which makes Ishmael uncomfortable and wonders why Albert views him as a threat. As Ishmael and Penny meet other dinner guests including Thomas Moore, vicar to the parish, Thomas’ wife Eileen, Jimmy Webb, a local newspaper reporter, and Valerie Butler, an author writing a book about Elliot Tyrone who are longtime friends of the new restaurant owners. Ishmael finds it suspicious how the guests react to the mention of Penny’s last name. It is suggested that Penny’s true purpose for attending the dinner party is to possibly ask her to invest her newly acquired money from her father’s death into the new restaurant. The friends soon make veiled accusations about Albert and Olivia’s reasoning for opening their restaurant focusing on a dark chapter in Black Rock Towen’s history.
In chapter three, “The Past is Always With Us,” Ishmael is confused by Valerie’s flirting behavior and is shocked when Penny tells Ishmael of Valerie’s romantic interest in him. As the night progresses, Jimmy expresses anger of Penny’s newly gotten money and Ishmael worries that the Calverts are attempting to get him drunk as a way to corner Penny to invest in their restaurant. The group have a spirited conversation regarding whether or not they believe in ghosts or not. After the conversation about ghosts, Olivia goes missing and the normal weekend Ishmael and Penny planned officially goes awry. As the group begins to look for Olivia, they are alarmed when they discover that all of their cellphones are missing, and that the restaurant’s landline phone line is dead.
In chapter four, “Who’s There?” the group becomes increasingly panicked when they discover that their car keys are missing. Ishmael and Penny investigate the surrounding area but is unable to find Olivia and Penny worries of unnatural activity. The group get angry at Ishmael when he suggests they leave the restaurant, walk into town, and have local police return to find Olivia. Albert worries about what effect Olivia���s disappearance will have on business for the new restaurant. After Albert sees a “ghost tree,” the group is further frightened, and Ishmael isn’t convinced of what Albert has seen the phantom tree. Soon Thomas goes missing as well. Ironically enough, Albert says that Olivia and Thomas missing could be related to the supernatural and feels that Ishmael is unaware of this since he’s presenting himself as a normal man who used to work in security. Soon everyone except Ishmael believes that something supernatural is occurring while he believes that someone is intentionally kidnapping people for unknown reasons. Valerie soon suggests that the group holds a seance to connect with the spirit of Elliot Tyrone and find the whereabouts of Olivia and Thomas. At this point in the novel, I realized that Albert and Olivia are working together to scare their “friends.”
In chapter five, “Time to Go,” the group clusters at the restaurant bar while thinking of how to protect themselves. Although the group attempts to stay together and attempt to light candles, the group is shock when the matches don’t work. After the group have a blessing of various parts of the restaurant, Albert goes missing followed by Eileen. Feeling helpless, Ishmael tears up the kitchen showing his superhuman strength to the group. Eventually, Ishmael helps the group to get outside and they attempt to walk back to town but are forced to return to the in after Eileen shares hearing a voice calling her name.
In chapter six, “Death and the Demon,” Valerie is furious at Ishmael and Jimmy is defeated over the continuous disappearance of his friends. With Eileen being gone, Valerie and Jimmy get romantically closer. After Valerie realizes that two couples have disappeared and two couples remain, Jimmy suggests that Ishmael and Penny sacrifice themselves so that Jimmy and Valerie are able to escape. While Ishmael and Jimmy are distracted, Valerie is silently taken, and Ishmael’s alien heritage is exposed to Jimmy’s horror. Jimmy runs from Ishmael then promptly goes missing, leaving Ishmael and Penny behind.
In chapter seven, “If These Walls Could Speak,” a conversation with Penny provides Ishmael with a clue leading them to finding the other missing restaurant guests. Despite Ishmael damaging his hands, he puts clues together and connects how past murder mystery experiences provided the perfect way for the kidnappers to escape while scaring everyone else.
In chapter eight, “Clean-Up,” Ishmael and Penny finally learn the identity of the kidnappers,, the purpose of the kidnapping is revealed, dead bodies are found, and Ishmael calls in a favor to remove all signs of the deadly sad incident occurring.
As I finished the novel, I found it interesting the different type of British slang such as a “hire car” instead of rental car, “car park” instead of parking lot, and a “torch” instead of a flashlight. I also found it interesting how openly Penny was previously employed in publishing but now focuses on solving mysteries. It was interesting how Penny brushes off Ishmael’s behavior because he’s an alien. I would be interested in reading previous books in the series to find out how Ishmael arrived on Earth, the reasoning behind choosing the first name Ishmael, how Penny discovered that Ishmael’s isn’t human as well as how they established a romantic relationship with each other.
The novel consists of a prologue and eight chapters.
In the prologue, “Myths Ancient and Modern,” the reader is introduced an ancient myth of Elliot Tyrone, a well-respected innkeeper at a castle in the Cornish community of Black Rock Towne. At Tyrone’s annual Christmas dinner in 1886, townspeople are shocked after Tyrone kills all of his party guests through a poisonous dinner while his wife and two teenage daughters go missing. When asked why Tyrone killed all of his dinner guests, he replied that “the voices told him to” after which Tyrone is grabbed by townspeople and promptly hung from a tree. Legends are create involving a haunting of Tyrone, a ghost tree, and various murders committing crimes after being told to by mysterious, unseen voices.
For modern myths, the reader is introduced to the story of a 1963 alien starship crash leading to an alien being transformed into human form and having his memory erased. The alien now human man is revealed to have been on earth for fifty years without aging and works for a mysterious secret group known as “The Organization” which protects humanity from otherworldly threats and the alien/human introduces himself to the reader as Ishmael Jones.
In chapter one, “A Perfectly Normal Couple,” Ishmael shares how although he’s spent most of his life working and living on his own due to the fact that he doesn’t age, he has recently become romantically involved with a woman named Penny Belcourt. In addition to being on a romantic relationship with Penny, her and Ishmael also solve crimes together. Penny shares with Ishmael that she’s received an invitation to attend a restaurant opening at Tyrone’s Castle, being operated by friends of her recently deceased father. Although Ishmael is initially reluctant to attend the restaurant reopening in Cornwall, eventually, Penny is able to coax him into attending the opening as a way to have a weekend away like a normal couple. Although Ishmael offhandedly mentions that every time they go out of town, someone dies, Penny dismisses his concerns, and they head to Tyrone’s Castle in Cornwall.
In chapter two “A Celebration of Murder,” Ishmael and Penny arrive at Black Rock at Towen and are surprised by how far the castle is away from town. Although Ishmael is intrigued by the mystery of Tyrone’s Castle and the surrounding area, Penny reminds Ishmael that they are only there to enjoy a free meal and to act like a normal couple. Upon entering the restaurant, Ishmael and Penny are greeted coldly but all is well once the innkeeper and former friend of Penny’s father Albert Calvert, sees Penny which makes Ishmael uncomfortable and wonders why Albert views him as a threat. As Ishmael and Penny meet other dinner guests including Thomas Moore, vicar to the parish, Thomas’ wife Eileen, Jimmy Webb, a local newspaper reporter, and Valerie Butler, an author writing a book about Elliot Tyrone who are longtime friends of the new restaurant owners. Ishmael finds it suspicious how the guests react to the mention of Penny’s last name. It is suggested that Penny’s true purpose for attending the dinner party is to possibly ask her to invest her newly acquired money from her father’s death into the new restaurant. The friends soon make veiled accusations about Albert and Olivia’s reasoning for opening their restaurant focusing on a dark chapter in Black Rock Towen’s history.
In chapter three, “The Past is Always With Us,” Ishmael is confused by Valerie’s flirting behavior and is shocked when Penny tells Ishmael of Valerie’s romantic interest in him. As the night progresses, Jimmy expresses anger of Penny’s newly gotten money and Ishmael worries that the Calverts are attempting to get him drunk as a way to corner Penny to invest in their restaurant. The group have a spirited conversation regarding whether or not they believe in ghosts or not. After the conversation about ghosts, Olivia goes missing and the normal weekend Ishmael and Penny planned officially goes awry. As the group begins to look for Olivia, they are alarmed when they discover that all of their cellphones are missing, and that the restaurant’s landline phone line is dead.
In chapter four, “Who’s There?” the group becomes increasingly panicked when they discover that their car keys are missing. Ishmael and Penny investigate the surrounding area but is unable to find Olivia and Penny worries of unnatural activity. The group get angry at Ishmael when he suggests they leave the restaurant, walk into town, and have local police return to find Olivia. Albert worries about what effect Olivia���s disappearance will have on business for the new restaurant. After Albert sees a “ghost tree,” the group is further frightened, and Ishmael isn’t convinced of what Albert has seen the phantom tree. Soon Thomas goes missing as well. Ironically enough, Albert says that Olivia and Thomas missing could be related to the supernatural and feels that Ishmael is unaware of this since he’s presenting himself as a normal man who used to work in security. Soon everyone except Ishmael believes that something supernatural is occurring while he believes that someone is intentionally kidnapping people for unknown reasons. Valerie soon suggests that the group holds a seance to connect with the spirit of Elliot Tyrone and find the whereabouts of Olivia and Thomas. At this point in the novel, I realized that Albert and Olivia are working together to scare their “friends.”
In chapter five, “Time to Go,” the group clusters at the restaurant bar while thinking of how to protect themselves. Although the group attempts to stay together and attempt to light candles, the group is shock when the matches don’t work. After the group have a blessing of various parts of the restaurant, Albert goes missing followed by Eileen. Feeling helpless, Ishmael tears up the kitchen showing his superhuman strength to the group. Eventually, Ishmael helps the group to get outside and they attempt to walk back to town but are forced to return to the in after Eileen shares hearing a voice calling her name.
In chapter six, “Death and the Demon,” Valerie is furious at Ishmael and Jimmy is defeated over the continuous disappearance of his friends. With Eileen being gone, Valerie and Jimmy get romantically closer. After Valerie realizes that two couples have disappeared and two couples remain, Jimmy suggests that Ishmael and Penny sacrifice themselves so that Jimmy and Valerie are able to escape. While Ishmael and Jimmy are distracted, Valerie is silently taken, and Ishmael’s alien heritage is exposed to Jimmy’s horror. Jimmy runs from Ishmael then promptly goes missing, leaving Ishmael and Penny behind.
In chapter seven, “If These Walls Could Speak,” a conversation with Penny provides Ishmael with a clue leading them to finding the other missing restaurant guests. Despite Ishmael damaging his hands, he puts clues together and connects how past murder mystery experiences provided the perfect way for the kidnappers to escape while scaring everyone else.
In chapter eight, “Clean-Up,” Ishmael and Penny finally learn the identity of the kidnappers,, the purpose of the kidnapping is revealed, dead bodies are found, and Ishmael calls in a favor to remove all signs of the deadly sad incident occurring.
As I finished the novel, I found it interesting the different type of British slang such as a “hire car” instead of rental car, “car park” instead of parking lot, and a “torch” instead of a flashlight. I also found it interesting how openly Penny was previously employed in publishing but now focuses on solving mysteries. It was interesting how Penny brushes off Ishmael’s behavior because he’s an alien. I would be interested in reading previous books in the series to find out how Ishmael arrived on Earth, the reasoning behind choosing the first name Ishmael, how Penny discovered that Ishmael’s isn’t human as well as how they established a romantic relationship with each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2018
And Now for Something A Little Bit Different, But Sort of the Same
When it comes to Simon Green novels I most definitely favor the series featuring John Taylor and the Nightside. But, as a port in the storm the Ishmael Jones novels do quite nicely. This is the fifth book to star Ishmael and Penny and it strays only a little bit from the usual formula, although in a good way.
This time around we have, as always, a country house sort of mystery. The house is actually an ancient, mysterious Inn surrounded by tales of demons, horror and the macabre. So, when the guests at a private dinner party begin to disappear one by one, from locked rooms and the like, we are not surprised. Neither are Ishmael and Penny, who immediately get to work on the solution.
As is often the case with Green's heroes there is a lot of repetition in their monologues from book to book, and sometimes even within a single book. This time out the reader is brought up to speed on who and what Ishmael is, but only once. With the backstory and character history kept to a minimum the reader is free to focus on the mystery at hand. I've never much minded the monologuing, (Green's heroes are amiable and engaging and they can digress or repeat themselves all they want as far as I'm concerned), but it is sort of refreshing to have this particular book more crisp, streamlined and fast paced. It also means Penny gets to play a larger role, and these books are always a bit brighter and more energetic, (and more amusing), when Penny plays a major part.
And this volume of the Ishmael/Penny adventures is a bit different. We spend the entire first quarter of the book sitting around a banquet table with Ishmael, Penny and the six other people who will be the victims/suspects for the rest of the tale. The ancient Castle Inn is being reopened the next day and these six, the two owners and four local friends, have been invited for a special preview celebration. Grievances, secrets, motives, hidden connections, tensions, and bits of shared history are doled out during the prickly table conversation so that when the first victim disappears all of the pieces and players are in place and the game is afoot. As the guests disappear one by one we get to speculate about why and how and by whom, which is after all the point of one of these.
In a classic sense I guess this book doesn't break much new ground. But as an Ishmael and Penny diversion I found it quite entertaining in that special Simon Green horror/paranormal/cozy style.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
When it comes to Simon Green novels I most definitely favor the series featuring John Taylor and the Nightside. But, as a port in the storm the Ishmael Jones novels do quite nicely. This is the fifth book to star Ishmael and Penny and it strays only a little bit from the usual formula, although in a good way.
This time around we have, as always, a country house sort of mystery. The house is actually an ancient, mysterious Inn surrounded by tales of demons, horror and the macabre. So, when the guests at a private dinner party begin to disappear one by one, from locked rooms and the like, we are not surprised. Neither are Ishmael and Penny, who immediately get to work on the solution.
As is often the case with Green's heroes there is a lot of repetition in their monologues from book to book, and sometimes even within a single book. This time out the reader is brought up to speed on who and what Ishmael is, but only once. With the backstory and character history kept to a minimum the reader is free to focus on the mystery at hand. I've never much minded the monologuing, (Green's heroes are amiable and engaging and they can digress or repeat themselves all they want as far as I'm concerned), but it is sort of refreshing to have this particular book more crisp, streamlined and fast paced. It also means Penny gets to play a larger role, and these books are always a bit brighter and more energetic, (and more amusing), when Penny plays a major part.
And this volume of the Ishmael/Penny adventures is a bit different. We spend the entire first quarter of the book sitting around a banquet table with Ishmael, Penny and the six other people who will be the victims/suspects for the rest of the tale. The ancient Castle Inn is being reopened the next day and these six, the two owners and four local friends, have been invited for a special preview celebration. Grievances, secrets, motives, hidden connections, tensions, and bits of shared history are doled out during the prickly table conversation so that when the first victim disappears all of the pieces and players are in place and the game is afoot. As the guests disappear one by one we get to speculate about why and how and by whom, which is after all the point of one of these.
In a classic sense I guess this book doesn't break much new ground. But as an Ishmael and Penny diversion I found it quite entertaining in that special Simon Green horror/paranormal/cozy style.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
March 15, 2018
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.
When Ishmael Jones' partner Penny is invited to the private reopening of a infamous inn, they learn of the legend behind it, that the previous owner poisoned all his dinner guests while his wife and child disappeared. But when people in the present start disappearing, what began as a dinner among old friends turns into a frightening and possibly supernatural locked room mystery.
This is a creepy book with a lot of suspense. I'm always a sucker for a locked room mystery, especially one tinged with a horror aspect, and this story definitely delivers on that end. The ending also packs quite a punch, and is not one I saw coming.
I have to admit, I almost put this book down within the first two pages, because the strangeness factor behind the main character, Ishmael, just seemed so, to put it bluntly, weird. I hadn't known what the premise behind him was (and won't say it here to avoid spoilers), which is a good thing, because I wouldn't have picked up the book otherwise. It's not a bad or nasty thing, it's just not at all what I expected when I picked up a mystery.
I'm definitely glad I kept going with this book, because it ended up being so full of suspense, and horror aspects, and mystery. And that ending was really well-done. Get past the premise of the main character and you're in for a clever mystery.
When Ishmael Jones' partner Penny is invited to the private reopening of a infamous inn, they learn of the legend behind it, that the previous owner poisoned all his dinner guests while his wife and child disappeared. But when people in the present start disappearing, what began as a dinner among old friends turns into a frightening and possibly supernatural locked room mystery.
This is a creepy book with a lot of suspense. I'm always a sucker for a locked room mystery, especially one tinged with a horror aspect, and this story definitely delivers on that end. The ending also packs quite a punch, and is not one I saw coming.
I have to admit, I almost put this book down within the first two pages, because the strangeness factor behind the main character, Ishmael, just seemed so, to put it bluntly, weird. I hadn't known what the premise behind him was (and won't say it here to avoid spoilers), which is a good thing, because I wouldn't have picked up the book otherwise. It's not a bad or nasty thing, it's just not at all what I expected when I picked up a mystery.
I'm definitely glad I kept going with this book, because it ended up being so full of suspense, and horror aspects, and mystery. And that ending was really well-done. Get past the premise of the main character and you're in for a clever mystery.
April 19, 2018
Initial Thoughts: Though this novel still had some of the humor and banter I've come to enjoy in this series, there was quite a bit less action. I would say this story felt far more transitional - a break from the revelations of the last novel. It was mostly Ismael and Penny running around in circles for the most part with not much actual construction sleuthing until the end. It turned out to be far more simple (and heinous), but while unwinding it the mystery was quite convoluted. Though this is most likely my least favorite in the series, I still love the series, the characters, and look forward to the next novel. Please click on the link to go to the full review posted at That's What I'm Talking About blog: http://twimom227.com/2018/04/review-i...
January 12, 2018
I have long been a fan of the works of Simon R Green having first stumbled across Blue Moon Rising in the late 90s. As a fantasy novel it was something completely different with some risqué humour and really interesting characters. Over the years whenever I have seen any of Green’s works on the book shelves in Australia I have grabbed them. So I was really excited when offered the opportunity to read Green’s latest work.
Two investigators Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny are attending the re-opening of Tyrone Castle and are hoping for a nice normal weekend. However, when you are staying at a castle that has a history of being a smugglers den and scene for a mass poisoning things quickly go astray. As something sinister is abducting the guests the question is supernatural or human at work.
Green never fails to create characters that are imperfect, funny and annoying. Ishmael and Penny have an easy rapport and are an engaging couple. The supporting characters being a mixture of the victims and villains are suitably messed up to have you guessing as to whom or what is responsible.
Into the Thinnest of Air is compelling reading, as Green really draws you into the mystery and you keep turning pages as you need to know.
This is not the first book in the series and I was not aware of that. It did not matter as I was able to quickly pick up what was happening. More importantly those titbits have made want to go back and read the rest of the series.
If you have never read any of Green’s work then do so, he is a wonderful fantasy writer with a vivid imagination, who creates wonderful characters and has unique worlds. For me, Green is one the most consistent fantasy writers out there and I am never disappointed when I read his works.
Two investigators Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny are attending the re-opening of Tyrone Castle and are hoping for a nice normal weekend. However, when you are staying at a castle that has a history of being a smugglers den and scene for a mass poisoning things quickly go astray. As something sinister is abducting the guests the question is supernatural or human at work.
Green never fails to create characters that are imperfect, funny and annoying. Ishmael and Penny have an easy rapport and are an engaging couple. The supporting characters being a mixture of the victims and villains are suitably messed up to have you guessing as to whom or what is responsible.
Into the Thinnest of Air is compelling reading, as Green really draws you into the mystery and you keep turning pages as you need to know.
This is not the first book in the series and I was not aware of that. It did not matter as I was able to quickly pick up what was happening. More importantly those titbits have made want to go back and read the rest of the series.
If you have never read any of Green’s work then do so, he is a wonderful fantasy writer with a vivid imagination, who creates wonderful characters and has unique worlds. For me, Green is one the most consistent fantasy writers out there and I am never disappointed when I read his works.
July 11, 2018
I dunno. The book jacket claims this is a paranormal mystery, but I really didn't see anything paranormal about it. The jacket claims it's a horror, but I was never on edge. The jacket claims it's genre-bending, but I just didn't see it. But then again, I also didn't see that this is #5 in a series and I haven't read any of the other books yet, so maybe I'm not as astute as I like to think I am!
It kind of annoyed me that our protagonist is an alien. Other-worldly. Kind of like Spock but without the pointy ears. He has extraordinary senses that don't seem to help him out. He has super strength that he doesn't put to much use. And he has an extraordinary grasp on logic and common sense but still goes along with the insane assertions of everyone else in the book. Sigh.....
The story itself reminded me a lot of a Scooby Doo cartoon at first, until I realized that it's a watered down and slightly askew version of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. I say "watered down" only because characters simply vanish rather than being murdered and their bodies left to be discovered casually. It does make you wonder if people are disappearing and never heard from again because they're dead or because they're all in on it? For me, that was really the big question.
It kind of annoyed me that our protagonist is an alien. Other-worldly. Kind of like Spock but without the pointy ears. He has extraordinary senses that don't seem to help him out. He has super strength that he doesn't put to much use. And he has an extraordinary grasp on logic and common sense but still goes along with the insane assertions of everyone else in the book. Sigh.....
The story itself reminded me a lot of a Scooby Doo cartoon at first, until I realized that it's a watered down and slightly askew version of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. I say "watered down" only because characters simply vanish rather than being murdered and their bodies left to be discovered casually. It does make you wonder if people are disappearing and never heard from again because they're dead or because they're all in on it? For me, that was really the big question.
December 5, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read "Into The Thinnest Of Air" by Simon R. Green.
I have read many of Mr. Green's other series: The Nightside, Secret Histories, etc. I have to admit that I had previously only read the first book of this series, but I decided that I could fill in the backstory to this one at a later date.
Into The Thinnest Of Air is, basically, a locked-room mystery in the vein of the best Agatha Christie novels. A group of friends and two outsiders (Ishmael Jones and his girlfriend Penny - who has a backstory of sorts with the other characters through her family) gather to celebrate the re-opening of Tyrone's Castle, an ancient Cornish inn originally built by smugglers, that has a sordid history of murder and disappearances. The couple who have brought it back to life were previously involved with the Castle, but their efforts went bust and a lot of people lost everything (and they had to leave).
During the course of the dinner, people begin to vanish - one from the kitchen where she is all alone, one from the bathroom where again.... Ishmael is stumped. Various scenarios are presented - demonic kidnapping, alien abduction - but in the end the simplest explanation turns out to be the one.
The plot held me throughout the book, even though there was some repetition of storyline. I would definitely recommend to fans of Mr. Green's other novels or anyone looking for an entertaining mystery.
I have read many of Mr. Green's other series: The Nightside, Secret Histories, etc. I have to admit that I had previously only read the first book of this series, but I decided that I could fill in the backstory to this one at a later date.
Into The Thinnest Of Air is, basically, a locked-room mystery in the vein of the best Agatha Christie novels. A group of friends and two outsiders (Ishmael Jones and his girlfriend Penny - who has a backstory of sorts with the other characters through her family) gather to celebrate the re-opening of Tyrone's Castle, an ancient Cornish inn originally built by smugglers, that has a sordid history of murder and disappearances. The couple who have brought it back to life were previously involved with the Castle, but their efforts went bust and a lot of people lost everything (and they had to leave).
During the course of the dinner, people begin to vanish - one from the kitchen where she is all alone, one from the bathroom where again.... Ishmael is stumped. Various scenarios are presented - demonic kidnapping, alien abduction - but in the end the simplest explanation turns out to be the one.
The plot held me throughout the book, even though there was some repetition of storyline. I would definitely recommend to fans of Mr. Green's other novels or anyone looking for an entertaining mystery.
July 8, 2018
For the record, I adored Simon Green's "Nightside" series. As for this entry in the Ishmael Jones series, it is seriously the worst bit of drivel I've read in years. I'm generally a quick and engaged reader. This book is only 167 pages long, and it has taken me more than 30 days to force it down. There is nothing to recommend it. It's a locked room mystery with characters you don't care about, an indifferent narrator (the same Ishmael Jones, whose non-human backstory isn't even enough to make him sound more than slightly smug), and a relentlessly annoying loop of someone disappears, everyone freaks out, they go back to their seats at the dining room to discuss the same freaking points. Here's the book in a nutshell: "I suppose we'd better sit down at the table again . . .". OMG, I wished I could have been abducted so as to escape this written torture.
March 12, 2018
I would give this book 2.5 stars, but I'm comfortable with rounding up due to the ending (which I liked a lot). Overall, this is very much a stand-alone - it does not advance the overarching plot of the IJ novels or tie them more firmly to the major world that Simon R Green is working within. Still, entertaining quick read.
July 3, 2019
This is really more of a 2.5 but I rounded up because I really like this author. (I really do, despite my review. >.> )
So, once again… I will start another Ishmael Jones book review with how much I like Simon R. Green. I really, really like this author. I have liked him since the early 2000s when the Nightside series began. I fell in love with his universe and characters. So unique! So alive! So creative! When his Ghostfinders series began, I was hooked! It wasn’t as good as the Nightside series, but it was still a lot of fun, with creative situations and fun characters. Again, I really, really like this author. BUT. I have really struggled with the Ishmael Jones series. I don’t know what is going on with Simon, but this series is nowhere close to what he is capable of writing. For some reason, it feels like he is shooting for “Good enough!” and falls a little short of that. With the 4 previous books in the series, plot and banter have felt uber repetitive. He rarely deviates from a very basic formula for an outline. Most of the characters are unlikable, especial Penny, and Ishmael rides that line hard. The mystery, as well as the murderers, have been astonishingly predictable. I absolutely HATE saying these things about Simon, and I don’t want to say them! But this series… *shrug* I don’t know what is going on with it. :/ It almost feels like it’s not even the same author.
If you thought Into the Thinnest Air was going to break the terrible mold that this series is stuck in, you would be mistaken. In fact, this story felt very…. simple. D: I have mad respect for all authors, and I hate to assume an author isn’t trying very hard, but…. *waves arms around* It’s just… I KNOW Green is better then this book! :/
I love that Simon went with a locked room mystery this time around, but 80% of the book felt like all the characters just sat at the dinning table talking about what was going on over and over and OVER again. How many times do we have to sit around and say the same exact damn thing?? It felt like most of the book was filler! Practically the only action is from Ishmael tearing apart the kitchen and a tiny bit of action at the very end.
Possibly the biggest problem with this book is Ishmael himself. Ok, see, you can’t spend 4 books telling us how amazaballs Ishmael’s abilities are ALL THE FUCKING TIME only to have him be a super fail whale now. It’s not just that he was a fail whale, because, yeah, not every day is your best, BUT, the way he was fail whale is the problem. It’s like all of a sudden he isn’t as strong as he was before. Like he for some reason doesn’t have the same level of abilities as he did in the past. I’m sorry, but no. NO. In the previous books, Simon wrote Ishmael to have the most amazing sense of smell, sight, and hearing EVER. He could hear through walls from down a hallway or from upstairs. He could break down every smell in the room, even days after the scent had passed through that room. So, I’m sorry, but it’s not believable that someone with this level of phenomenal ability can’t tell what is going on because the food smells are too strong. Or that he didn’t hear the killer snatching people from behind his back because he wasn’t listening for it. Or that he somehow, this time, can’t find a hidden passageway when his eye sight is SO FANTASTIC in the other books that he can spot of hidey hole from across a large dark room. All of that…. isn’t the only problem with Ishmael this time. He is super awesome at using logic to figure stuff out but somehow, in this book, he can’t seem to figure anything out. Really? It was pretty obvious from the moment the first victim was kidnapped, yet some how Mr. Jones can’t work this one out? REALLY?? Not even going to try with a theory?? ALSO, in all the previous books, Ishmael is ultra paranoid and suspicious, but now… for some reason he isn’t?? Like, he didn’t find the bad guy suspicious at ALL?? They weren’t THAT good of actors, Ish… He just rolls with all this odd shit when in the other books he would have made a huge deal about how he doesn’t trust anyone or anything and he is suspicious of everyone in the entire house. So…. THIS DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE!!! 😡 I’m sorry, but you can’t just switch up how a character acts without some sort of catalyst for WHY the character has changed. It’s called CONTINUITY!! Oh, and now for some reason Ishmael doesn’t heal as fast as he did in the first book? Ooookay. If Green wanted to have realistic flaws like this he shouldn’t have made Ishmael so perfect with his abilities in the first 4 books.
I will say that I liked the method of killing in this book. It was a creative weapon that you don’t see that often anymore. Although, I gotta say it again… How Ishmael didn’t hear / smell / see it sooner just doesn’t work.
I think this book would have been better if it had been a standalone and not part of a series. In fact, it looks like a lot of the people who loved it didn’t know it was part of a series and this was their first encounter with Ishmael. I HATE saying this, but it felt like the author wasn’t even trying with the plot or the main character this time around. D: I really hope the next book is better, because, yes, I’m going to keep reading this series. -.-
So, once again… I will start another Ishmael Jones book review with how much I like Simon R. Green. I really, really like this author. I have liked him since the early 2000s when the Nightside series began. I fell in love with his universe and characters. So unique! So alive! So creative! When his Ghostfinders series began, I was hooked! It wasn’t as good as the Nightside series, but it was still a lot of fun, with creative situations and fun characters. Again, I really, really like this author. BUT. I have really struggled with the Ishmael Jones series. I don’t know what is going on with Simon, but this series is nowhere close to what he is capable of writing. For some reason, it feels like he is shooting for “Good enough!” and falls a little short of that. With the 4 previous books in the series, plot and banter have felt uber repetitive. He rarely deviates from a very basic formula for an outline. Most of the characters are unlikable, especial Penny, and Ishmael rides that line hard. The mystery, as well as the murderers, have been astonishingly predictable. I absolutely HATE saying these things about Simon, and I don’t want to say them! But this series… *shrug* I don’t know what is going on with it. :/ It almost feels like it’s not even the same author.
If you thought Into the Thinnest Air was going to break the terrible mold that this series is stuck in, you would be mistaken. In fact, this story felt very…. simple. D: I have mad respect for all authors, and I hate to assume an author isn’t trying very hard, but…. *waves arms around* It’s just… I KNOW Green is better then this book! :/
I love that Simon went with a locked room mystery this time around, but 80% of the book felt like all the characters just sat at the dinning table talking about what was going on over and over and OVER again. How many times do we have to sit around and say the same exact damn thing?? It felt like most of the book was filler! Practically the only action is from Ishmael tearing apart the kitchen and a tiny bit of action at the very end.
Possibly the biggest problem with this book is Ishmael himself. Ok, see, you can’t spend 4 books telling us how amazaballs Ishmael’s abilities are ALL THE FUCKING TIME only to have him be a super fail whale now. It’s not just that he was a fail whale, because, yeah, not every day is your best, BUT, the way he was fail whale is the problem. It’s like all of a sudden he isn’t as strong as he was before. Like he for some reason doesn’t have the same level of abilities as he did in the past. I’m sorry, but no. NO. In the previous books, Simon wrote Ishmael to have the most amazing sense of smell, sight, and hearing EVER. He could hear through walls from down a hallway or from upstairs. He could break down every smell in the room, even days after the scent had passed through that room. So, I’m sorry, but it’s not believable that someone with this level of phenomenal ability can’t tell what is going on because the food smells are too strong. Or that he didn’t hear the killer snatching people from behind his back because he wasn’t listening for it. Or that he somehow, this time, can’t find a hidden passageway when his eye sight is SO FANTASTIC in the other books that he can spot of hidey hole from across a large dark room. All of that…. isn’t the only problem with Ishmael this time. He is super awesome at using logic to figure stuff out but somehow, in this book, he can’t seem to figure anything out. Really? It was pretty obvious from the moment the first victim was kidnapped, yet some how Mr. Jones can’t work this one out? REALLY?? Not even going to try with a theory?? ALSO, in all the previous books, Ishmael is ultra paranoid and suspicious, but now… for some reason he isn’t?? Like, he didn’t find the bad guy suspicious at ALL?? They weren’t THAT good of actors, Ish… He just rolls with all this odd shit when in the other books he would have made a huge deal about how he doesn’t trust anyone or anything and he is suspicious of everyone in the entire house. So…. THIS DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE!!! 😡 I’m sorry, but you can’t just switch up how a character acts without some sort of catalyst for WHY the character has changed. It’s called CONTINUITY!! Oh, and now for some reason Ishmael doesn’t heal as fast as he did in the first book? Ooookay. If Green wanted to have realistic flaws like this he shouldn’t have made Ishmael so perfect with his abilities in the first 4 books.
I will say that I liked the method of killing in this book. It was a creative weapon that you don’t see that often anymore. Although, I gotta say it again… How Ishmael didn’t hear / smell / see it sooner just doesn’t work.
I think this book would have been better if it had been a standalone and not part of a series. In fact, it looks like a lot of the people who loved it didn’t know it was part of a series and this was their first encounter with Ishmael. I HATE saying this, but it felt like the author wasn’t even trying with the plot or the main character this time around. D: I really hope the next book is better, because, yes, I’m going to keep reading this series. -.-
February 15, 2018
Despite being a light fantasy, this book was derivative and one dimensional. The ending was broadcast miles away.
March 5, 2018
Way to repetitive, a short story that could have been way shorter. not a series I am interested in reading anymore of
July 26, 2018
Клише ще е, ако кажа, че и след десетки прочетени книги Саймън Грийн продължава да ме очарова и изненадва. Изненадата е, че успява и да ме уплаши. По някаква причина историите за убийството на Коледа, за Гласовете, нашепващи ужаси и безследните, безпричинни изчезвания накараха косъмчетата по врата ми да се изправят, което пък от друга страна направи финалния обрат още по-шокиращ.
Цялото ми ревю четете на линка:
http://citadelata.com/into-the-thinne...
Цялото ми ревю четете на линка:
http://citadelata.com/into-the-thinne...
December 11, 2021
Wow! This is one of the worst books I've read. It was repetitive and amazingly simple. If it weren't for the fact that a few dead bodies showed up at the end, I could have almost convinced myself that I was reading a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys book. I'm honestly amazed that anyone would spend money on this tripe. Not an author..ha, ha...that I'll ever read again. My thanks to Netgalley.
September 12, 2020
Notes:
3.5 Stars
I may up to 4 Stars. It was a great cozy mystery but I wasn't entirely happy with the ending.
3.5 Stars
I may up to 4 Stars. It was a great cozy mystery but I wasn't entirely happy with the ending.
October 6, 2020
Once again the mystery is solved with Ishmael only barely figuring it out. He also loses his cool and shows he isn't human.
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