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Ally Oldfield Series #1
The End of the World is Nigh: Mystery. History. Comedy.
Everyone knows about Nostradamus. No one knows about Philibert Montmorency.One’s a legend. The other…not so much.
Marseille, 1561
Like the majority of people living in sixteenth century France, Philibert Montmorency is a peasant. Unlike most people, he’s pretending not to be one. Philibert is a conman, but a chance meeting with Nostradamus in a Marseille prison convinces him that being a prophet might be a better career move. There are plenty of transferrable skills after all.
Lyon, Modern Day
Dr Ally Oldfield, renowned professor of medieval languages, is summoned to Lyon to authenticate a newly discovered prophecy. She’s not happy about it but then again, she’s not happy about most things. As an expert in Nostradamus’s work, she’s convinced it’s a fake even if the evidence suggests it was written four hundred years ago. When the pandemic it predicts unfolds, Ally finds herself in a race against time to prove it’s a fraud. Global tensions rise further when the Oblivion Doctrine, a shady online organisation, use the prediction to incite fear and panic for their own gain.
The only way Ally can stop the ensuing chaos is to figure out the clues left scattered in Lyon’s Renaissance history to work out who really wrote the prophecy. But when someone frames Ally for the murder of a rival historian she’s forced to rely on Gabrielle, a ditsy millennial prepper, and Antoine, a mysterious old man with a secret, to clear her name and ease the escalating chaos.
Will Ally and her misfits decipher the clues before the Oblivion Doctrine succeed in bringing the world to an end?
‘The End of the World in Nigh’ is the first book in the ‘Ally Oldfield’ series. If you like conspiracy thrillers with ‘crushingly dark humour,’ surprising twists and a kick arse female heroine then you’ll love Tony Moyle’s page-turner.
Grab ‘The End the of the World is Nigh’ to enjoy Ally’s adventures today!
What readers are saying about ‘The End of the World is Nigh’
‘The End of the World is N1G13 is a superb, can't-put-down read’‘How prophetic of the author to foresee the pandemic now engulfing the world and to tie that in with a story about Nostradamus/Philibert Montmorency. Mr. Moyle’s prophecy of our present situation is worthy of the great Nostradamus (or Montmorency) himself.’‘One of the best books I have read, and I've read thousands’‘One of those books you don't want to finish and leaves you wanting more!’‘A murder mystery with a unique slant to it and a story you simply have to read to satisfy a curiosity that builds with the story’‘Loved this book. Original plot, very funny. Going to read all his books for sure’‘Really enjoyed this book, great fun, I laughed out loud. Good mastery of the written word’‘Superb read, well worth the insanely small purchase price’‘I laughed, then cried and laughed some more’
Marseille, 1561
Like the majority of people living in sixteenth century France, Philibert Montmorency is a peasant. Unlike most people, he’s pretending not to be one. Philibert is a conman, but a chance meeting with Nostradamus in a Marseille prison convinces him that being a prophet might be a better career move. There are plenty of transferrable skills after all.
Lyon, Modern Day
Dr Ally Oldfield, renowned professor of medieval languages, is summoned to Lyon to authenticate a newly discovered prophecy. She’s not happy about it but then again, she’s not happy about most things. As an expert in Nostradamus’s work, she’s convinced it’s a fake even if the evidence suggests it was written four hundred years ago. When the pandemic it predicts unfolds, Ally finds herself in a race against time to prove it’s a fraud. Global tensions rise further when the Oblivion Doctrine, a shady online organisation, use the prediction to incite fear and panic for their own gain.
The only way Ally can stop the ensuing chaos is to figure out the clues left scattered in Lyon’s Renaissance history to work out who really wrote the prophecy. But when someone frames Ally for the murder of a rival historian she’s forced to rely on Gabrielle, a ditsy millennial prepper, and Antoine, a mysterious old man with a secret, to clear her name and ease the escalating chaos.
Will Ally and her misfits decipher the clues before the Oblivion Doctrine succeed in bringing the world to an end?
‘The End of the World in Nigh’ is the first book in the ‘Ally Oldfield’ series. If you like conspiracy thrillers with ‘crushingly dark humour,’ surprising twists and a kick arse female heroine then you’ll love Tony Moyle’s page-turner.
Grab ‘The End the of the World is Nigh’ to enjoy Ally’s adventures today!
What readers are saying about ‘The End of the World is Nigh’
‘The End of the World is N1G13 is a superb, can't-put-down read’‘How prophetic of the author to foresee the pandemic now engulfing the world and to tie that in with a story about Nostradamus/Philibert Montmorency. Mr. Moyle’s prophecy of our present situation is worthy of the great Nostradamus (or Montmorency) himself.’‘One of the best books I have read, and I've read thousands’‘One of those books you don't want to finish and leaves you wanting more!’‘A murder mystery with a unique slant to it and a story you simply have to read to satisfy a curiosity that builds with the story’‘Loved this book. Original plot, very funny. Going to read all his books for sure’‘Really enjoyed this book, great fun, I laughed out loud. Good mastery of the written word’‘Superb read, well worth the insanely small purchase price’‘I laughed, then cried and laughed some more’
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2019
892 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
Tony Moyle
18 books107 followersTony Moyle was born in the small town of Shepton Mallet in 1976. He's spent the last four decades attempting to find a third reason for the town to be famous behind Babycham and a Frank Bruno heavy weight boxing fight. Although he studied Chemistry at Exeter University he was terrible at it and instead fell into a role within the business community. After twenty years of deliberation and prevarication he published his first novel, 'The Limpet Syndrome.' His second novel, and sequel, 'Soul Catchers' is out in November 2017. He lives in the small town of Ashington at the base of the South Downs national park with this wife, Laure, and two children. He regrets that he still currently has a day job.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 19, 2019
The End of the World is Nigh is a humorous tale about a stern researcher, a rich and eccentric older gentleman, and a ditsy doomsday prepper whom fate has decided need to work together in order to solve a mystery.
Like Tony’s other tales, this book had a little something for everyone; humor, mystery, light romance, historical elements, and a bit of suspense!
The tale was told in two timelines- one in the present when a new prophecy was discovered, and one in the past that lead up to that same prophecy being written.
I enjoyed the timeline that was set in the present, but I absolutely loved the timeline in the past! It was so fun and exciting, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next! I also loved that the author mixed in some more modern elements into the narration and the story itself. On more than a few occasions the sudden mention of something modern made me laugh out loud.
In the tale, there were a few sections that I just had to highlight because of how much I enjoyed them!
The first was a section on how the rumor about the end of the world spread. Seeing what the various theories were was equally hysterical and unnerving. It’s so amazing to think about how quickly news spreads and gets blown out of proportion like a game of telephone.
I also loved the scene where Nostradamus taught Philibert the rules of writing a prophecy. I thought this sequence was so clever!
There was a sequence where Chambard tried to capture a wild boar… My goodness, this had me laughing with tears streaming down my cheeks!
Lastly, the opening of chapter “A Bump In The Night” was so perfect! I loved the formula to a successful horror movie! I adore when the author goes off on what seem like tangents at first, but it soon loops back to the story perfectly.
The Characters:
Ally– a researcher and expert on Nostradamus. Called in to check out a book to see if it was really annotated by Nostradamus. Quite abrasive and close-minded.
Antoine– the man that owned the house the book in question was found in. Open-minded, and on the hunt for answers. Rather eccentric and very upbeat.
Philibert, aka Phil– a man locked in a jail cell with Nostradamus who has lived the life of a wanderer, escaping a life of poverty. His latest goal was to learn how to be a prophet.
Chambard– a man that taught Philibert about being a wanderer and worked with Phil to try to make sure his prophecies came true.
Michel de Notredsme, aka Nostradamus– the original prophet. Very dramatic, selfish, and full of himself.
Gabriel Janvier– a ditsy doomsday prepper that goes off into the woods to try to save herself from the flu that was killing people. A type of person that seems to be the stereotypical millennial that the older generations hate.
Ally’s negativity toward millennial’s was incredibly frustrating, but also well done. This tension certainly highlighted two stereotypical individuals from each generation. Ally’s character was so clearly upset by the younger generation that she took one look at Gabriel, judged her in an instant, and didn’t let anything convince her otherwise. This really hit this topic on the nose! If I had a dollar for every time someone judged me because of my age and actually told me so… Ugh.
I’m so glad there were positives about millennials mixed in there from Gabriel’s standpoint because just straight millennial bashing would have been exhausting. And when Gabriel had her little monologue when she got coffee… just wonderful.
My Favorite Passages
The end of the world was coming. The exact circumstances and timelines were a bit sketchy, but it was almost certainly going to be on a Tuesday, and it was definitely going to be messy.
Whether the prophecy was authentic or not didn’t stop it doing laps of the internet faster than a ‘cat falling off a ladder’ meme.
Jacques drew a blade from his belt and advanced slowly on the unwelcomed guest. To protect himself, Phil spontaneously drew the only blade that he carried, a slightly bent, short and blunt lock picking knife. If it came to actual sword play his weapon was a raspberry against a watermelon.
Thanks in large part to the hugely popular online group the Oblivion Doctrine news of the apocalypse had spread in hours like the free movement of liquid from a split mug of tea. And just like a tea spillage the volume on the table always far exceeded the apparent capacity of the mug.
“It looks to me, from the way you are dressed, that you too are a noble. The correct response in that situation would have been to challenge the other to a dual. What was your approach?”
“I waved a rather inoffensive bent pen-knife at him.”
“Unconventional.”
“And ineffective as it happens,” added Phil.
Charles had a habit of insisting on items that simply didn’t exist, like a mug of lightening or a nurse with three nipples. Whether Charles knew he was asking for the absurd or not didn’t seem to restrain him. It was as if his preposterous desires were purposefully designed to instigate his second favourite past time, losing his shit.
“This is ridiculous, sit down.”
“I don’t think you understand. I will not be bullied by anyone, male or female, friend or stranger, ally or foe. If you wish to learn something from me you will need to act accordingly.”
“Palomer is a word used mainly in Provence and comes from the seventeenth century. It has two meanings; mild in manner or keeper of pigeons.”
“Oh dear, I’m not overly keen on pigeons. I think I’ll go with the first meaning.”
Light was now trying desperately to penetrate their ground floor window in order to introduce them to a new day. Phil didn’t know how many more he’d spend here or whether the next one would bring news of his fate.
But then again, what was truth? To be certain that you’d found it you had to do research, check facts, use your own brain and have an open yet skeptical mind to all information and opinions. Truth took ages. It was much easier to seek out opinions that backed up what you already believed. Plus you could substitute the time you might have wasted discovering the truth by angrily debating your own beliefs on Twitter with people you’d never met before, often capitalizing the word FACT as the only one evidence to back up your argument. In the twentieth century that was all people needed.
I’m just a small lamp in the great dazzling glow of enlightenment that is illuminating our world. I dedicated my life to the advancement of the human race in order to fulfill our species potential, to be more than we currently are.
… he said carefully placing the manuscript on Philibert knees to stop some of the pages making a gravity assisted dash for freedom.
So far none of his strategies had worked. Trying to reason with one had been highly ineffective. Creeping up behind one quietly in an attempt to mount it at the last moment had also not gone well. After multiple attempts the best he’d managed was the faintest of ankle tackles and a mouthful of forest floor. Coaxing them with a variety of tasty lures had been no good either. Hours he’d waited for one to venture out and devour the pile of mice and eggs he’d left as bait, only to find they’d waited long enough for him to fall asleep before eating the lot and depositing a steaming pile of boar dung as a thank you note.
By week three the topics of discussion became stretched. In a possible sign of madness the questions being posed had absolutely nothing to do with their past or current plots. There were hour long debates about ‘why dogs never walk in their own poo, when humans seem incapable of avoiding it,’ and ’which came first botulism or the plague,’ and ‘if a horse mates with a cow and had babies would they be called hows or courses.’
“… None of us can change the road on which fate had placed us… but we can decide which steps to take.”
My Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this tale! I loved each of the elements that were woven together so wonderfully, especially the mix of humor, light romance, and mystery!
If you enjoy novels that you can get totally immersed in, but which also touch on a few topics that make you stop and think, then I would highly recommend this one to you!
Like Tony’s other tales, this book had a little something for everyone; humor, mystery, light romance, historical elements, and a bit of suspense!
The tale was told in two timelines- one in the present when a new prophecy was discovered, and one in the past that lead up to that same prophecy being written.
I enjoyed the timeline that was set in the present, but I absolutely loved the timeline in the past! It was so fun and exciting, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next! I also loved that the author mixed in some more modern elements into the narration and the story itself. On more than a few occasions the sudden mention of something modern made me laugh out loud.
In the tale, there were a few sections that I just had to highlight because of how much I enjoyed them!
The first was a section on how the rumor about the end of the world spread. Seeing what the various theories were was equally hysterical and unnerving. It’s so amazing to think about how quickly news spreads and gets blown out of proportion like a game of telephone.
I also loved the scene where Nostradamus taught Philibert the rules of writing a prophecy. I thought this sequence was so clever!
There was a sequence where Chambard tried to capture a wild boar… My goodness, this had me laughing with tears streaming down my cheeks!
Lastly, the opening of chapter “A Bump In The Night” was so perfect! I loved the formula to a successful horror movie! I adore when the author goes off on what seem like tangents at first, but it soon loops back to the story perfectly.
The Characters:
Ally– a researcher and expert on Nostradamus. Called in to check out a book to see if it was really annotated by Nostradamus. Quite abrasive and close-minded.
Antoine– the man that owned the house the book in question was found in. Open-minded, and on the hunt for answers. Rather eccentric and very upbeat.
Philibert, aka Phil– a man locked in a jail cell with Nostradamus who has lived the life of a wanderer, escaping a life of poverty. His latest goal was to learn how to be a prophet.
Chambard– a man that taught Philibert about being a wanderer and worked with Phil to try to make sure his prophecies came true.
Michel de Notredsme, aka Nostradamus– the original prophet. Very dramatic, selfish, and full of himself.
Gabriel Janvier– a ditsy doomsday prepper that goes off into the woods to try to save herself from the flu that was killing people. A type of person that seems to be the stereotypical millennial that the older generations hate.
Ally’s negativity toward millennial’s was incredibly frustrating, but also well done. This tension certainly highlighted two stereotypical individuals from each generation. Ally’s character was so clearly upset by the younger generation that she took one look at Gabriel, judged her in an instant, and didn’t let anything convince her otherwise. This really hit this topic on the nose! If I had a dollar for every time someone judged me because of my age and actually told me so… Ugh.
I’m so glad there were positives about millennials mixed in there from Gabriel’s standpoint because just straight millennial bashing would have been exhausting. And when Gabriel had her little monologue when she got coffee… just wonderful.
My Favorite Passages
The end of the world was coming. The exact circumstances and timelines were a bit sketchy, but it was almost certainly going to be on a Tuesday, and it was definitely going to be messy.
Whether the prophecy was authentic or not didn’t stop it doing laps of the internet faster than a ‘cat falling off a ladder’ meme.
Jacques drew a blade from his belt and advanced slowly on the unwelcomed guest. To protect himself, Phil spontaneously drew the only blade that he carried, a slightly bent, short and blunt lock picking knife. If it came to actual sword play his weapon was a raspberry against a watermelon.
Thanks in large part to the hugely popular online group the Oblivion Doctrine news of the apocalypse had spread in hours like the free movement of liquid from a split mug of tea. And just like a tea spillage the volume on the table always far exceeded the apparent capacity of the mug.
“It looks to me, from the way you are dressed, that you too are a noble. The correct response in that situation would have been to challenge the other to a dual. What was your approach?”
“I waved a rather inoffensive bent pen-knife at him.”
“Unconventional.”
“And ineffective as it happens,” added Phil.
Charles had a habit of insisting on items that simply didn’t exist, like a mug of lightening or a nurse with three nipples. Whether Charles knew he was asking for the absurd or not didn’t seem to restrain him. It was as if his preposterous desires were purposefully designed to instigate his second favourite past time, losing his shit.
“This is ridiculous, sit down.”
“I don’t think you understand. I will not be bullied by anyone, male or female, friend or stranger, ally or foe. If you wish to learn something from me you will need to act accordingly.”
“Palomer is a word used mainly in Provence and comes from the seventeenth century. It has two meanings; mild in manner or keeper of pigeons.”
“Oh dear, I’m not overly keen on pigeons. I think I’ll go with the first meaning.”
Light was now trying desperately to penetrate their ground floor window in order to introduce them to a new day. Phil didn’t know how many more he’d spend here or whether the next one would bring news of his fate.
But then again, what was truth? To be certain that you’d found it you had to do research, check facts, use your own brain and have an open yet skeptical mind to all information and opinions. Truth took ages. It was much easier to seek out opinions that backed up what you already believed. Plus you could substitute the time you might have wasted discovering the truth by angrily debating your own beliefs on Twitter with people you’d never met before, often capitalizing the word FACT as the only one evidence to back up your argument. In the twentieth century that was all people needed.
I’m just a small lamp in the great dazzling glow of enlightenment that is illuminating our world. I dedicated my life to the advancement of the human race in order to fulfill our species potential, to be more than we currently are.
… he said carefully placing the manuscript on Philibert knees to stop some of the pages making a gravity assisted dash for freedom.
So far none of his strategies had worked. Trying to reason with one had been highly ineffective. Creeping up behind one quietly in an attempt to mount it at the last moment had also not gone well. After multiple attempts the best he’d managed was the faintest of ankle tackles and a mouthful of forest floor. Coaxing them with a variety of tasty lures had been no good either. Hours he’d waited for one to venture out and devour the pile of mice and eggs he’d left as bait, only to find they’d waited long enough for him to fall asleep before eating the lot and depositing a steaming pile of boar dung as a thank you note.
By week three the topics of discussion became stretched. In a possible sign of madness the questions being posed had absolutely nothing to do with their past or current plots. There were hour long debates about ‘why dogs never walk in their own poo, when humans seem incapable of avoiding it,’ and ’which came first botulism or the plague,’ and ‘if a horse mates with a cow and had babies would they be called hows or courses.’
“… None of us can change the road on which fate had placed us… but we can decide which steps to take.”
My Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this tale! I loved each of the elements that were woven together so wonderfully, especially the mix of humor, light romance, and mystery!
If you enjoy novels that you can get totally immersed in, but which also touch on a few topics that make you stop and think, then I would highly recommend this one to you!
May 6, 2019
Clever and witty, a very worthy read!
I’m not one for reviews as more often than not I disagree with them and much prefer to independently form my own views. However, as Tony Moyle is a new author, I think it worth some words of encouragement to other readers that this and his other works are very much worth exploring.
There is a similar experience, in reading Tony’s books, as I had with Terry Pritchett.....the feeling of amused joy, the intrigue and a genuine sense that a great writer is developing their style into something unique and breathtaking. Unlike the protagonists of this book, I am no prophet. However, I hope to be more accurate than Nostradamus in predicting the rise of a new and talented author. Tony, I await more of your work with eagerness.
I’m not one for reviews as more often than not I disagree with them and much prefer to independently form my own views. However, as Tony Moyle is a new author, I think it worth some words of encouragement to other readers that this and his other works are very much worth exploring.
There is a similar experience, in reading Tony’s books, as I had with Terry Pritchett.....the feeling of amused joy, the intrigue and a genuine sense that a great writer is developing their style into something unique and breathtaking. Unlike the protagonists of this book, I am no prophet. However, I hope to be more accurate than Nostradamus in predicting the rise of a new and talented author. Tony, I await more of your work with eagerness.
August 29, 2025
Wonderful in every respect. Beautifully written and flows like milk down cleopatra’s back.
Cleverly crafted tale switching between old and new, the like not seen since reading Hawksmoor many moons ago.
Give this a go, you’ll love it.
Halelujawobble.
Cleverly crafted tale switching between old and new, the like not seen since reading Hawksmoor many moons ago.
Give this a go, you’ll love it.
Halelujawobble.
April 12, 2020
When a flu-like virus takes over the world in a plague like pandemic, people become desperate. When a prophecy of Nostradamus is uncovered that seems to predict the flu to be end times, not everyone believes it. Ally, a medieval literature professor, decides to see if the prophecy is indeed authentic. That decision leads her on a journey she could never see coming.
This is unlike any book I’ve read before. With the parallels of the flu-like virus compared to everything that’s happening today, it made it almost an eerie read. I liked this book though. It flipped between the modern day and past in an interesting way. It was almost as if there were two books woven together in one tale. None of the modern-day characters were particularly likeable, but I liked the relationship between Philibert and Nostradamus in the past.
I thought the entire bit about the prophecies, how they are created and interpreted was all an interesting part of the book. My favorite part is how the philosophers admitted to created broad prophecies simply because it was harder to prove them wrong. It’s interesting because people do have a tendency to put their own meaning into the words they read. It’s not much different when it comes to ancient writings and “prophecies.”
While a bit hard to get into at the beginning, I am glad I stuck through to the end because this book was a gem. It had plenty of adventure, mystery, intrigue, and humor. Well done!
I’ve heard the narrator’s book on several other books, and I am never disappointed by his performance. Every audiobook he touches, he turns to gold.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This is unlike any book I’ve read before. With the parallels of the flu-like virus compared to everything that’s happening today, it made it almost an eerie read. I liked this book though. It flipped between the modern day and past in an interesting way. It was almost as if there were two books woven together in one tale. None of the modern-day characters were particularly likeable, but I liked the relationship between Philibert and Nostradamus in the past.
I thought the entire bit about the prophecies, how they are created and interpreted was all an interesting part of the book. My favorite part is how the philosophers admitted to created broad prophecies simply because it was harder to prove them wrong. It’s interesting because people do have a tendency to put their own meaning into the words they read. It’s not much different when it comes to ancient writings and “prophecies.”
While a bit hard to get into at the beginning, I am glad I stuck through to the end because this book was a gem. It had plenty of adventure, mystery, intrigue, and humor. Well done!
I’ve heard the narrator’s book on several other books, and I am never disappointed by his performance. Every audiobook he touches, he turns to gold.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
February 20, 2019
I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. Tony Moyle has written an intriguing book that intertwines two time periods and has the reader wanting to know what will happen next in both of them. We are introduced to Philibert Montmorency in the mid sixteenth century and follow his adventures. At the same time we are introduced to Doctor Ally Oldfield in present time and follow her while she attempts to solve the mystery of a prophecy. The surprise comes at the end when we find out if and how these two story lines connect. I highly recommend this book to anyone.
February 26, 2019
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this book. This is Tony Moyle's funniest book yet. The ending was a bit unexpected, finishing as it did with a con revealed. However, as my favourite character in this book was a master con artist, it all worked out. Michel Nostradamus, move over for Philibert Lesage! Cheers! *raises a glass of peacock milk*
October 7, 2019
I've not read any of Tony Moyles' books before, but was lucky enough to receive a free copy of the audiobook in return for an honest review.
The writing was great, an entertaining time-slip romp full of Nostradamus, cons, French nobility, tragedy, cryptic clues and the end of the world.
Aubry Parsons' narration was as effervescent and joyful as the colourful, larger-than-life characters.
Great book - clever, witty and memorable.
The writing was great, an entertaining time-slip romp full of Nostradamus, cons, French nobility, tragedy, cryptic clues and the end of the world.
Aubry Parsons' narration was as effervescent and joyful as the colourful, larger-than-life characters.
Great book - clever, witty and memorable.
December 20, 2019
From the word go I was hooked on this book, I was at first disappointed with the style of two different stories as I usually struggle to follow both, however in this case the writer made you wonder what the characters were up to whilst you are immersed in the other story!
Definitely up there with the discworld and hitchhiker books.
Definitely up there with the discworld and hitchhiker books.
December 22, 2019
This was a fun, light read.
The parallel storylines between the 16th century and modern times was very nice and kept me engaged. Overall I found it quite gripping and funny.
The narrator did a fine job, but some of the characters sounded a bit off. Anyway, I liked his performance overall.
So if you’re looking for a fun read that doesn’t take too much out of you, this could be it.
The parallel storylines between the 16th century and modern times was very nice and kept me engaged. Overall I found it quite gripping and funny.
The narrator did a fine job, but some of the characters sounded a bit off. Anyway, I liked his performance overall.
So if you’re looking for a fun read that doesn’t take too much out of you, this could be it.
April 30, 2019
I did enjoy this book. A historical romp with a hint of a compassionate criminality allied to an underdog fighting against the system. The system, however, is sixteenth century France and the writer just adores examining it from a modern perspective. A wonderful cast of characters including Catherine De Medici and Michel Nostradamus are subjected to Tony Moyle's wicked sense of humour on subjects as diverse as witchcraft, survivalism, life and death, poverty, crime and punishment, and of course all of this in a narrative that moves faster than an air-borne pandemic. I know it's a good book because when the story moves from the past to the present I curse the author for making me wait to find out what happens next. What I, the reader, want to know is when will the next book in the series come out. I even like Dr Oldfield and I hope she will one day like somebody herself. Nice going Tony I'm ready to get in the carriage now.
September 16, 2019
My first Tony Moyle. I must read more. Loved it; clever, witty, surprising.
March 9, 2019
Really a 3.5, this is an odd little book that turns out to be quite wonderful. It reads like a marriage between Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman which is a good thing, but is occasionally trying. It’s a thoroughly modern novel even in its flashbacks to the 16th century. This is mostly funny but sometimes annoying. The middle for some reason is unbearably dull. This could be because I’ve been off work all week with a pinched nerve and painkillers but if you can persevere past that, the denouement is excellent and ends quite wonderfully. I’ve never been very interested in Nostradamus past a mild curiosity as a young teen but I particularly liked the end.
July 13, 2021
The story was unique. Shifting between what happened in the past to sorting through the clues today and back again. Though I found the shifts between current times and historical ones sometimes hard to follow, overall I really enjoyed the story. The characters were fun and interesting. The plot twists weren't unexpected but the ride through them was definitely fun. This was not the first of Moyle's books that I have read, and it definitely won't be the last
June 7, 2022
3.5* I think this was a case of it's me not you! Quirky story that I listened to an audio but I did find myself distracted and drifting off at points, though I found it overall quite interesting and funny. The narrator did a great job with all the accents. It was an odd mash-up! Something that I feel I should have enjoyed more.
August 25, 2019
It took me a longtime to get around to finishing this book because the plot just didn't really catch my interest until about half through. That said, the writing style is wry and amusing. It made me laugh.
January 20, 2021
Entertaining in the manner of Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman.
Fun and a little prescient of the current times.
Very enjoyable!
Fun and a little prescient of the current times.
Very enjoyable!
March 16, 2022
A very good historical-fantasy romp - with stories in the 21st and 16th century running in parallel.
Very much in the spirit of Terry Pratchett / Neil Gaiman "Good Omens".
I enjoyed very much listening to this book. Plenty of humour, pace and mystery to keep the story going.
Very much in the spirit of Terry Pratchett / Neil Gaiman "Good Omens".
I enjoyed very much listening to this book. Plenty of humour, pace and mystery to keep the story going.
September 21, 2019
Entertaining enough, but a little confusing at the end.
April 3, 2020
The obvious comment to make about this book is that some might not find it the ideal listen at this time as the method by which the world might be ending might hit a little close to home at this time, however that should not dissuade most people from this book that combines it's two time periods (modern day and nostradmus' era) very well.
The author's take on this genre has a similar sort of feel to the humour from something like Good Omens with it changing the tone of the book rather than treating the premise with respect, a more self-aware DaVinci Code perhaps?
A lot of the book's cast tends more towards interesting than likeable, but the author gets the balance right and they never stray into unlikable enough to detract from the story itself.
On the whole, I thought the narration was a strong one with a good range of voices, although the accent chosen for the female lead was a little jarring as it sounded rather like Bernard Manning, on the other hand the choice to go for distinctive tones for the various characters rather than trying accents was a good one.
Overall, an entertaining listen that managed to blend the two time periods and a sometimes complex plot with a great deal of wit and charm.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
The author's take on this genre has a similar sort of feel to the humour from something like Good Omens with it changing the tone of the book rather than treating the premise with respect, a more self-aware DaVinci Code perhaps?
A lot of the book's cast tends more towards interesting than likeable, but the author gets the balance right and they never stray into unlikable enough to detract from the story itself.
On the whole, I thought the narration was a strong one with a good range of voices, although the accent chosen for the female lead was a little jarring as it sounded rather like Bernard Manning, on the other hand the choice to go for distinctive tones for the various characters rather than trying accents was a good one.
Overall, an entertaining listen that managed to blend the two time periods and a sometimes complex plot with a great deal of wit and charm.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
April 4, 2020
First of all, loved this book! I think it would be wrong to classify it as 'similar to Terry Pratchett's Discworld" novels, as I have seen in some reviews of this book. Don't read this expecting dwarves and witches. However, do expect a humorous ride along the way!
The book alternates between the present time (with a eerily accurate prediction of a virus that is killing at will, originating in Asia, and creating panic in Europe), and the time of Nostradamus. If anything, the book reminded me of a Dan Brown novel, with it's doomsday virus, reluctant Nostradamus expert forced into solving riddles, but of course much funnier and more ridiculous.
While in the first half of the book, I was enjoying the modern day chapters more, the story really starts gathering pace later on, particularly the chapters written on sixteenth century France. The book gets better, and I loved the ending.
The book alternates between the present time (with a eerily accurate prediction of a virus that is killing at will, originating in Asia, and creating panic in Europe), and the time of Nostradamus. If anything, the book reminded me of a Dan Brown novel, with it's doomsday virus, reluctant Nostradamus expert forced into solving riddles, but of course much funnier and more ridiculous.
While in the first half of the book, I was enjoying the modern day chapters more, the story really starts gathering pace later on, particularly the chapters written on sixteenth century France. The book gets better, and I loved the ending.
April 27, 2020
The story in The End Of The World Is Nigh is about prophecy and truth. It features a potential species ending pandemic. Tony Moyle describes the actions taken by governments around the world with some surprisingly, and somewhat disturbingly, accurate details that we have seen during the Covid-19 outbreak. It was one of those strange coincidences for me to finally get to this book after it has spent so long on my list. I’m glad I finally got around to enjoying this fantastic story. It’s set in both the modern day and also the medieval times of Nostradamus and the author handles both eras with the same ‘tongue-in-cheek’ style. Did Nostradamus predict the pandemic? Is it a fake? Ally Oldfield is sent to find out and that’s when a lot of interesting and dangerous things occur for her. We find out the truth of the prophecy in the past through Phil, a commoner conman chancer that by chance one day finds himself in a cell with the famous Nostradamus. I don’t want to give too much of the story away so I’ll just say the story is funny throughout, immensely entertaining, very well written and brilliantly plotted.
August 21, 2019
I enjoyed the Afterlife series well enough, but this feels like a step up. I specifically enjoyed the lack of 'ye olde englishe' that so many authors choose to use when writing in historical settings and the fact that the main protagonist in 16th century France was named Phil tickled me more than it probably should have.
Wholy deserved shots at Renault aside, the pacing was good, the characters were fun and unfortunately the story was largely believable - but that's an indictment of modern society less than a complaint about the book :)
Wholy deserved shots at Renault aside, the pacing was good, the characters were fun and unfortunately the story was largely believable - but that's an indictment of modern society less than a complaint about the book :)
October 18, 2019
First of all: "This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."
Now that that's out of the way, I cannot over-emphasize how much I liked this book! One of the best I've read in a long time. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading Terry Pratchett, or Neil Gaiman, or Joe Abercrombie.
The characters were all engaging, the setting was very realistic (the medieval chapters being actually based in a real historical setting) and the plot was fantastic. It was plausible without being predictable. And so funny! More than once I found myself actually laughing out loud.
I also can't say enough about the narrator of this audiobook. Fantastic pacing, terrific voices for the different characters, and an obvious knowledge inside and out of the material.
If you enjoy fantasy, conspiracy theories, or Nostradamus, definitely give this one a go!
Now that that's out of the way, I cannot over-emphasize how much I liked this book! One of the best I've read in a long time. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading Terry Pratchett, or Neil Gaiman, or Joe Abercrombie.
The characters were all engaging, the setting was very realistic (the medieval chapters being actually based in a real historical setting) and the plot was fantastic. It was plausible without being predictable. And so funny! More than once I found myself actually laughing out loud.
I also can't say enough about the narrator of this audiobook. Fantastic pacing, terrific voices for the different characters, and an obvious knowledge inside and out of the material.
If you enjoy fantasy, conspiracy theories, or Nostradamus, definitely give this one a go!
September 8, 2019
What a superb read! Funny, full of action and adventure, and a superb story line. There was were so many places in the book where I laughed so hard, literally tears were flowing out my eyes. This style of humour and action reminds me of David Wong's style. I have to read all the rest of Moyle's work now..
September 10, 2019
The end of the world is nigh or is it N1G13, a virulent virus that’s killing off humankind? Disagreeable Ally, Millennial Gabriel, and long dead Phil are among the characters that set out to save the world. Narration is heavily tongue in cheek without being too snarky. The last page is just perfect.
September 23, 2019
At first I had a hard time liking this book. We jumped around in time willy-nilly without much explanation, weren’t sure who the characters were for a bit. It wasn’t quite as Terry Pratchettesque as promised. But eventually it came together somewhat, enough that I was sorry to see it end. Good first try.
February 11, 2020
An easy and intriguing read
Found the flipping forwards and backwards in time a little confusing at times, would have enjoyed more of the current day story to be expand in more deoth.... Moving into book 2 in the series now, hopefully the foundations have been laid for more about Ally...
Found the flipping forwards and backwards in time a little confusing at times, would have enjoyed more of the current day story to be expand in more deoth.... Moving into book 2 in the series now, hopefully the foundations have been laid for more about Ally...
July 12, 2019
I listened to the audio book and it was wonderful. The story was fun, fresh and kept my interest. The dialog was the right mix of funny and witty and believably. the main characters were a mix of likable foibles with a edge of vulnerability. The narration was spot on making each character distinct and bringing the books quirkiness alive.
July 24, 2019
A terrific yarn
This the 4th Tony Boyle book I have read and it is another step up. Good pace, nicely contrived plot and excellent characterisation. As I said in the headline, a terrific yarn.
This the 4th Tony Boyle book I have read and it is another step up. Good pace, nicely contrived plot and excellent characterisation. As I said in the headline, a terrific yarn.
January 5, 2020
A fun read, great suspense!
Will the world end? Will Philibert go free? Is the prophecy accurate? A great read that's hard to put down. So many undertones loyalty, humanitarianism, love, intrigue, and intelligence, along with a few laughs. This book is well worth the entertainment value, thank you!
Will the world end? Will Philibert go free? Is the prophecy accurate? A great read that's hard to put down. So many undertones loyalty, humanitarianism, love, intrigue, and intelligence, along with a few laughs. This book is well worth the entertainment value, thank you!
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