Murder in the Dark

Murder in the Dark is the sixth novel in the Ishmael Jones series written by Simon R. Green. It was published in 2018 and I have read the previous installments of the series. Of note, the previous novel was exceptionally poor and I had not decided to continue with the series until much later when I realize I already owned this novel. Murder in the Dark is a step up from the previous novel (Into the Thinnest of Air), but not that large of a step.  The elements that were enjoyable and recommended the series in the early books are nearly absent in these latest books. There are (in print) at least five novels beyond Murder in the Dark, but at this point, I really cannot see myself reading them.  This is sad to say, because for about six Decembers this series has been a relatively easy-reading end of the year during the fireworks and the weather and whatever else.

In this novel, the “situation” is a hole that has opened into/onto the countryside.  A bunch of scientists are there studying it as per the request (demand) of the evasive and mysterious secret organizations. Ishmael and Penny are dispatched to the scene as well to be “security.”  What does security mean? And how does it even matter when, truthfully, Penny and Ishmael do not save or secure anything anymore. Basically, they always survive and to heck with the rest of the characters.

The repetitiveness found in some of the other books is also present here. The problem with this plot, really, is that it is supposed to involve a small group of very smart, very educated scientists.  So why is everyone so blessed illogical and senseless? The whole lot seems ruled by emotion and utterly flummoxed by one day of working with the phenomena. A lot [most] of the dialogue is repetitive.  The actions of the characters are very repetitive. Finally, once everything has whittled down to almost nothing, there is an attempt to do “something not repetitive,” but that fails and we return once again to the start.

Now, the last chapter or so DOES reveal, it seems, some background and insight to Ishmael’s being. However, it really only seems like it. At the end of the novel, if the reader really considers what was given, he has not learned a lot at all about the main character.

I did appreciate the horror – the eldritch and void-like horror – that the hole represented. Some of this was written about nicely – like when the characters send a camera into the hole. But for the most part, the writing does not capture the potential of true, deep psychological horror that it could have – and maybe that readers would have enjoyed. Such horror would have raised the stakes and kept the plot intense. Instead, the reader has no involvement – the characters seem very shallow and irrelevant.

So, lazy effort, again, by this author. I am glad I did not stop reading the series after the last book – this one was worth a read, more or less. However, I think I am done with this series now. It has lost all of the good writing that enticed me in the beginning. At this point, the only thing good about this was that I could finish it in a day while waiting for a chicken to roast.

2 stars

Death Shall Come

Death Shall Come is the fourth novel in Simon R. Green’s Ishmael Jones series of books.  I have read the first three in December for three years so far and saw no reason to abandon this habit this year.  I think the first book was the best of all of them, by far.  However, the silliness and outlandishness of the stories entertains me and I look forward to my December reading.   Death Shall Come was first published in 2017.  

The thing that the end of the year (particularly these last two years) needs, is some entertaining, outlandish fun to be had. Something silly and preposterous that does not feel oppressive or dismal.  These Ishmael Jones books are utterly the best fit for my end of year reading. Every novel is basically setup the same way – a country house murder-mystery, which usually is quite gory and involves something un/supernatural.  Ishmael and his vivacious partner, Penny, end up wandering around locked rooms, long corridors, and the bodies pile up.  That’s it – that’s the story.

In this particular novel, we are given just a glimpse more into the character of the Colonel.  However, not much more – and I think nearly every page we are re-told how “military” he is.  Its tedious and I am sure impatient readers will hate the whole thing.  But it doesn’t bother me; I was weaned on Homer, do you know how many times we are reminded of the stock epithets for Achilles and Agamemnon? 

This story’s theme involves a family of collectors of ancient Egyptian artefacts.  The family’s name in the book is the Cardavans.  We are told that for generations the Cardavans have used their enormous wealth to acquire treasures and circumvent legal/monetary obstacles regarding possessing these treasures.  Readers with an ounce of history will know that the famous Howard Carter (“discoverer” of the Tut tomb) was financed by George Herbert, Lord Carnarvon.  A name similar to the characters’ in this novel.  The Cardavans have acquired a freshly-unearthed mummy and are currently relishing in their acquisition.  The mummy is allegedly one of the older Cleopatras (not the most famous Greek one). 

The “twist” in this book, I guess, is that the Colonel assigns Ishmael this mission – not for the mysterious Organization, but as a “favor” to him.  And the Colonel stays with us the entire story, not just appearing in the first and final chapters.  Overall, in this particular story, he was rather flat and one-dimensional. I think I preferred him at a distance.  In any case, he asks for this favor from Ishmael because the Cardavans are his in-laws.  Meaning, we get to meet the Colonel’s wife, Chloe.  

‘What are you so nervous about?’ said Penny.  ‘At best it’s a mummy, at worst it’s a serial killer.  We can handle either of those without breaking into sweat.’ – pg 139

So, Chapter Seven actually had a moment of pulse-pounding for me. I guess I am a silly, simple reader.  Nevertheless, when the suspense was building I was really on the edge of my seat.  Its not a long segment, maybe three pages, tops, but it was fun and I liked listening to the terrifying footsteps on the other side of the door. Listening to them listening to it listening to us. 

A personal anecdote of relevance…. one of my favorite books as a single-digit monster was The Secret of Terror Castle (1964). I read the ever-living hell out of that thing. I loved it. I read and re-read that one many times.  So, I do wonder if the impact of having read that story so many times developed a strong inclination toward country-home/Gothic castle murder-mysteries.  In any case, if the story contains any elements whatsoever of The Secret of Terror Castle, chances are I will be thrilled.  And this has borne out with the fact that I rated John Dickson Carr’s Castle Skull (1931) so highly.  Anyway, it should come as no surprise that I will likely try to read the rest of Green’s Ishmael Jones series.

3 stars

Dead Man Walking

Dead Man Walking by Simon R. Green is the second novel (2016) in the Ishmael Jones series. I read the first novel (The Dark Side of the Road) early in January 2017 and knew I would continue in the series. I liked the timing of reading the novel because it is a fast-paced, easy-reader sort of thing without much brain-drain whatsoever. The second novel was the same, a little less gory, though, but still with copious amounts of fun. A really good read for lazy winter holiday break between lounging and liquor and languishing.

What is this series? Its sort of a spy organization combined with noir British detective stories and rural country homes with monsters. Needless to say, this is not high-brow stuff. Its fun, though, and if you read so much un-fun literature that you cannot enjoy the fun stuff, you have got this whole reading thing all wrong.

The novel has some repetitive lines, which might exasperate readers who are looking for a different (more literary?) sort of novel. But it works here and I like it. Its a comfortable feeling. There are tropes and obvious items and goofy elements, too, but its all in fun. The writing is speedy and I have grown fonder of Ishmael in this second book.

I admit, in the first book I did not know what to expect. I was a little surprised, but I found it gripping and intriguing and a quite a bit creepy in parts. There was a lot of gore – but it was fitting with the storyline. Now that I am more familiar with the characters and the style, it feels like spending the holiday break with some friends.

Penny (the supporting character) is a riot. Even when you know the author is trying to be funny and amuse us very heavy-handedly, it works. I laughed aloud a couple of times – earning some quizzical looks from my household. Isn’t the book I’m reading some sort of noir horror novel? Why am I laughing?

Well, I took a dislike to the culprit early on. I am not sure his motive was anything other than very “typical.” And as far as doing any detecting or investigating, the characters just got shoved around the country house here and there, running around always after-the-fact and too-late. None of this would be good writing for those expert detective club grandmasters. So, why is it so engaging? I think because it does not take itself overly-seriously and there is always going to be a fun/exciting appeal to creepy country homes with murder and spies.

Yes, I intend to read the next book in the series. Yes, its as goofy as you would expect. Yes, I recommend it to, more or less, all readers.

3 stars