I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Just Another Judgement Day
by
Simon R. Green
urban fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by Ace Books on January 6, 2009 and has 272 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Something From the Nightside, Mean Streets, Agents of Light and Darkness, Nightingale's Lament, Paths Not Taken, Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth, Hell to Pay, The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny, A Hard Day's Knight, Hex and the City, The Unnatural Inquirer, The Bride Wore Black Leather, Home Improvement: Undead Edition, Hex Appeal, Man with the Golden Torc, Daemons are Forever, The Spy Who Haunted Me, From Hell with Love, Live and Let Drood, Casino Infernale, Blue Moon Rising, Tales of the Hidden World, Blood and Honor, From a Drood to a Kill, The Dark Side of the Road, Dead Man Walking, Very Important Corpses, Moonbreaker, Dr. DOA, Property of a Lady Faire, The House on Widows Hill
Ninth in the Nightside ddark urban fantasy series for young adults, “that secret square mile located in the dark heart of London where the sun never rises and people can fraternize with every myth and monster imaginable” and revolving around John Taylor, a private investigator.
My Take
Oh man, Green continues to blow me away with his imagination! And his interjection of new worries..!
A psychological examination of what turns a man on and off to revenge and what constitutes irredeemable sin. The Walking Man’s tour of the Street of the Gods certainly reveals some interesting insight into religion and whose God is more real.
One thing I’ve always been curious about is if JT can defuse a situation simply by using his third eye to Find whatever is holding a person/thing/situation together and then disconnect it, why does he always wait until things are dire?
The Story
The status quo is changing in the Nightside. There’s a new board of Authorities and they’ve just asked John Taylor for his help in subduing the latest big bad. Seems the Walking Man has finally shown up in the Nightside. The Wrath of God who moves in a straight line to take out evil. The sinners who deserve punishment. And it seems that the Walking Man hasn’t gotten the memo that the Nightside is neutral ground.
The Characters
John Taylor is a “private eye [with] a gift for finding things, and people…[he] will find the truth for you”. He’s also got a reputation that has security people weeping, then fleeing the scene. I do love his refusal to use weapons and his reliance upon condiments. So practical and efficient. As well as such a complete surprise to the bad guy!
Suzie Shooter helps rescue some of the Precious Memories‘ victims and grows herself. We also get to pay a visit to John and Suzie’s house.
Walker runs the Nightside. For the old Authorities and now for the new. He and John have always had a love-hate relationship with respect on both sides. Now he’s pulled a new angle out of his bowler and John is not sure just what this ploy is about. Ooh, we also discover the source for his Voice!
The Adventurers Club is…
…the new HQ for the Authorities and as JT wades through the crowd, he sees a number of familiar faces: August Moon, Sebastian Stargarve, Janissary Jane, Chandra Singh, and Julien Advent. Tamsin McReady is the new rogue vicar who replaced Old Pew. Seems she’s also Annie Abbatoir‘s daughter. Razor Eddie, the Punk God of the Straight Razor shows up for his part in a showdown.
The Walking Man gave up his all to God after his family was killed in return for his new role: that of the Wrath of God raining justice and punishment down on those who have sinned.
The Cover and Title
The cover is the Walking Man, guns out, head down as he walks the gauntlet through a sea of flames. The title very accurately reflects the story because it is Just Another Judgement Day in the Nightside. It’s just that the judgement doesn’t go quite the way some expect.
