The Dark Side of the Road - Paperback

by Simon R. Green (Author)

ISHMAEL JONES IS ON THE CASE. Paranormal private detective Ishmael Jones is invited to his employer's country house for Christmas just in time to become embroiled in a locked-room mystery with a supernatural twist.

CALL HIM ISHMAEL . . .

Ishmael Jones. He's used to keeping a low profile, living under the radar and on the dark side of the road. He makes his living solving mysteries and uncovering dark secrets some would prefer to stay hidden.

But when he's invited by his employer--a man known only as "The Colonel"--to spend Christmas at the Colonel's sprawling country house, Ishmael Jones decides to come in from the dark for some holiday cheer.

Jones arrives at the remote Belancourt Manor in the midst of a blizzard only to discover that the Colonel has gone missing. It soon becomes clear that the guests are harboring dark secrets--and that it will be up to Ishmael Jones to stop a savage killer.

A locked-room, country house mystery with a supernatural twist as only Simon R. Green could write it.

Praise for The Dark Side of the Road:

"[A] brisk, breezy first in a new mystery series... With convincing supernatural twists [and] witty chapter titles... readers will be anxious for a sequel." --Publishers Weekly

"Genre-blending author Green introduces another wisecracking protagonist, Ishmael Jones... Fans of the British TV series Torchwood will enjoy the irreverent, otherworldly protagonist." --Booklist

"A new book from Green is always a treat for SF and urban fantasy fans, because they know that in his fictional worlds things are never quite what they seem until it's too late. His first foray into more traditional crime fiction (albeit with an otherworldy flavor) will delight mystery readers, especially those who relish a bit of genre blending." --Library Journal

"Pure horrific fun." --Audio File Magazine

"Without a doubt, this is one of the best books the author has ever penned down." --The Gatehouse

"I really enjoyed the book. If anything it was over too soon. The author captures the English Country Manor Murder Mystery feel very well, as he sets up pretty much everybody as a suspect... I look forward to finding out more in future volumes." --British Fantasy Society

"The first book in the Ishmael Jones' series had a great set of mysteries that left you dying to know what was going on." --Creature From The Book Lagoon

Praise for Jekyll & Hyde Inc.:

"This book is hard to put down. It is exciting from start to finish, with thrills and monsters waiting behind every dark corner." --San Francisco Book Review

"Green transforms Robert Lewis Stevenson's classic horror novel into the launch pad for an exciting adventure. He takes readers through a romp involving multiple horror classics, updated to the twenty-first century in an amusing and entertaining read." --Ricochet
"There's something about Green's dark humor that sucks me into many of his books. And, as violent and gory as this book is, it's really about a good man striving to stay good in the worst circumstances." --Lesa's Book Critiques

"It has all the grim and all the dark of many of the author's previous series." --Reading Reality

Praise for the Deathstalker series:

"Green moves his plot at top speed, and his characters are alive and his background solid." --Asimov's SF Magazine

"A huge SF novel of sweeping scope, told with a strong sense of legend... some old-fashioned heroes and a theme of honor -- and for the most part, it works." --Locus
"Green writes great space opera, with blasters and swords and heroes that kick butt around the galaxy." --SF Site

"An over-the-top masterpiece that veers between brutal comedy and touching riffs on love, loyalty and betrayal... bloody funny and extremely bloody." --The Guardian

"One of the few writers still using the galactic empire as a theme, and he does it to good effect. At times the stories have some of the feel of a fantasy epic, but they're undeniably sf, rip roaring space operas with dastardly villains, exciting battles, nefarious plots, and strong willed heroes. Take this as an antidote after one too many serious and relevant stories about the human condition." --Science Fiction Chronicle

"A great facility with action scenes [and] dialogue... Terrific new characters." --SFX Magazine

"I would recommend this book if you like your plots sweeping, your characters big and your stories bold." --SFcrowsnest
"Space opera at its action best. The novel is populated with heroic figures reminiscent of Lancelot and Arthur and villains that make Darth Vader seem like a nice person... Once again, Simon R. Green has written a work that will appeal to Star War fans." --Midwest Book Review

"Space opera at its finest... The motley band of rebels plays off each other with the sharp wit and endearing affection found in the best buddy comedies, and Lewis, with his wry humor, is an engaging galactic Indiana Jones." --RT Book Reviews

"Space opera on a grand scale done with great talent and a sense of adventure." --Science Fiction Chronicle

"A guaranteed blood-and-thunder romp, shot-through with broad swathes of fashion parody, a sustained piss-take on 'lives of the Rich and Famous' and the occasional lance of satire. This last is refreshing stuff. It's mostly aimed at Dictatorship, Fascism, Established Religion, the Toadying Media and so-forth-and it's nice to find an author who knows that laughter is the most destructive weapon to aim at a repressive establishment. In short, very violent, very funny, very good." --Infinity Plus

"Action, characterization, and ethical dilemmas all balanced and mingled in a way to keep readers turning pages." --Booklist
"Green's ingenuity and sarcastic prose style keep readers from getting grossed out by the bloodshed or bored by tired space opera theatrics." --Pu

Author Biography

Simon R. Green is the New York Times best-selling author of more than sixty science fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels. Green sold his first book in 1988 and the very next year was commissioned to write the best-selling novelization of the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. From there he went on to write many more series of books, including Deathstalker, Nightside, Secret History, Forest Kingdom, and the Ishmael Jones mysteries. His books have sold more than 3.8 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than a dozen different languages.