Rating: 
Summary: Sing A Song Of Sixpence
Review: Dodging the enforcers after accidentally (on purpose) shutting down 12 percent of The Nightside's electricity. John Taylor, the dark world's premier finder accepts a new assignment, to talk to the daughter of a client - singer so powerful that listeners in the audience have been known to commit suicide. Now going clubbing on the Nightside can be fun, exciting, and, if you're not lucky, fatal. Rossignol is the singer's stage name. Once upon a time her songs were happy ones, but now she works for the Cavendish twins and they want to use the power of her voice. If she happens to kill a few dozen people in the process, it doesn't bother them in the least. It's John and Dead Boy to the rescue as they look for clues to the Cavendish's strangle hold while righting a few unexpected wrongs. In this third volume in the series, Simon Green finally gets all the bits right. Nightingale's Lament lacks the overblown noir rhetoric of the previous two volumes. This gives the story an easy believability that is critical to the success of dark fantasy. Green's slightly tongue in cheek noir becomes more compelling when the characters behave in a natural fashion. Natural to The Nightside, that is. As usual, Green spends a great deal of time creating and developing his characters. Besides Rossignol and the Cavendishes, there's Julien the newsman, Dead Boy, who was too mad to die, and numbers of peculiars that only a secret city in the heart of London could play host for. Keep an eye out for this and future episodes in the career of John Taylor, who can find anything, whether you want him to or not.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Hit for Green
Review: I have read everything I can find by this author and the Nightside novels are some of this best and most creative. John Taylor is human with a devilish twist, a heart and a mind in conflict much of the time. I hope this is not the last of these. Every time I finish one I am in the mood for more. This is a must read for any Green fans.
Rating:
Summary: Another Hit for Green
Review: I have read everything I can find by this author and the Nightside novels are some of this best and most creative. John Taylor is human with a devilish twist, a heart and a mind in conflict much of the time. I hope this is not the last of these. Every time I finish one I am in the mood for more. This is a must read for any Green fans.
Rating:
Summary: Totally awesome
Review: I've just read all three Nightside novels by Simon R. Green, and they are totally rocking. The world of Nightside is somewhat similar to Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden world, but there are very significant differences: In Jim Butcher's world, the wizard Harry Dresden relies on amulets and potions and things he prepares beforehand, as his "magic". Without those prior preparations, Harry is just as vulnerable and defenceless as any human. Harry gets beaten up very often, and after 5 books in the series, is just as unlucky a schmuck as when he began. A constant out-of-his-luck detective type. After five books, I get tired of seeing Harry never being rewarded for his deeds, always being the big loser. In Simon R. Green's world of Nightside, that square mile in the centre of London where monsters and gods live, John Taylor doesn't do wizard/witch amulet/potion type things. Taylor's has a psychic gift, that allows him to find anything. This doesn't sound like much, but the author explains that Taylor can find any object, secret, exit, and death. So even with an immortal, Taylor can use his gift to find how to kill them. Plus, he can do other things with his gift too. In the really scary world of Nightside, Taylor is a legend. His mother wasn't human, his father was. Unfortunately, he doesn't know what/where his mother is. The augaries at his birth said that he would come into his kingdom, that he would somehow rule Nightside. So Taylor has a very strong psychic power, and the mysterious and frightening power of something even more in waiting. He gets beaten up occasionally, but unlike Harry Dresden, he isn't a wimp, he can fight back with his power and after 3 books, his good fortune grows. I like that, when a good guy gets ahead, shows some positive progress in the series. Plus, the world of Nightside is truly beautiful/frightening. The author uses very strong imagery, very powerful and evocative. The characters in Nightside are amazing. Unlike many other authors, Simon R. Green doesn't just pick up monsters from regular culture and throw them into his world (like vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.), he makes up his own monsters. Like Sara the Sorrow, who long ago gave up her humanity and is now the Unbeliever, not believing anything she sees, so that if she looks at you, the power of total lack of belief lets her unmake anything, anyone. Anyway, these are great books, and especially if you like detective mysteries, psychic powers, very strange inhabitants of a very strange place, the promise of a prophecy and a would-be king and don't mind gore, this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: John Tayor vs Death
Review: John Taylor is back again. Although his money troubles have been lessened by his payment in the previous adventure, his troubles are far from over. Walker has asked him to look in on some sabotage at a local power company. But things do not go as planned and the case's resolution has repercussions throughout the rest of the book. While hiding from Walker, John gets hired to look into a rising singing star. Her father wants to make sure she is alright. What should be a simple case is not. The singer's songs seem to be able to drive people to suicide. Her managers are a very mysterious pair wielding a lot of power. The power company case is still sending ripples through everything. There is a lot for John to resolve and even more to just plain survive. John battles some of his worst foes and we see a return of the Harrowing. But in the end John manages to put things as right as they can be. After all, he IS John Taylor. A fast and well-paced story with a little more depth to the subplots (which aren't so sub). A few surprises can be seen from far away but others pop up out of the blue. This is the second best book in the series so far. Unfortunately the volume is padded with nearly 30 pages of a preview of Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris.
Rating:
Summary: John Tayor vs Death
Review: John Taylor is back again. Although his money troubles have been lessened by his payment in the previous adventure, his troubles are far from over. Walker has asked him to look in on some sabotage at a local power company. But things do not go as planned and the case's resolution has repercussions throughout the rest of the book. While hiding from Walker, John gets hired to look into a rising singing star. Her father wants to make sure she is alright. What should be a simple case is not. The singer's songs seem to be able to drive people to suicide. Her managers are a very mysterious pair wielding a lot of power. The power company case is still sending ripples through everything. There is a lot for John to resolve and even more to just plain survive. John battles some of his worst foes and we see a return of the Harrowing. But in the end John manages to put things as right as they can be. After all, he IS John Taylor. A fast and well-paced story with a little more depth to the subplots (which aren't so sub). A few surprises can be seen from far away but others pop up out of the blue. This is the second best book in the series so far. Unfortunately the volume is padded with nearly 30 pages of a preview of Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris.
Rating:
Summary: To Sing of Sorrow
Review: Nightingale's Lament is the third novel in the John Taylor series, following Agents of Light and Darkness. In the previous volume, Taylor found the Unholy Grail for the Vatican and thereby raised a siege of the Nightside by angels both high and low. His reputation has gone off the scale and the resulting fee was large enough to lease an upscale office, hire Cathy (see Something From the Nightside) as his secretary, and install computers with a superiority complex to take care of the routine stuff. In this novel, Taylor comes across more as Simon Templar --- AKA the Saint -- than as a tough private eye. First he is persuaded by Walker to work on a case for Prometheus, Inc., generator of twelve percent of the power used within the Nightside. Company equipment is being sabotaged by an unknown --and undetectable -- person or thing. Prometheus is owned and operated by an old acquaintance, Vincent Kraemar, the Mechanic. Walker wants results and Taylor definitely produces some big results, paying off an old debt in the bargain. However, Walker is not really happy with the way Taylor solves the problem. After that case, while hanging out in Strangefellows and avoiding Walker, Taylor is approached by a man who believes that his daughter has fallen into bad company. Under the name Rossignol -- Nightingale -- she has been acquiring a reputation of her own, but recently she has changed, breaking off relations with friends and family, never answering phone calls or letters, and spending all her time in the Caliban Club where she sings. Moreover, her singing has changed; now she sings only sad songs and her listeners are so moved that some have committed suicide shortly after leaving her show. All these changes started when Ross signed a new contract with Mr. and Mrs. Cavendish. The client wants Taylor to check into her situation and help her if such assistance is necessary. Cathy confirms the client's portrayal of Ross' career and Alex tells him more about her career and the Cavendishes. Taylor visits the Caliban Club and talks to Ian, Ross' roadie. Then he visits Rossignol herself and later catches a show. He can't find any indication of magical influence, but Ross is obviously depressed and distracted. During her performance, moreover, someone commits suicide, splashing blood and brains over her shoes. In this story, Taylor investigates the Cavendishes, including tracking down another promising diva who was previously under contract to them, but disappeared without a trace the previous year. He drops by the Night Times to find out the gossip from the newsies, especially the managing editor (and owner) Julian Advent. He even pays a visit to the Cavendishes, where he is very ill received. Taylor has always had a compassionate streak, but Rossignol somehow inflames it into an obsession. However he has to do it, Taylor is determined to solve Ross' problem. He even goes so far as to involve the Dead Boy. Be warned that the author has gone overboard with obscure references. Perhaps not knowing about Bananarama tribute bands is a good thing. However, one hopes that the reader gets the blind Pew wordplay; it is practically in the public domain. Highly recommended for Green fans and for anyone else who enjoys fantasy noir detective novels with a touch of camp. -Arthur W. Jordin
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy meets noir in an unforgettable series...
Review: Saying that Simon R. Green's "Nightside" series is unique is like saying that "Star Wars" was a series of movies that defined a genre--stating the obvious. John Taylor is like no other literary hero--he is a man who is not quite human, who is bluff and bluster and smart enough to use it to his advantage. He is cocky, he is funny, he is vulnerable...and he is the greatest product of the Nightside...a place where it's always 3 a.m., and your soul is always in peril...
This time, John has to uncover the mystery of Ross, a singer who has an incredible voice--so incredible, in fact, that it drives many of her fans to kill themselves. But Ross is innocent, caught up in a web of intrigue that may ultimately destroy her...and the Nightside. As John throws himself into yet another dangerous case, in an attempt to bring down Ross's otherworldly managers, he pits himself against demons, man-eating-cars, and a man so powerful that maybe not even the great John Taylor can stop him...
"Nightingale's Lament" is just as funny, just as edgy, and just as enoyable as its two predecessors. You don't have to have read the other two books to understand this one (but I DO reccommend you read them, just 'cause they're that good), but why wouldn't you WANT to read them in the first place? The "Nightside" series is truly enjoyable and unforgettable--with an ecclectic cast of characters, and a narrator who is the epitomy of every great literary hero. "Nightingale's Lament" is just more proof that Simon R. Green has stumbled upon a gold mine...and loves writing these books as much as we enjoy reading them.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, looking forward to more
Review: The 'Nightside' books keep getting more interesting as they progress.
I can actually say that at times, this book even made me gasp in shock. I did figure out some of the plot twists from the beginning, but a few really threw me for a loop.
If you're looking for something a little different, more than a little dark and creepy, pick this one up (and the first 2!).
Rating:
Summary: incredible world
Review: The Nightside occupies the same space but in another dimension as London does. To travel there one must know the correct portals. John Taylor lived in Nightside all his life until it was discovered that his mother was not human. She disappeared shortly thereafter and his father died a few months later. John had no protection from the Others who wanted him dead. He went to London and became a private eye, but a case brought him back to Nightside where he has resided ever since. His third eye allows him to locate anyone or anything in the city where creatures of myths live side by side with humans. He continues to be a paid private investigator. His latest case involves singer Rossignal the Nightingale who is playing at the Caliban's Cavern Club. Her melancholy songs has caused people to commit suicide. Her managers controls her which makes John want to free Rossignal from her gilded cage. Though this is Simon R, Green's incredible world, the Nightside is not a very green location as this unique place centers on good and evil's constant battle for supremacy. The hero fights on the side of the light as he tries to expel the darkness out of existence John seems in a never-ending story with only his curiosity about his mother occasionally diverting him from his goal. In his latest caper, John is in top gun form as the latest skirmish with the cretins of the dark will leave him dead if he fails to free the Nightingale for running is no longer an option. Harriet Klausner
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