Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth by Simon R. Green

The Blurb On The Back:

My name is John Taylor. I'm a PI for hire in the Nightside, the dark and corrupt city within the city of London. Where the sun never shines and where pleasure and horror are always on sale - for the right price.

Not a nice place to visit or a nice place to live. So you wouldn't think I would care that it was about to be destroyed, by none other than my very own long-missing, not-quite-human mom.

But I do. I was born here, I live here, and I've got friends here. They might not all be acceptable in polite company, but they're my friends, nonetheless.

I know that I'm the only one who can stop her. The trick is, how to do it without fulfilling this prophecy that says whatever action I take, not only is the Nightside doomed, but the rest of the world will soon follow ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

This is okay - it gives a definite resolution to one arc and sets the seeds for another. I'm definitely intrigued to see what will happen next in the Nightside and whilst I think the Taylor/Suzie romance is too perfunctory to be believable, perhaps it can be developed to give Taylor more of an emotional core.

Hell To Pay by Simon R. Green

The Blurb On The Back:

The name's John Taylor. I'm a PI, though what I really do is find things that are lost. I work in the Nightside, the city within the city of London, where the sun never rises and where the human and inhuman go to get their kicks, provided they're willing to pay the price in whatever currency the seller demands.

In the wake of the war that almost brought the Nightside to total ruin, there's a power vacuum begging to be filled - and some think I should take charge. I don't agree. Neither does the immortal known as the Griffin. Wealthy beyond reason, he has his own ideas about who should be running things. Still, when his granddaughter - and designated heir - is kidnapped, he calls on me to find her.

But someone - or some Thing - is blocking my special gift. So this time, I'm going to have to do the job the hard way. And quickly, or the Griffin will have to choose a new heir ...

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Another okay read. I'm interested to see where Green next takes the series - presumably it will have something to do with the new rising Authorities and Walker.