Hell To Pay

Hell To Pay (2006) Simon R. Green

I am quite fond of Simon R. Green’s Nightside books, although the Nightside itself would probably be offended by the use of the word fond. John Taylor is a private investigator in the Nightside, an alternate city within London where it is always night, and anything you can imagine–and many things you don’t want to imagine–exist.

Nightside is rebuilding after the events of the previous book, Sharper Than a Serpent’s Tooth. However, not only does the physical place need rebuilt, the entire power structure of the Nightside was destroyed, and although Walker is still in charge, no one is suer how.

The power struggles within the Nightside, however, are only the backdrop for the story. John Taylor has been hired to find the granddaughter of the Griffin, an immortal who would like control of Nightside to eventually come to him. Griffin’s granddaughter has disappeared, and he wants John Taylor to find her–no matter the cost.

The first thing I have to recommend about Hell to Pay is that Simon R. Green has returned to completing a story arc within a book. There are still loose ends and threads–such as the power structure of the Nightside–but the main story arc–the disappearance of Melissa Griffin–is completed. This is one of the reasons I liked the Nightside books in the first place. It’s nice to read a fantasy story that is contained within a single book.

I am also continuing to enjoy both the stories. They’re not necessarily complicated mysteries (if you ignore the fact that they often occur in multiple dimensions) but they’re a lot of fun to read. Although really awful things happen and are described (or even more often left to the imagination) the Nightside is a fascinating place to visit–from a distance.

I used my special gift to find the channel control signal and used it to tune every single television screen to the same appalling show. I’d found it accidentally one night while channel hopping (never a good idea in the Nightside, where we get not only the whole world’s output, but also transmissions from other worlds and other dimensions), and I actually had to go and hide behind the sofa till it was over. The John Waters Celebrity Perversion Hour is the single most upsetting pornography ever produced, and now it was blasting out of dozens of screens simultaneously.

There was one thing that particularly bothered me. In chapter three, one character is described in a manner that gave me a distinct and specific impression. However, when we come to that character again several chapters later, she seemed a completely different person that was described earlier. In fact, I had to go back and check to make sure it was the same person.

Aside from that one slip, I thoroughly enjoyed Hell to Pay. Sure, I had a good idea as to the culprit. And sure, sometimes it seems like John Taylor is trying just a little to hard. But the series is fun, and that’s why I like it. I like reading about all the horrible things in Nightside. I liked seeing John Taylor get himself into and out of situations. And I like the horrible people in Nightside.

I’m also fond of the covers of the Nightside books. They’re simple and appealing, and they all look like Nightside books.

If you have not read any Nightside books, and you like supernatural fantasy, then I highly recommend the Nightside series. Although you could start with Hell to Pay, you’ll be better off if you start at the beginning of the series, Something from the Nightside and work your way through. It’s interesting to watch John evolve, and starting here would give away some of the secrets of earlier books. If you’re already a fan of the Nightside, then this is another solid addition to the series.
Rating: 7/10

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