Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Dark Side of the Road
    The Dark Side of the Road
    The Dark Side of the Road
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Dark Side of the Road

    Written by Simon R. Green

    Narrated by Gildart Jackson

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Ishmael Jones is someone who can't afford to be noticed, someone who lives under the radar, who drives on the dark side of the road. He's employed to search out secrets, investigate mysteries and shine a light in dark places. Sometimes he kills people.

    Invited by his employer, the enigmatic Colonel, to join him and his family for Christmas, Ishmael arrives at the grand but isolated Belcourt Manor in the midst of a blizzard to find that the Colonel has mysteriously disappeared. As he questions his fellow guests, Ishmael concludes that at least one of them-not least Ishmael himself-is harboring a dangerous secret, and that beneath the veneer of festive cheer lurk passion, jealousy, resentment and betrayal.

    As a storm sets in, sealing off the Manor from the rest of the world, Ishmael must unmask a ruthless murderer before they strike again.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 13, 2018
    ISBN9781541449961
    The Dark Side of the Road
    Author

    Simon R. Green

    Simon R. Green was born in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England, where he still lives. He is the New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy science fiction and fantasy novels, including the Nightside, Secret Histories and Ghost Finders series, the Ishmael Jones mysteries, the Gideon Sable series and the Holy Terrors mystery series. Simon has sold more than four million copies of his books worldwide.

    More audiobooks from Simon R. Green

    Related to The Dark Side of the Road

    Titles in the series (14)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Mystery For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Man I Should Have Married

      Dec 29, 2019

      The Man I Should Have Married
      11 min read

    • Article

      Tomorrows

      Mar 15, 2022

      The night, as most nights, was like a dream. At ten, once I’d fed the dog the last scraps off the stove. Once I’d cursed the cat for scratching up my mama’s antique furniture, then welcomed him back into my arms. Once I’d slicked my hair into a ponyt

      26 min read

    • Article

      Life In The past Lane

      Aug 27, 2021

      Life In The past Lane
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Island

      Jun 4, 2018

      The Island
      8 min read

    • Article

      Fall-down COMEDIAN

      Apr 11, 2021

      Fall-down COMEDIAN
      3 min read

    • Article

      Flour

      Mar 15, 2018

      The driver and I got a late start. I usually decide on these excursions the night before, but it was late in the morning when I informed the friend who was coming to visit me for the weekend that I had to cancel, it was absolutely necessary for me to

      7 min read

    • Article

      LeTteR Bocks

      Aug 4, 2022

      ◻PLEASE find attached this trademark from a box of eggs, which appears to show a chicken lifting its leg to crack off an eggy one. Susan Butcher, Australia ◻FORMER Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticised for meeting an ex-KGB agent without h

      13 min read

    • Article

      Last Saturday Night

      Dec 7, 2023

      Last Saturday Night
      6 min read

    • Article

      A PRECIOUS Moment In Time

      Jun 17, 2019

      There’s something about Lambrook Hall that always draws me back and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been here. I don’t really care if it’s hundreds, to be honest. I can’t resist it. I’m in the dining room again now. Not the ballroom or the lib

      6 min read

    • Article

      Close-by Adventures

      Oct 15, 2020

      Close-by Adventures
      6 min read

    • Article

      Haunted

      Sep 27, 2023

      Haunted
      6 min read

    • Article

      Wish You Weren’t Here!

      Oct 11, 2016

      Wish You Weren’t Here!
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Art Of Conversation

      Nov 1, 2023

      The Art Of Conversation
      4 min read

    • Article

      ‘Cygnet’: Featured Fiction from Season Butler

      Jun 25, 2019

      A excerpt from Butler's debut coming-of-age novel, set in an appealingly rich world with quirky, flawed characters and a dramatic oceanfront landscape. The post ‘Cygnet’: Featured Fiction from Season Butler appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Every CLOUD

      Aug 31, 2022

      Every CLOUD
      6 min read

    • Article

      Prohibition

      Sep 10, 2021

      It had been ten days since my last fix. I knew what I was going to do was wrong, but unless you knew the yearning that your body exerts, the internal pull which strangles your very soul into submission, then you cannot judge me. Yes, it was wrong. Ye

      15 min read

    • Article

      Above Santa Cruz

      Jul 2, 2019

      Above Santa Cruz
      5 min read

    • Article

      I Met Myself Coming Back

      Oct 6, 2022

      I Met Myself Coming Back
      6 min read

    • Article

      TALES FROM THE SHED saddle

      Aug 3, 2018

      OK, OK! I admit it. I’ve been slacking on the spannering front. Not entirely idle, but certainly slacking. I have given myself a verbal warning about this. After two more I shall sack myself. Which is easier said than done, but I know I deserve punis

      9 min read

    • Article

      The Last Friend on Earth

      May 4, 2023

      It was as if Doreen Saunders had been waiting for me, passing the time until my arrival. She might as well have been sitting in a rocking chair, knitting needles clicking, jam tarts cooling on the side, the door wide open, waiting for the next visito

      6 min read

    • Article

      Stonehenge

      Jul 11, 2023

      Stonehenge
      7 min read

    • Article

      What Say You?

      Aug 19, 2021

      What Say You?
      5 min read

    • Article

      Honeymoon

      Mar 15, 2019

      Honeymoon
      15 min read

    • Article

      Cross My Heart

      Sep 1, 2022

      Cross My Heart
      6 min read

    • Article

      All Of Us Here

      Jun 4, 2020

      All Of Us Here
      6 min read

    • Article

      Restless Souls

      Mar 6, 2018

      Restless Souls
      8 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Dark Side of the Road

    3.5/5

    79 ratings9 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      This is a fun book to read when you want something different. While it has the feeling of an Agatha Christie novel it soon gets past that. The villain is who you would expect but their not what you would expect. I enjoyed the mystery playing the way it. The author wrote a very smart, tense, yet easy to read story. The characters are easy to like,so the story never gets boring. I think if you like a mystery in the style of the X-Files than you'll enjoy this book.

      I read this book through NetGalley. I thank them and the publisher for this book. #NetGalley
    • 4/5
      I have enjoyed several of Simon Green's books over the years, and this was no exception. For some reason, I was a bit leery of reading this, thinking it was possibly a book in the middle of a series, and having maybe not read the possible prior stories, I would be left on the darkside of the road (sorry for the pun). There need be no worries. Whether this is a first or a stand-alone novel, I felt there was enough background on characters and their history to make the story enjoyable, yet also leave me wanting to know more about the main character, Ishmael Jones. The overall plot was a bit boring, reminding me of an old movie I saw many years ago, and when I was explaining the book to a friend, they said "Oh, like CLUE" and I had to agree it sort of was similar. Either way, the story had a few different twists than just a normal 'the butler did it'- type mystery. Was a delightful read, and I shall keep my eyes open for future Ismael Jones stories!

      I received an ARC from Severn house publishing through Netgalley.com in exchange for a review.
    • 2/5
      high body count country house paranormal sorta murder mystery - made enjoyable here in graphic audio through the voice acting because these characters and their serial demise are really over the top leading up to christmas - so if you're looking for a seasonal car ride book with any of the above this might be just the thing you!
    • 4/5
      3.5/5 stars. This was typical Simon R. Green, with a main character who might as well be brother to John Taylor, Eddie Drood, and JC Chance. I happen to enjoy that character, so I'm okay with it. What I really loved about this book was that it was a supernatural country house mystery. A group of family, friends, and one stranger brought together and stranded at a country house in a horrible snowstorm. Some thing is killing people, and it could be anyone.

      Here's a spoiler for a part I really, really liked, where the meshing of horror and country house mystery worked so very well: The premise is that something is using a glamour to hide in plain sight. The timing of the murders means the killer must be standing among us, covered in blood and gore. Which means any of us who touched or were touched by that killer could also be covered in blood without even knowing. Freaked me right out.

      [I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
    • 4/5
      The Dark Side of the Road is the first book in the Ishmael Jones mystery series by Simon R. Green. I read it after reading books two and five, so I was spoiled about the outcome. Didn't matter.Out book opens with Ishmael Jones at a hotel bar in London. As he tells us, 'It was that bleary-eyed time in the early hours when the night life gives it all up as a bad idea and admits defeat.' I'm a tad annoyed with him for keeping the poor bartender up when he knows the man wants to go to bed, but Ishmael will pay for being inconsiderate soon enough. We're given hints early on that Ishmael isn't a normal human. That helps him survive the Christmas invitation from his boss and recruiter, 'the Colonel.'While Ishmael is driving through a blizzard so fierce that any sane person would have taken shelter at the first opportunity, he reflects about how the Colonel recruited him almost fifteen years ago. Jones had decided to leave a shadowy organization called 'Black Heir,' which didn't want him to continue breathing given all he knew. The Colonel offered him a position with his Organization. Yes, that's the name. At least it saves Mr. Green the bother of thinking one up. The memories include the reason for the book's title.Ishmael reaches Belcourt Manor, the Colonel's family home. He takes the Belcourts by surprise because they'd naturally assumed the storm would prevent his coming.The Colonel is not there to greet him, but his father, Walter Belcourt, is. This is a Christmas gathering and Walter intends for it to be a proper one, even if he has both his current wife and his ex-wife present, not to mention the guy his daughter jilted . Penny keeps saying no, and Roger keeps refusing to accept it as her answer. There's also Walter's business partner, Alex, who wants more money invested in the business. Ex-wife Diane has brought along a sexy platonic friend, Sylvia. (Wouldn't it be nice if Sylvia took rich Roger off Penny's hands, especially since Penny's attracted to Ishmael?) Two of the guests have known Ishmael before in awkward circumstances. Our hero has to come up with reasons they're mistaken.Our cast is all snowed in together with only two servants: the tall, muscular black butler who goes by 'Jeeves,' and his short, fierce blond wife, Ms. Leilah Bridges, who is not happy to have had to cook the Christmas feast by herself. What she says about the manor's kitchen is not repeatable in polite company.The lucky rest of the staff have Christmas off.Ishmael and Penny find the first body. Good thing its condition shows the murder must have happened before Ishmael arrived. On the other hand, its condition means it's likely that one of the others is the killer. The temperature is subfreezing, the storm is getting worse. Any attempt to leave is certain death. Staying isn't quite certain death. Isn't this a jolly yuletide?Ishmael is a field agent, not a detective. He'd better hope that having watched Agatha Christie on television will be enough to help him identify the killer before the killer is the last one standing?NOTES:Chapter 1:a. This is where Ishmael Jones remembers being recruited by the Colonel.b. The exterior of Belcourt Manor is described, as is its entrance hall.c. We meet 'Jeeves' the butler.d. Ishmael finds out his Colonel's real name.e. We meet Walter and Melanie Belcourt.Chapter 2:a. The drawing room is described.b. We're introduced to Penny Belcourt, Alexander Khan, Diana Belcourt, Sylvia Heron, and Roger Levine.c. Ishmael tastes the family hot toddy recipe. His response made me chuckle.d. Ishmael tells the reader about when he and Alex worked together 30 years ago.e. Ishmael remembers Diana from even more decades ago.f. Walter remembers those he's lost.Mention: DruidsChapter 3:a. Ishmael has a dream that's not a dream.b. Jones remembers more about Diana.Chapter 4:Mentions:Chapter :Mentions:Chapter :Mentions:Chapter :Mentions:Chapter :Mentions:When I read the fifth book, Into Thinnest Air, I was reminded of William Hope Hodgson's Carnacki the Ghost-Finder. Some of Carnacki's cases involved genuine hauntings, some had been faked, and some were mostly fake with a touch of the supernatural. This novel definitely falls into one of those categories.
    • 1/5
      I'm sorry, but YUCK! Was there a point to this story?
    • 3/5
      MIB crossed with Agatha Christie? I preferred Green's Nightside series. This was very light, though forst of a new series, so setting up characters, etc.
      One peeve? The title is repeated a half-dozen times in the (short) book, mostly the MC talking to himself/audience, but also to another character. Really? 6 times? Lame.
    • 5/5
      The Dark Side of the Road by Simon R Green is another fantastic tale by the master of strange, and I mean that in a good way! His books always surprise me with the wonderful plots, delightful imagination, creative creatures, and the defined characters he molds onto the paper. This one is about a guy, that is not quite human, that is asked to urgently come to his boss/friend's Manor. There is a tone of worry in the boss' voice that makes our hero hurry in the snow storm to get to the mansion. There he meets the family and friends of the boss, but no one can find the boss. The story goes from there when people start dying. Of course, nothing is straight forward in his books. Always twists, turns, action, creatures, suspense, and lots of fun dialogue. I just love his books. A must read for sci-fi/fantasy fans! If you haven't had the chance to read any of his books, what are you waiting for? Start here, then travel to the Nightside...
    • 4/5
      Ishmael Jones is someone who lives his life on the dark side of the road. He works for the enigmatic Colonel and together they work to uncover the secrets and horrors that lurk in this dark. Thing is, Ishmael has secrets of his own that must be kept buried which means he tries to remain unseen and unknown. But when he receives a strange invitation from the Colonel to join him and his family for Christmas at their remote mansion, he doesn’t hesitate because there must be something terribly wrong for the Colonel to summon him. Despite a raging snowstorm, he rushes to the manse but when he arrives, the Colonel has disappeared. As the storm worsens preventing anyone from leaving, it becomes clear that there is someone or something trapped here with them and it’s very very hungry.The Dark Side of the Road is the latest by author Simon R Green and introduces his new character Ishmael Jones. It has been compared to Agatha Christie’s very British closed room country tea cosies but with supernatural elements. This comparison is, in many ways, a fair one what with the setting in a remote country manor; a dinner party among the gentry; everyone trapped inside by a snowstorm; a rising body count; the fact that Ishmael is not a native of Britain albeit from a bit further than Belgium; and the gathering of suspects in the drawing room to unmask the evil-doer; well, and there’s that subtitle, A country house murder mystery with a supernatural twist which, if you’ll pardon the pun, is kind of a dead give-away.Despite the ‘whodunnit’ quality, Dark Side is pure Simon R Green. The tale is told by Jones in a first person narrative and, because of his need for secrecy, the reader can’t always be sure he’s reliable. Nor is he much of a detective, depending more on an extremely good sense of smell, strength and hearing rather than any ‘little grey cells’. He is, however, like all of Green’s heroes, wittily sardonic, making this a whole lot of fun to read. Definitely for fans of Green’s other series or urban fantasies in general.3.5