By Simon R. Green
Berkley, $25.95, 310 pages
For years, John Taylor has been the premier private eye in the Nightside, the dark flipside of London where myth and monsters roam. But now, he’s also Walker, chosen representative of the Authorities, charged with policing the Nightside in all its decadent glory. And tonight, on the eve of his wedding, he’ll need every last trick in his arsenal to handle two big jobs. That is, if his bride-to-be doesn’t gun him down first…
I must admit, I’ve been dreading the arrival of this book. Since the countdown to the series’ final installment began, I saw the loose ends neatly coming together, characters settling down or moving on, as John Taylor’s story steamrolled toward his last case. But The Bride Wore Black Leather defied a lot of my expectations, presenting a more desperate, yet introspective John, forced to examine himself, his relationships and his future.
There is still the classic Green breakneck pacing, the quirky character twists, the joys of name-drop references (to his other books and pop-culture icons alike), but they’re accompanied by a wonderful narrative sense of melancholy, as if Green hates parting with John as much as we do.
So long, John. You’ll be missed.
Reviewed by Glenn Dallas
