This is my second Simon Green novel in the Ishmael Jones series though the 4th actual book written in the series. I enjoyed this outing just as much as the first though I know more about Ishmael now so there are fewer surprises as to his skills or behaviors. This story combines elements of the locked room mystery, bits of possible paranormal intrusion, and a very eccentric British family who Jones is tasked with protecting from an unknown threat while they are tucked away at the family “home”, a lonely, isolated compound well off the beaten track. This time he is working directly for the man who usually gives him his assignments from the Organization, the Colonel. But it’s “off the books “.

Oh, and did I mention there are ancient Egyptian artifacts, including a recently acquired mummy (method of acquisition not known and presence not known by anyone but the family.) Ishmael is as puzzled as everyone else when bad things begin happening. The fun here is watching everything laid out, the setting, the house itself, the various family members and their relationships with each other, and the subtle effects of the action on Ishmael and his partner Penny.

While there are some plot/structural similarities between books, formulaic aspects I suppose, this didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the novel. I found myself reading quickly to the end, wanting to know what happened and how and who was involved. All was answered in the end.

A recommended read in lighter mystery, with many overtones and elements of sci fi.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

"Death Shall Come" as a sequel to "Very Important Corpses" in the Ishamel Jones series is basically more of the same. If you like the previous one, you will enjoy this. Again a Whodunnit with supernatural elements.

Same Same But Different.

Quite a while ago I had read the first book of the author's other series, enjoyed it very much, and somehow never got back into his work. When I saw his name pop up on Netgalley, it seemed like a fine idea to give him a try again – and, thank goodness, it actually was.

The Ishmael Jones series is a slightly mad mélange of genres (say that three times fast). There's a science fiction element, of course, in that Ishmael Jones himself is an alien in human form, with no memory of his previous, extraterrestrial, life. And there is a fantasy element in the circumstances of the murder(s) (though not the fantasy element you might think). Otherwise, regardless of the murder weapon (of which I say no more), this was almost pure English Country House Mystery – locked and unlocked rooms, a dwindling population of characters, endless hallways and staircases and people going off when they oughtn't.

One somewhat small thing that kept this from getting the full five stars was simply a running gag between Ishmael and his lady love, Penny Belcourt. Every now and then she felt an irresistible need to make the same suggestion about the identity of the murderer, to the point that I wanted to throw her down a handy staircase or stuff her in a sarcophagus. I think it was supposed to be cute – that she was playing on Ishmael's tendency to take everything seriously … and this is something that might play much better in an audiobook, where the narrator could make her constant comment 'I still say we shouldn't rule out …' mischievous, with Jones not picking up on the mischief … but I didn't listen to an audiobook, and it drove me up a wall. Along with Jones.

I looked at her. ‘If I offered you a large amount of money, would you stop saying that?’
‘How large?’ said Penny.

It's a fascinating bit of world-building, with a group to clean up after starship crashes, secret even to the secret group Ishmael belongs to. Ishmael seems thoroughly human … except when he's really not. I'm looking forward to going back and starting at the beginning.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

Well I can safely say that this is a new one for me! Not quite what I was expecting having not read the first 3 books but this one worked perfectly well as a standalone.
There is certainly an eclectic mix of genres contained in these pages!
Supernatural, Sci-Fi, Horror, Extraterrestrial, Thriller & Mystery so a bit of assorts!
Not sure I will be reading the other books though but that is just me personally, I am sure this book and the other ones in the series will appeal to a wide verity of audience.

This book took a few big steps forward with the lead characters. I've read the Ishmael Jones books and I think this one took the character somewhere it needed to go. The story acknowledges that maybe the manor house mystery is getting repetitive. but thats alright. By introducing a new extension into the leads background that opens the door for a new set of problems. Keeping the bigger picture going is why I liked this book. The rest was good while not overhauling anything that came before in previous books. It was what I've come to expect from the author so it was worth reading.

Simon Green presents us with a locked room in a haunted house in Death Shall Come. Ishmael Jones, alien problem solver for a mysterious organization, is called in by his minder, the Colonel, to find out what is wrong at the home of his wife's family. A mummy, supposedly an early Cleopatra, starts to kill off the guests in the house.
No one can leave the house. Whodunit? What supernatural murderer bad guy is killing the guests? Death Shall Come for many? Whho will survive?

Severn House and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Death Shall Come. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Ishmael Jones and Penny Belcourt are summoned to the Ancient Egypt room at the British Museum by the Colonel, Ishmael's only contact with the Organization. In a deal that he made with the faceless entity, Ishmael comes running when he is asked. When the new case falls just outside of the Organization's purview, Jones is intrigued but understandably hesitant. After he learns the particulars of the case, the Cardavan connection with Black Heir being one of them, Jones feels like he has no choice but to acquiesce to the Colonel's request. A weekend at the Cardavan estate does not seem like a chore, but little does Ishmael know that things are about to get complicated.

Death Shall Come, despite its supernatural elements, has the feeling of an old detective noir novel. The banter between Ishmael and Penny is always kind of campy, adding a bit of levity to the story. I do not find the Ishmael Jones series to be remotely as good as the John Taylor "Nightside" series by this author, but the books are interesting nevertheless. With a little more insight into Ishmael's background, Death Shall Come is a worthwhile read, especially by those who have finished the previous books.

This is a classic locked-room murder mystery with some very familiar elements – the ancient Egyptian artefacts complete with a curse; a powerful family all very grumpy with each other; complete isolation with no immediate help forthcoming. Given this is set in a more or less contemporary Britain, the final element takes some arranging – however Green manages to achieve the sense of the house being completely cut off without too much suspension of disbelief.

His protagonist, Ishmael Jones, is an interesting character – I don’t want to veer into spoiler territory, so I’ll just mention that he isn’t necessarily what he appears to be. This brings it set of problems, which play nicely with the hidden antagonist striking down victims within the house.

Green is an experienced writer and gives us a gripping read that had me reluctant to put it down as once the action takes off, the tension steadily mounts. I also like the odd moments of light relief provided by Ishmael’s right-hand woman, Penny, who happens to be the love of his life. They are a solid team, though Ishmael is also aware his concern for her welfare can be a weakness, but cannot bear the thought of leaving her behind as he takes this important, unofficial mission. I like the bond between them – the steady fondness and Penny’s sprightly banter provides the necessary moments of humour and humanity before we are once more plunged back into a situation where a crazed killer is on the loose.

The key to crafting such a mystery is that the solution has to provide a satisfactory explanation that has sufficient heft so the reader doesn’t feel cheated – it’s quite tricky to achieve. Green manages to satisfactorily wrap up the story, though there is a cost to the survivors and as his immediate boss is right in the middle of this mess, I’m interested to see how this impacts on their working relationship in future. This is an enjoyable murder mystery with a paranormal twist which comes recommended for fantasy fans who want a break, or crime fans who would appreciate reading something slightly different.

While I obtained the arc of Death Shall Come from the publisher via NetGalley, this has in no way influenced my unbiased review.
8/10

As much as I liked this series did I feel that this one did not reach the same level as the previous three books. Honestly, it is starting to feel a bit repeating reading the books, which isn't all that bad since the whole mystery in a house far from everyone is entertaining. But, the problem is when I read this book did it feel like I have already read this story, just with a different kind of setting and motive for the killing. But, all the people felt like ones I read about before, just different names, no point in getting attached since few of them will probably survive. This time is it the Colonel's family that is getting into the problem. Well, the new Colonel since the previous one died in the first book. This could be why it felt so familiar since Ishmael was invited to the Colonels family in the first book as well because of some danger threatening the family,

However, there are things I liked about the book, like Penny's love for mummy movies (I love the Mummy movies with Brendan Fraser too) and her comments about shuffling footsteps in the corridors were amusing. Unfortunately, that was pretty much the only amusing comments in the book. Would have loved some more banter between Ishmael and Penny. It was also interesting to get some more information about Ishmael's past.

Death Shall Come is not a bad book. Just not my favorite in the series and I hoped the next one will be a lot better!

3.5 stars

I love Simon r green, so I am always happy to read a new book. This was pretty good, creepy, fun and a fast short read. However it does follow the same pattern of all the other books in this series in an almost predictable and dull way. As a closed room mystery it is successful, but it's basically just the first book all over again.

Ishmael Jones is asked as a favour by the Colonel, working for the same Organisation, to spend the weekend at Cardavan house where a recently discovered mummy would be on display. Then the murders start.
A murder mystery with a twist of supernatural/alien content which although was interesting enough for me to read to the end, the plot and the characters really didn't engage me.

“Death shall come on swift wings to whoever desecrates this tomb. . .”

The Colonel has contacted Ishmael and asked that he join him and his wife, at the opening of a sarcophagus long hidden and believed contain the mummy of the first Cleopatra. The unveiling will take place at the isolated Cardavan estate. There are no security personnel on site, only electronic. There are nine attendees at this scheduled unveiling, mostly family members. What can go wrong?

This fifth installment of mysteries involving Ishmael Jones is a true mix of genres, my first Ishmael Jones novel and my first reading of a Simon R. Green novel. I was highly intrigued with the premise as it had an Agatha Christie feel to it. Green’s skill at mixing up genres is atmospheric, entertaining and a lot of fun. Did I mention creepy, suspenseful and fully intense? It’s nice that the story isn’t bogged down with a ton of techno babble. He gives you just enough information to keep you moving through the story, leaving you with enough curiosity to consider the other Ishmael Jones novels. It moves rapidly and there are obvious holes within the ‘telling’ as there would be in Ishmael’s world. This series is right up teens alley. They love books that take liberties and look at situations differently. Looking for a rapid ride of a story? I heartily invite you to jump right in.

In this 4th Country House Murder Mystery, Ishmael Jones and his lady side-kick, Penny, travel to the Cardavan House. The Cardavan family has the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world. Held under tight security, the collection has a new exhibit -- the mummy of Cleopatra. Not the Cleopatra of Marc Anthony fame....the first Cleopatra....a much earlier ruler lost to time. Ishmael's boss, The Colonel, is married to Chloe Cardavan. He asks Ishmael to accompany him to the house for the unveiling of the mummy. The trip isn't because The Colonel believes in the curse attached to the mummy, but because he feels George Cardavan might be involved in underhanded dealings to acquire his antiquities. He wants Ishmael to pose as an antiquities expert so he can get a feel for the goings on at the family estate and protect the family from harm if George is in over his head.

After the mummy is revealed, the deaths start. The Cardavans are being picked off, one by one. Are they being stalked by a reanimated mummy? Or is the killer simply a crazed human being?

I love this series! Every book is seriously creepy and different enough to keep the adventures fresh and interesting. Death Shall Come is a quick read at just over 150 pages -- but Simon R. Green sure packs a lot of action into such few pages!

I like how Ishmael and Penny work so well together. Where one is weak, the other is strong. Penny isn't afraid of Ishmael's....peculiarities.....and he is quite happy with her human-ness. I liked the plot of this book -- who doesn't love a scary mummy tale? I'm glad I read this during the day time and not at night! Lots of action, suspense and horror.....just a fun creepy read!! This series has not disappointed me yet!

Simon R. Green is the author of several sci-fi/fantasy series including the Nightside series. For more information on the author and his books check out his website: http://simonrgreen.co.uk/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I have read all the books up to this point in this series, and I wasn’t sure I was going to like this latest installment. Why? Well, I thought I was getting tired of the same old locked-house mystery. Leave it to Mr. Green to prove me wrong. Ishmael and Penny are back for another murder mystery where the house is locked and no one can get out; the killer is among them, but maybe this time the killer isn’t human, maybe this time it’s the original Cleopatra. I really enjoyed this latest installment even though it’s the same type of book as the others. Mr. Green’s writing is so fun and engaging, the reader doesn’t mind if it feels a little familiar; he keeps it fresh enough to feel new. His writing is superb, and I found myself holding my breath to see what was coming next. And, at the end, there were a couple of tidbits about Ishmael’s past that were revealed making me very eager to see what’s next; I’d really like to learn more about him. If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you’ll definitely enjoy this one! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the e-copy of the book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Simon R Green clearly has fun turning the classic manor house mystery upside down and tackling classic monsters in his Ishmael Jones series.  Already he’s tackled a vampire and the Loch Ness monster.  Now it’s a mummy’s turn.

As a favor to the Colonel, Ishmael and Penny head to the Cardavan homestead where the largest trove of privately owned Egyptian artefacts resides.  The Colonel is concerned about how his father-in-law was able to purchase the previously undiscovered mummy of the first Cleopatra.  As the head of Black Heir, a company known to deal in alien artefacts, his actions are suspect.  He is of course the first to die (in a locked room with the only key in his pocket).  Is it the mummy no longer resting in its sarcophagus? Or is the murderer one of the group gathered together for its unveiling?  Ishmael doesn't believe in mummies, but he knows monsters exist.

Death Shall Come is a fun read, but the witty repartee between Penny and Ishmael seems a bit tired.  Despite this, there is plenty to enjoy. Ishmael as always is a charming professional, honorable to a t.  It is also nice to finally get a little bit of background on the mysterious Colonel.  And we get a few hints about how Ishmael ended up on Earth. Death Shall Come may not be the best novel in the series, but it is still very good and will definitely keep fans happy.

4 / 5

I received a copy of Death Shall Come from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Great fun! An English country house mystery with a paranormal twist!

I was quite pleased with this book. I initially picked up this book to read because it was written by Simon R. Green, and I am a big fan of his "Nightside" series. However, I have never read anything else by him. This was the fourth book in a series, so I feel like there is probably a lot of backstory to which I was not privy, but even so, the book was quite enjoyable. Also, it was written in such a way that it is fine as a standalone novel.

I enjoyed the main character, Ishmael, and his relationship with The Colonel, whom I gather is his superior at the place where he works. It is reminiscent of the relationship between John Taylor and Henry Walker, but not in such a strong and obvious way that it makes the book some like a "Nightside" rip-off.

I also found the main character's girlfriend, Penny, to be absolutely delightful. Everything about her was just wonderfully written, and I could visualize her crystal clear in my mind.

The storyline was good. I do not want to give away any of the plot points, so I am not going to go into it, but it was a well-paced story that really held the action well. There were a few times during which the story took a turn that was quite obvious, and those were a little disappointing in their predictability, but those instances were few and far between. Most of the book was very original and kept you guessing.

I also liked the sci-fi angle of the alien race. And again, I do not want to give anything away, so that is all I am going to say on that matter.

Overall, I was quite fond of the book. I will probably check out the rest of the series.

This latest installment in the adventures of Ishmael Jones is solid but not exactly ground-breaking. It was an interesting mystery and the reader wonders if we are getting closer to more revelations about Ishmael's past as an alien. Am waiting to see what happens in the next book!

Review of DEATH SHALL COME:
A COUNTRY HOUSE MURDER MYSTERY
by Simon Green
(An Ishmael Jones Mystery)

I am ecstatic over this series, which more than capably combines science fiction, paranormal elements, horror, and mystery into a thrilling stew in each and every novel. Ishmael Jones (“Call me Ishmael. Ishmael Jones”) is a category all his own: at one time, he was an extraterrestrial alien. In 1963 his ship crashed in rural Britain, and he was transformed into a human form, while maintaining his exceptional powers and skills. His tenure is seemingly endless, while the humans he encounters of course age and die. In this series, he has partnered with Penny Belfour, after her family and family home were attacked by a vampire. Penny knows he is “something else,” but not what, and loves him despite it. His role is to protect humanity from “otherness,” which often comes in the form of danger and destruction.

The Organization, which contracts Ishmael, is shadowy and beyond covert. His only contact is The Colonel, who summons Ishmael to his wife's family home, Cardavan House, to protect the family following the acquisition of a very rare, previously unknown, mummy, that of the first Cleopatra, whose record is lost to antiquity. Penny hopes for something out of her beloved mummy horror films, but what she and Ishmael discover, and have to combat, is far worse; and for Ishmael, far closer to home.

While I am a fan of all Green's work, his latest offering, in the form of Ishmael Jones, is a character that appeals to any and everyone who loves a good mystery. He deftly manages to mix elements from a fantastic Agatha Christie whodunit, with the otherworldly feel of a Dresden Files adventure. In short, this latest installment (and its predecessors deserve a place of honor on any bookshelf.