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Publication
New York : Del Rey/Ballantine Books, 2012.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Mystery. HTML:A WHOLE NEW REASON TO MIND THE GAP It begins with a dead body at the far end of Baker Street tube station, all that remains of American exchange student James Gallagher�and the victim�s wealthy, politically powerful family is understandably eager to get to the bottom of the gruesome murder. The trouble is, the bottom�if it exists at all�is deeper and more unnatural than anyone suspects . . . except, that is, for London constable and sorcerer�s apprentice Peter Grant. With Inspector Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, tied up in the hunt for the rogue magician known as �the Faceless Man,� it�s up to Peter to plumb the haunted depths of the oldest, largest, and�as of now�deadliest subway system in the world. At least he won�t be alone. No, the FBI has sent over a crack agent to help. She�s young, ambitious, beautiful . . . and a born-again Christian apt to view any magic as the work of the devil. Oh yeah�that�s going to go well.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member AHS-Wolfy
Detective Inspector Stephanopoulos thinks there's something a little off about the death of an American senator's son and requests assistance from the Folly and so Constable (and apprentice wizard) Peter Grant once again swings into action. Finding magical trace elements (vestigia) on the murder
This is another excellent addition to this urban fantasy/police procedural series and now that we've reached the third instalment, the characters are more relaxed and their interactions flow more easily. It's great that Lesley makes more of an appearance in this one as the dynamic between her and Peter is excellent. Although technically still on indefinite medical leave she does take more of an active role in the murder case and also receiving tutelage under the auspices of Nightingale then this bodes well for even greater future involvement. As well as this self-contained murder mystery there is also the over-arching plot of the Little Crocodiles as there are a couple of potential leads to follow up on that score too although there really isn't any great advancement in this plot strand it still creates a feeling of continuation for the series as a whole. Not a place to start the series but for those who've read and enjoyed the first two then this is a no-brainer to pick up and it's good to know the next book is not too far away from release.
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weapon Peter is than conscripted into part of the murder investigation team which is once again being lead by Detective Chief Inspector Seawoll. As the murder took place in the London Underground we get to meet another potential recurring character in the shape of Jaget Kumar who is a sergeant in the British Transport Police. We later learn that he seems to handle all the weird stuff for his particular department. Also assigned to the case as an observer is Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds of the FBI. Seawoll doesn't want anything unusual to get back to the Americans so warns Peter that he should be on his best behaviour or else...This is another excellent addition to this urban fantasy/police procedural series and now that we've reached the third instalment, the characters are more relaxed and their interactions flow more easily. It's great that Lesley makes more of an appearance in this one as the dynamic between her and Peter is excellent. Although technically still on indefinite medical leave she does take more of an active role in the murder case and also receiving tutelage under the auspices of Nightingale then this bodes well for even greater future involvement. As well as this self-contained murder mystery there is also the over-arching plot of the Little Crocodiles as there are a couple of potential leads to follow up on that score too although there really isn't any great advancement in this plot strand it still creates a feeling of continuation for the series as a whole. Not a place to start the series but for those who've read and enjoyed the first two then this is a no-brainer to pick up and it's good to know the next book is not too far away from release.
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LibraryThing member Stewartry
Peter Grant.
I could almost make that my entire review.
I have a friend I met when we both worked at Barnes & Noble many years ago. She went off to school and then to New York to seek her fortunes, and she is a) blessed with a great many friends and b) an even worse correspondent than I am, so we
Peter Grant is a little like that. Months go by; he doesn't call, doesn't write, but then he bursts back into my life as if he never left and I have a few hours of tremendous fun with him. As fictional characters go, Peter is one of those I would most like to meet, share a pint and a kebab, go to a movie with. Tagging along on a murder investigation is fun, too, even when it involves a schlep through the sewers; there's where the "fictional" part comes in handy, as my schlep doesn't involve the stink.
I loved this book, because I got to hang out with Peter – and, yay, Lindsey, and Nightingale, and (briefly) Toby and Molly and Dr. Walid. I loved seeing Lindsey growing in her new role and continuing to recover from the events of the first book. I loved seeing her relationship with Peter beginning to heal as well. I loved the dialogue, both internal – Peter to reader – and between characters. And of course I loved the Doctor Who and Lord of the Rings and D&D and other geeky allusions liberally salted throughout the book – the quickest and surest way to my heart is to toss off a reference and let it float on by without explaining it into the ground: give me credit for being as clever and/or geeky as you are (or at least as skilful with a search engine).
Lesley stuck her head through the door, spotted us and came in. "Have you seen how much that man can eat?"
"He is a halfling," I said, which just got me blank looks from the pair of them.
The only thing I didn't love about this book, which brought it to a less-than-five-star rating (but probably more than four) was the plot. A young man is murdered in the London Underground, and the unusual murder weapon that Peter locates leads him and his cohort (because I wager he'd love to be said to have a cohort) off on a hunt – through London's tunnels and sewers via the art world, and don't think I'm not making that a metaphor in my head – for what may be a whole community of people (of one sort or another) who rarely see the light of day. It's not a criticism that there were no pyrotechnics on the scale of the other two books; explosions and riots and so forth would be a bit difficult to realistically insert into every single book, and something a bit more low-key (though still plenty adventuresome) was called for, I think, in this third volume.
I just figured it out: my problem with the book – which is only a problem in the way a small vanilla bean Coolatta is a problem: a large would be better – is that it feels a little like the stereotypical middle book in a trilogy. Character development continues; more characters are introduced (another reviewer squeed quietly about the possibility that a sort of Peculiar Crimes Unit is forming around Peter and Nightingale, what with Lindsey (I love the progression of her character) and other developments herein – and my heart have a little squee of its own. Yes, please); plot lines are carried over from the previous book as investigation continues into the "Little Crocodiles"; and the book ends with a wonderfully mysterious and tantalizing tip-off for the latter.
From the description: "No, the FBI has sent over a crack agent to help. She’s young, ambitious, beautiful . . . and a born-again Christian apt to view any magic as the work of the devil. Oh yeah—that’s going to go well." Huh? When does her born-again anti-magicness come into play? I remember nothing of that. That would have actually been an interesting wrinkle, but – actually, that's another small drawback for me. Special Agent Kimberly Reynolds of the FBI ("Ooh!") is sent to London to assist in the murder investigation I mentioned a few pages back there, because the victim was the son of a US ambassador. She is sharp and competent – and also, compared to the armed-with-a-baton British force, a bit gun-happy, and more than a bit out of her element, between the foreign country component and the supernatural component. But she remains largely undeveloped, almost an afterthought, remaining on the fringes for the most part – and then she goes home. Which could mean she'll be back…
Because I exhibited the persistence and annoyingness of a horsefly, I was granted (heh) this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – many, many thanks.
I could almost make that my entire review.
I have a friend I met when we both worked at Barnes & Noble many years ago. She went off to school and then to New York to seek her fortunes, and she is a) blessed with a great many friends and b) an even worse correspondent than I am, so we
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don't email or call or any of that very often. Now and then, though, if we're going to be in the same city at the same time, we get together, and it's almost as though the time since the last time we met up never existed – we find our old footing and have a terrific time. Peter Grant is a little like that. Months go by; he doesn't call, doesn't write, but then he bursts back into my life as if he never left and I have a few hours of tremendous fun with him. As fictional characters go, Peter is one of those I would most like to meet, share a pint and a kebab, go to a movie with. Tagging along on a murder investigation is fun, too, even when it involves a schlep through the sewers; there's where the "fictional" part comes in handy, as my schlep doesn't involve the stink.
I loved this book, because I got to hang out with Peter – and, yay, Lindsey, and Nightingale, and (briefly) Toby and Molly and Dr. Walid. I loved seeing Lindsey growing in her new role and continuing to recover from the events of the first book. I loved seeing her relationship with Peter beginning to heal as well. I loved the dialogue, both internal – Peter to reader – and between characters. And of course I loved the Doctor Who and Lord of the Rings and D&D and other geeky allusions liberally salted throughout the book – the quickest and surest way to my heart is to toss off a reference and let it float on by without explaining it into the ground: give me credit for being as clever and/or geeky as you are (or at least as skilful with a search engine).
Lesley stuck her head through the door, spotted us and came in. "Have you seen how much that man can eat?"
"He is a halfling," I said, which just got me blank looks from the pair of them.
The only thing I didn't love about this book, which brought it to a less-than-five-star rating (but probably more than four) was the plot. A young man is murdered in the London Underground, and the unusual murder weapon that Peter locates leads him and his cohort (because I wager he'd love to be said to have a cohort) off on a hunt – through London's tunnels and sewers via the art world, and don't think I'm not making that a metaphor in my head – for what may be a whole community of people (of one sort or another) who rarely see the light of day. It's not a criticism that there were no pyrotechnics on the scale of the other two books; explosions and riots and so forth would be a bit difficult to realistically insert into every single book, and something a bit more low-key (though still plenty adventuresome) was called for, I think, in this third volume.
I just figured it out: my problem with the book – which is only a problem in the way a small vanilla bean Coolatta is a problem: a large would be better – is that it feels a little like the stereotypical middle book in a trilogy. Character development continues; more characters are introduced (another reviewer squeed quietly about the possibility that a sort of Peculiar Crimes Unit is forming around Peter and Nightingale, what with Lindsey (I love the progression of her character) and other developments herein – and my heart have a little squee of its own. Yes, please); plot lines are carried over from the previous book as investigation continues into the "Little Crocodiles"; and the book ends with a wonderfully mysterious and tantalizing tip-off for the latter.
From the description: "No, the FBI has sent over a crack agent to help. She’s young, ambitious, beautiful . . . and a born-again Christian apt to view any magic as the work of the devil. Oh yeah—that’s going to go well." Huh? When does her born-again anti-magicness come into play? I remember nothing of that. That would have actually been an interesting wrinkle, but – actually, that's another small drawback for me. Special Agent Kimberly Reynolds of the FBI ("Ooh!") is sent to London to assist in the murder investigation I mentioned a few pages back there, because the victim was the son of a US ambassador. She is sharp and competent – and also, compared to the armed-with-a-baton British force, a bit gun-happy, and more than a bit out of her element, between the foreign country component and the supernatural component. But she remains largely undeveloped, almost an afterthought, remaining on the fringes for the most part – and then she goes home. Which could mean she'll be back…
Because I exhibited the persistence and annoyingness of a horsefly, I was granted (heh) this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review – many, many thanks.
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LibraryThing member riverwillow
I love this series of books, mainly because London is such a significant character in the books, Aaronovitch really captures the essence of London in the books.
This time Peter is called in to assist in a murder investigation in the Underground, which may have involved magic. Peter is quickly drawn
I love Peter’s relationship with all the characters, he’s a relatively easy going kind of guy, but nost particularly those with Nightingale and especially Lesley, both are still trying to come to terms with her injuries and her mask, but this hasn’t stopped Lesley from continuing to be a great police woman and telling Peter how to do his job and follow correct procedure, helping to root these books in reality. Lesley’s also being mentored by Nightingale and seems to be shaping up to being good at magic, there’s a hint in the book that she may have some kind of a magical destiny. All the key characters appear and some new ones are introduced that I hope move forward with the series. Superb.
This time Peter is called in to assist in a murder investigation in the Underground, which may have involved magic. Peter is quickly drawn
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into an exploration of London’s Underground tunnels and sewers, which is brilliantly described and not for the faint hearted. Additionally, as the victim is the son of an American Senator, he has to try and keep the FBI under control, without revealing his magical talents.I love Peter’s relationship with all the characters, he’s a relatively easy going kind of guy, but nost particularly those with Nightingale and especially Lesley, both are still trying to come to terms with her injuries and her mask, but this hasn’t stopped Lesley from continuing to be a great police woman and telling Peter how to do his job and follow correct procedure, helping to root these books in reality. Lesley’s also being mentored by Nightingale and seems to be shaping up to being good at magic, there’s a hint in the book that she may have some kind of a magical destiny. All the key characters appear and some new ones are introduced that I hope move forward with the series. Superb.
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LibraryThing member phoebesmum
The third outing for Detective Constable and trainee wizard Peter Grant. A murder is committed on the Underground, and Peter Grant is conscripted into the investigation, which takes him from New Covent Garden to the sewers of London, and beyond.
I hate to say it, but, after the excellent first book
Maybe next time.
The other problem with this book is that it hasn't been proofread - or, if it has, the proofreader did a lamentably poor job. It's riddled with typos to the extent that they begin to detract from the story. Try harder, Gollancz!
I hate to say it, but, after the excellent first book
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in this series, and the almost-as-good follow-up, this third book comes as something of a disappointment. Compared to the first two books, very little happens; this one feels like a placeholder, a way to set up characters and situations for further titles. It’s still very readable: the plot, what there is of it, jogs along quite nicely, the dialogue and characterisation are wonderful, and it’s good to see Peter’s colleague Lesley joining him once again; good, too, that it’s shown that the actions of the earlier books have consequences. But, still, I was hoping for more. Certainly, the London Underground has scope, even if you omit the supernatural entirely, for a great deal better than this.Maybe next time.
The other problem with this book is that it hasn't been proofread - or, if it has, the proofreader did a lamentably poor job. It's riddled with typos to the extent that they begin to detract from the story. Try harder, Gollancz!
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LibraryThing member isabelx
I was wearing a brand-new stab vest but with a high-visibility jacket over it. I planned to avoid getting shot, through the deployment of peaceful diplomacy and, if that failed, by making sure I stayed back behind the guys with guns. Zach said we'd be better off without the guns, but that's the
It was a good plan, and like all plans since the dawn of time, this would fail to survive contact with real life.
With Nightingale still recuperating, Peter has to make an arrangement between the Folly and the British Transport Police, when the weapon used to kill an American art student found dead on an Underground platform turns out to have magical properties. He spends a lot of the book in the sewers and tunnels under Baker Street Station with Sergeant Kumar of the BTP and an FBI agent who has been sent to keep an eye on the case, tracking down a group that neither Nightingale nor Lady Ty was aware of.
There was a bit of progress with the search for the other magicians, but it's easy to forget about it when the 'murder of the week' is so interesting.
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thing about armed police. When you need them, you generally don't want to be hanging around waiting for them to arrive. It was a good plan, and like all plans since the dawn of time, this would fail to survive contact with real life.
With Nightingale still recuperating, Peter has to make an arrangement between the Folly and the British Transport Police, when the weapon used to kill an American art student found dead on an Underground platform turns out to have magical properties. He spends a lot of the book in the sewers and tunnels under Baker Street Station with Sergeant Kumar of the BTP and an FBI agent who has been sent to keep an eye on the case, tracking down a group that neither Nightingale nor Lady Ty was aware of.
There was a bit of progress with the search for the other magicians, but it's easy to forget about it when the 'murder of the week' is so interesting.
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LibraryThing member purlewe
OK. This is an awesome urban fantasy/mystery set in London. Exactly what I love. Now I need to read the 2 books before this and the book after it. And the final line? makes me want to pick up the next book immediately.
LibraryThing member romsfuulynn
Start at the beginning and buy this brilliant series. Mystery, urban fantasy. Love Peter (born in UK, parents immigrants from Sierra Leone) which gives a modern diverse UK. There was a fuss because the cover of the first book obscured this, but forget all that. The US ebook publication was delayed,
Fantasy that's a lot more real than a lot of stuff that takes itself more seriously, hysterically funny and still moving and powerful.
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and I pounced on this when it finally came out, inhaled it,and went back & reread the first two. Fantasy that's a lot more real than a lot of stuff that takes itself more seriously, hysterically funny and still moving and powerful.
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LibraryThing member stefferoo
Wow, never have I snapped up and read all the currently available books in a series so quickly. With my enthusiasm waning for Harry Dresden in light of the new direction the Dresden Files series has taken in the last few books, someone else has recently dethroned him as my favorite leading man in
I'm really enjoying this series. I probably didn't like this book as much as the two preceding it, but then again, Rivers of London was excellent and the sequel Moon Over Soho was even better, so I knew that was going to be hard to top.
The story begins with a strange murder in the London Underground, and as usual, strange murders always lead to a call to The Folly, home of the Metropolitan Police's two-man paranormal investigative unit. And thus Peter is dragged into a messy case involving a dead American exchange student who is also the son of a rich and powerful U.S. Senator. Added to that is The Folly's ongoing manhunt for "The Faceless Man", the rogue wizard who wreaked havoc and almost got Peter killed in the last book.
Actually, I'd thought this book would take up that thread directly, following through on the mystery behind who The Faceless Man is and ending that story arc, but apparently not. It seems the author has plans instead to expand that particular plot line over the course of future books, an indication that the scope of this series will be getting bigger and bigger. I'm not sure how I feel about that; on the one hand, I'm glad there are ambitious plans for these novels, but on the other, a part of me still prefers the one-contained-mystery-per-book-at-a-time kind of format.
Already, this book feels like there's a lot more happening in it than the others. With the exception of a couple scenes, the story didn't feel as suspenseful because the mystery was "diluted" amidst all that was going on. Maybe that's also why its chapters were organized into what happened by days of the week this time, to help keep track of all the events over time. There seems to be a lot more exposition as well, and sadly -- at least it feels this way to me -- less history about London and less of Peter experimenting with magic using science, which were the two things I'd loved best about the first two books. Actually, there's just not as much magic, period.
Despite that, there were some things I really liked about this book, not the least of all Lesley's bigger role in this series. I wasn't happy at all about what happened to her in the first book, and good to know she wasn't just some shallow, throwaway plot device never to have a more important purpose again. There are also a few scenes which I felt were done extremely well, especially a particular one near the end in the eerie confines of the underground tunnels. Very imaginative and atmospheric.
Anyway, I'm glad that I'm all caught up now, but unfortunately that also means it's going to be a long and difficult wait for the end of July, which is when the next book comes out.
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urban fantasy fiction. Peter Grant is my master now!I'm really enjoying this series. I probably didn't like this book as much as the two preceding it, but then again, Rivers of London was excellent and the sequel Moon Over Soho was even better, so I knew that was going to be hard to top.
The story begins with a strange murder in the London Underground, and as usual, strange murders always lead to a call to The Folly, home of the Metropolitan Police's two-man paranormal investigative unit. And thus Peter is dragged into a messy case involving a dead American exchange student who is also the son of a rich and powerful U.S. Senator. Added to that is The Folly's ongoing manhunt for "The Faceless Man", the rogue wizard who wreaked havoc and almost got Peter killed in the last book.
Actually, I'd thought this book would take up that thread directly, following through on the mystery behind who The Faceless Man is and ending that story arc, but apparently not. It seems the author has plans instead to expand that particular plot line over the course of future books, an indication that the scope of this series will be getting bigger and bigger. I'm not sure how I feel about that; on the one hand, I'm glad there are ambitious plans for these novels, but on the other, a part of me still prefers the one-contained-mystery-per-book-at-a-time kind of format.
Already, this book feels like there's a lot more happening in it than the others. With the exception of a couple scenes, the story didn't feel as suspenseful because the mystery was "diluted" amidst all that was going on. Maybe that's also why its chapters were organized into what happened by days of the week this time, to help keep track of all the events over time. There seems to be a lot more exposition as well, and sadly -- at least it feels this way to me -- less history about London and less of Peter experimenting with magic using science, which were the two things I'd loved best about the first two books. Actually, there's just not as much magic, period.
Despite that, there were some things I really liked about this book, not the least of all Lesley's bigger role in this series. I wasn't happy at all about what happened to her in the first book, and good to know she wasn't just some shallow, throwaway plot device never to have a more important purpose again. There are also a few scenes which I felt were done extremely well, especially a particular one near the end in the eerie confines of the underground tunnels. Very imaginative and atmospheric.
Anyway, I'm glad that I'm all caught up now, but unfortunately that also means it's going to be a long and difficult wait for the end of July, which is when the next book comes out.
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LibraryThing member rrainer
There's such a strange dissonance that goes on in my head when I read this series because I really, really enjoy them and yet I'm always left just a little bit unsatisfied. Not in the sense of immediately wanting to read more (though I do--when's the next book coming out again?) but that there
One thing I love about Aaronovitch, that I think he does particularly well in this book, is repurpose language to suit new contexts, especially verbs. It's very evocative without ever feeling overdone. I may come back and write more about this one, because I have Thoughts.
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should have been just that little bit more to it.One thing I love about Aaronovitch, that I think he does particularly well in this book, is repurpose language to suit new contexts, especially verbs. It's very evocative without ever feeling overdone. I may come back and write more about this one, because I have Thoughts.
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LibraryThing member foolplustime
I was a bit wary of reading this one. I loved the first in the series - Rivers of London - but the second book just didn't do it for me. Happily, this book was a return to form and I really enjoyed it.
The good:
We're back to London being as much a character as the actual characters.
Lesley May is
It's funny.
It feels solidly built on its own backstory.
The bad:
I could really, really, *really* live without a scene about a third of the way in (the early morning one at the Folly). It's the kind of irritating, out-of-place, pseudo-humour which is so very damaging to women's social emancipation.
I didn't read this for the who-dunnit, but if I had I'd opine the reveal was weak; probably not enjoyable for those who like to solve the crime first.
There are parts which serve the greater story arc stretching across several books. These felt veeeerrrrry creaky.
But, anyway. I enjoyed this (and actually went and read a different book part way through because I didn't want to get through this one too quickly) and will definitely be picking up the next in the series.
The good:
We're back to London being as much a character as the actual characters.
Lesley May is
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back - harrumble!It's funny.
It feels solidly built on its own backstory.
The bad:
I could really, really, *really* live without a scene about a third of the way in (the early morning one at the Folly). It's the kind of irritating, out-of-place, pseudo-humour which is so very damaging to women's social emancipation.
I didn't read this for the who-dunnit, but if I had I'd opine the reveal was weak; probably not enjoyable for those who like to solve the crime first.
There are parts which serve the greater story arc stretching across several books. These felt veeeerrrrry creaky.
But, anyway. I enjoyed this (and actually went and read a different book part way through because I didn't want to get through this one too quickly) and will definitely be picking up the next in the series.
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LibraryThing member Natalie_Fallon
Another great installment of the Peter Grant series (starts with Rivers of London). The only problem I had was the late night I had because I couldn't sleep until I'd finished it :-). I'm really looking forward to the next book for further development of current characters and introduction of new
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interesting people :-) Show Less
LibraryThing member BobH1
Ben Aaronovitch just keeps getting better. An addictive tour de force of imagination and humour
LibraryThing member rivkat
Another installment in the tale of Peter, learning proper English wizardry and practicing proper English policing (sort of). Herein of the Underground, where a mysterious murder leads him into the bowels of the earth and the art world. The story is slight, but there’s one sewer scene in which the
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over-the-top bantering abilities of everyone involved (including a slightly improbable FBI agent) both lowered my suspended disbelief and made me grin with pleasure. I want more of the main story—where is the mysterious evil Faceless Man? But I’ll wait. Show Less
LibraryThing member callmecayce
I adore this series. It's smart and lots of fun. Book three was particularly enjoyable, partly because I hadn't read the previous two books recently and partly because there were a lot of magic/pop culture references that I got (and liked). There's another strong mystery at the heart of Whispers
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Under Ground and many of the character we enjoy are back, and we get to meet some new ones. I quite enjoyed Lesley's return (as it were) and the introduction of Abigail (who will hopefully play a bigger role in the next book). This series is fun and fits neatly into the type of urban fantasy that I enjoy. Show Less
LibraryThing member srfudji
Enjoyable book, enjoyable series. However the typos are an increasing irritation.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
This series just keeps wowing me. Peter is just so much fun to read, his first person sarky view of his job and the situations make me grin as I read. He channels that mixture of love for his job and cynical dark humour that you can imagine would help someone get through the days and nights he
Lesley May is working with a mask to hide her face in this story, not fully back from sick leave but becoming a part of the unit, Peter meets more of the magical world of London and London is treated almost as a character in the story. This is a story of place and you feel that it could only happen in that town.
This story also has the appearance of an FBI agent (who amusingly dyes her red hair darker to not stand out, and you get a feeling to avoid the Scully references). She's investigating, along with Peter the murder of the son of a US senator, and Peter is trying hard to keep the weird away from her, only she keeps falling into it.
This was a great read. I really like the stories in this series and will continue with it.
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does. This one has him in the sewers and underground of London.Lesley May is working with a mask to hide her face in this story, not fully back from sick leave but becoming a part of the unit, Peter meets more of the magical world of London and London is treated almost as a character in the story. This is a story of place and you feel that it could only happen in that town.
This story also has the appearance of an FBI agent (who amusingly dyes her red hair darker to not stand out, and you get a feeling to avoid the Scully references). She's investigating, along with Peter the murder of the son of a US senator, and Peter is trying hard to keep the weird away from her, only she keeps falling into it.
This was a great read. I really like the stories in this series and will continue with it.
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LibraryThing member avanders
This book was, apparently, the third in a series. Having read it out of turn, the mystery stands on its own, but some of the side points were left unexplained -- the fact that the author did not re-explain every interesting point is something I definitely would have appreciated, had I read the
Semi-rookie Peter Grant investigates crimes in London when "other" explanations are required. His partner Lesley wears a mask because, as she explains at the beginning of the book, her face fell off. I imagine this whole story is encompassed in book 2, but in book 3, it merely adds to the overall ambience of the book. Nightingale is their boss and they live at the Folly with Molly, who I assume is their ghost housekeeper (again, probably detailed in a prior book).
The mystery in this book is fun and Aaronovitch spends time going through the hoops of crime investigation. It's an entertaining read for a saturday afternoon or a plane ride (where I did most of my reading).
On the cover is a portion of a review that claims that this book is the perfect mix of Harry Potter and CSI. As a Harry Potter fan, I beg to differ. This book is more like the Dresden Files, without the same level of darkness or angry wry humor, and with more investigation and cop-speak. I can only assume the Harry Potter reference on the cover is due to a few Harry Potter references throughout the book itself, and the fact that there are wizards and "fae." Perhaps if I had read books 1 and 2 I might understand the comparison more -- being brought through a new world and learning of magical creatures as the main character does is part of the magic of Harry Potter. Harry Grant spends more effort not being shocked because cops are supposed to know more than the public and, necessarily, an element of wonder is absent.
Overall, I enjoyed Aaronovitch's sense of humor (quite a lot at times), and I appreciated the distinctly london feel and dialect. I would recommend the book, particularly to someone who is interested in a detective solving crimes involving the supernatural.
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first two books. In this one, it left me wondering, but did not interrupt the story.Semi-rookie Peter Grant investigates crimes in London when "other" explanations are required. His partner Lesley wears a mask because, as she explains at the beginning of the book, her face fell off. I imagine this whole story is encompassed in book 2, but in book 3, it merely adds to the overall ambience of the book. Nightingale is their boss and they live at the Folly with Molly, who I assume is their ghost housekeeper (again, probably detailed in a prior book).
The mystery in this book is fun and Aaronovitch spends time going through the hoops of crime investigation. It's an entertaining read for a saturday afternoon or a plane ride (where I did most of my reading).
On the cover is a portion of a review that claims that this book is the perfect mix of Harry Potter and CSI. As a Harry Potter fan, I beg to differ. This book is more like the Dresden Files, without the same level of darkness or angry wry humor, and with more investigation and cop-speak. I can only assume the Harry Potter reference on the cover is due to a few Harry Potter references throughout the book itself, and the fact that there are wizards and "fae." Perhaps if I had read books 1 and 2 I might understand the comparison more -- being brought through a new world and learning of magical creatures as the main character does is part of the magic of Harry Potter. Harry Grant spends more effort not being shocked because cops are supposed to know more than the public and, necessarily, an element of wonder is absent.
Overall, I enjoyed Aaronovitch's sense of humor (quite a lot at times), and I appreciated the distinctly london feel and dialect. I would recommend the book, particularly to someone who is interested in a detective solving crimes involving the supernatural.
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LibraryThing member amobogio
Best of the series to date. The characterizations seem more relaxed and there's more humor that springs from the characters themselves. The Rivers play a smaller part in this story, giving the human characters a bit more room. Thoroughly enjoyable.
LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
Three books in, and Peter Grant is still my favorite magical investigator since Harry Dresden. The best thing about this series is the chance to spend some time with him and in his head. I love his eclectic interests, his nerdy jokes, and his desire to know how things work that led him to learn
And as others have noted: I'm not sure what draft the cover blurb was based on, but if the FBI agent was a born again Christian who thinks magic is the work of the devil, I certainly wouldn't have known from reading the book. That's only a criticism of the cover blurb, mind you, which I'm sure was the publisher's fault and not the author's, but I thought it was worth mentioning in case anybody was particularly intrigued by that plot point.
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magic once he knew it was real. Unfortunately, the plot seems a little weaker in this installment, but catching up with Peter and the rest of the characters still makes it better than average.And as others have noted: I'm not sure what draft the cover blurb was based on, but if the FBI agent was a born again Christian who thinks magic is the work of the devil, I certainly wouldn't have known from reading the book. That's only a criticism of the cover blurb, mind you, which I'm sure was the publisher's fault and not the author's, but I thought it was worth mentioning in case anybody was particularly intrigued by that plot point.
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LibraryThing member SChant
Whispers Underground. References to events from the previous 2 books keep popping up, but they
aren't memorable enough to stand out so just come over as out of context and confusing.
Plus could have done with a bit of editing down, for example, far I don't see the point of the FBI agent.
Anyway,
aren't memorable enough to stand out so just come over as out of context and confusing.
Plus could have done with a bit of editing down, for example, far I don't see the point of the FBI agent.
Anyway,
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despite these quibbles it's still an entertaining read. Show Less
LibraryThing member 2wonderY
Although Lesley May is back on the job (and doing quite well, thank you) this installment is much less inspired than the first two. There is still good narration snark and attitude, but Peter Grant seems fatigued. And deservedly so; but still... That shouldn't slow down the story. The audio reader
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gets kudos as well. Very nice job. Show Less
LibraryThing member DLMorrese
Another fine comic fantasy, the third in the Peter Grant series. I'll admit that some of the British words and phrases baffled me at first. I know what a Ford Focus is, for example. I used to own one. But why does Peter refer to his as an 'Asbo'? I looked it up. Now I know (sort of). There were
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others, most of which I knew, probably because I lived in England for a while as a kid, my favorite novelists and Brits, and I watch Doctor Who... but I know a lot of my fellow countrymen (USA) will probably be asking WTF a lot when they read this. But read it they should. The stories about a young detective assigned to the 'magic' branch of the London constabulary are a hoot. The characters are engaging, the plots are not overly absurd (for fantasy), and the pacing is quite good. If you liked the other Peter Grant stories, you'll like this one too. Show Less
LibraryThing member lauriebrown54
London Police Constable Peter Grant returns for the third volume of this urban fantasy series with a well connected American murder victim that has a trace of magic attached to him. The complex plot weaves together a born again Christian FBI agent who does not like the idea of magic, some very
I did find myself getting lost at times because of the large number of characters, unable to remember if this or that person was FBI, London police, or counter terrorism. Thankfully the main characters have had three books to flesh out their parts and there is no forgetting them! Character is one of the things that shines in this series; no one is a caricature and everyone is well drawn. London itself is so thoroughly described, history and all, that the city almost becomes a character in its own right. The other strong suite is the humor; a dry, witty way of describing things and great banter between the main characters. I hope this series goes on for many books!
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special pottery, a teenaged girl who is catching on to the whole magic thing all too quickly, an underground world and the larger story arc of the deadly rogue magician- all told in the funny, snarky voice of Grant. This volume gets back to the frantic pace that the first in the series had. I did find myself getting lost at times because of the large number of characters, unable to remember if this or that person was FBI, London police, or counter terrorism. Thankfully the main characters have had three books to flesh out their parts and there is no forgetting them! Character is one of the things that shines in this series; no one is a caricature and everyone is well drawn. London itself is so thoroughly described, history and all, that the city almost becomes a character in its own right. The other strong suite is the humor; a dry, witty way of describing things and great banter between the main characters. I hope this series goes on for many books!
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
I really like this world that Peter Grant inhabits. It just gets stranger all the time. I do wish Nightingale was a more prominent character. Hopefully he'll play a bigger part in an upcoming novel.
LibraryThing member sageness
Disability tag for characters with disabilities. Gender-politics tag for an excellent balance of women and men in power, plus a young girl with an overprotective African father. GLBT interest tag (corrected!, with thanks to the author) for Stephanopoulous.
Lots of people of color, lots of
Better than Book 2! The main plot was well structured, but the sub-plots had absolutely no connection or coherence and the lack of segues were very confusing. I suspect the various plot threads were each written separately and then chopped up and rearranged afterward. That's fine, of course, but the lack of transition or context was annoying.
Peter remains engaging and charming. Lesley was less interesting this time, damn it, and there's still too little characterization there. Nightengale was bizarrely absent in ways that made no sense whatsoever, except when they needed him to swoop in and play Batman. Not sure if there's a hidden plot there or if it was just lazy writing.
The cliffhanger was intriguing. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Addendum: I absolutely love the world-building. I keep going on (in general) about how much I dig a well-deployed setting, and I suppose I took it as read this time. Very satisfying.
Lots of people of color, lots of
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multiculturalism and interesting sociopolitical critique of contemporary London.Better than Book 2! The main plot was well structured, but the sub-plots had absolutely no connection or coherence and the lack of segues were very confusing. I suspect the various plot threads were each written separately and then chopped up and rearranged afterward. That's fine, of course, but the lack of transition or context was annoying.
Peter remains engaging and charming. Lesley was less interesting this time, damn it, and there's still too little characterization there. Nightengale was bizarrely absent in ways that made no sense whatsoever, except when they needed him to swoop in and play Batman. Not sure if there's a hidden plot there or if it was just lazy writing.
The cliffhanger was intriguing. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Addendum: I absolutely love the world-building. I keep going on (in general) about how much I dig a well-deployed setting, and I suppose I took it as read this time. Very satisfying.
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Language
Original publication date
2012-06-21
Physical description
303 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
9780345524614
Local notes
Rivers of London, 3
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Aaronovitch |