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New York : Del Rey/Ballantine Books, c2011.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Mystery. Body and soul. The song. That's what London constable and sorcerer's apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho's 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body-a sure sign that something about the man's death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.Body and soul-they're also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace-one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard "Lord" Grant-otherwise known as Peter's dear old dad.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Stewartry
I love Ben Aaronovitch. Love. I haven't been this excited about a series in quite a while. Harry Dresden, yes, and Mercy Thompson, but I think the only comparison is the sheer happiness each new Harry Potter brought. To which there is a certain irony.
I have kept a List of "my authors" since I
Still, one great book does not a favorite make; I've found that out often enough, to my sorrow. Sophomore books can be real let-downs, as a writer turns out to be a one-trick pony, or flaws that were easily overlooked in devouring the first book stand out more sharply in the second (I hate that one). Not here. Not at all here. Moon Over Soho was every bit as much fun as Rivers.
I was going to say something about the click that happens with certain writers' books – but that's kind of the point: there is no click. These books make it hard not to smoothly slip from this world into the author's from the very first paragraph, and to have such a good time while there as to not want to leave. Immersion.
In case you're wondering, anyone who loved the first book is not left in suspense about how Leslie is doing. The first chapter opens with Peter heading to see her. From there the story galumphs off into a murder mystery that falls inside Peter and Nightingale's wheelhouse: a body is in Dr. Walid's custody which could be considered unusual in that, if you have the ability and you bend near to listen, you can hear it playing a jazz tune.
I was my dad's vinyl-wallah: I changed his records while he lounged around drinking tea, and that's how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And it's why, when Dr Walid called me to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognized the tune it was playing.
And that, of course, is just the beginning.
Soho is much sexier than Rivers was – there's definitely romance in the air along with the jazz. If this makes you at all suspicious, well done.
The writing is – well, I used the Mia Michaels word gorgeois in my review of Rivers of London, and while I was referring to the voice reading it the word applies to the writing as well. (Though I missed Kobna Holdbrook-Smith here I still heard his voice in my head. The man made an impression.) It is in places genuinely laugh-out-loud funny; suspense is well handled, the characters and story ideas are unique, and I care about the characters. There are quite a lot of authors out there who are fairly predictable: once you get the idea of how they think on paper, it isn't too hard to predict jokes and character reactions. I can't do that with Ben Aaronovitch. Any given paragraph could contain references to Doctor Who, Glenn Miller, Harry Potter, Isaac Newton, or a sixteenth-century historian. Moon Over Soho explores love, familial and romantic, and music, and magic. Intelligent, well-made, and part of the beginning of a beautiful series – I'm very happy about this. Where Ben Aaronovitch goes, I will follow.
Now if only I could get the audio book.
I have kept a List of "my authors" since I
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started realizing I needed a way to keep track of what I had and hadn't read by writers I liked, a pre-internet attempt to make sure that I didn't miss anything. Probably two-thirds of the writers on The List are solid Good Writers, usually reliable as enjoyable reads. It's the other third that makes life worth living sometimes, the ones that even just a few pages in give me a delighted shiver of discovery. I haven't been this excited about a new-to-me writer in a while. I am very much prone to rereads (comfort books keep me going), but in 2011 over a hundred books that I read were new to me. Of those, a few were bad, some were mediocre, and several were very good. A handful made The List, meaning that I'll be conscientious about getting hold of their books. But none of the new-to-me writers gave me that delighted shiver that Rivers of London did. Still, one great book does not a favorite make; I've found that out often enough, to my sorrow. Sophomore books can be real let-downs, as a writer turns out to be a one-trick pony, or flaws that were easily overlooked in devouring the first book stand out more sharply in the second (I hate that one). Not here. Not at all here. Moon Over Soho was every bit as much fun as Rivers.
I was going to say something about the click that happens with certain writers' books – but that's kind of the point: there is no click. These books make it hard not to smoothly slip from this world into the author's from the very first paragraph, and to have such a good time while there as to not want to leave. Immersion.
In case you're wondering, anyone who loved the first book is not left in suspense about how Leslie is doing. The first chapter opens with Peter heading to see her. From there the story galumphs off into a murder mystery that falls inside Peter and Nightingale's wheelhouse: a body is in Dr. Walid's custody which could be considered unusual in that, if you have the ability and you bend near to listen, you can hear it playing a jazz tune.
I was my dad's vinyl-wallah: I changed his records while he lounged around drinking tea, and that's how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And it's why, when Dr Walid called me to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognized the tune it was playing.
And that, of course, is just the beginning.
Soho is much sexier than Rivers was – there's definitely romance in the air along with the jazz. If this makes you at all suspicious, well done.
The writing is – well, I used the Mia Michaels word gorgeois in my review of Rivers of London, and while I was referring to the voice reading it the word applies to the writing as well. (Though I missed Kobna Holdbrook-Smith here I still heard his voice in my head. The man made an impression.) It is in places genuinely laugh-out-loud funny; suspense is well handled, the characters and story ideas are unique, and I care about the characters. There are quite a lot of authors out there who are fairly predictable: once you get the idea of how they think on paper, it isn't too hard to predict jokes and character reactions. I can't do that with Ben Aaronovitch. Any given paragraph could contain references to Doctor Who, Glenn Miller, Harry Potter, Isaac Newton, or a sixteenth-century historian. Moon Over Soho explores love, familial and romantic, and music, and magic. Intelligent, well-made, and part of the beginning of a beautiful series – I'm very happy about this. Where Ben Aaronovitch goes, I will follow.
Now if only I could get the audio book.
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LibraryThing member riverwillow
In a superb follow-up to 'Rivers of London' someone, or something, is murdering jazzmen in Soho and Peter, the son of a jazzman, is called into investigate. He's also investigating unpleasant a series of unpleasant male murders - which follow on from an attack Peter investigated at the end of the
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last book. Lesley is staying with her parents as she undergoes a series of restorative operations following the events of 'Rivers of London' and Nightingale is still recuperating, so our hero is essentially on his own. As before London is a major character in this novel, set in the Soho Streets I know so well. Aaronvitch also neatly drops in some of the magical back-story, how Molly came to The Folly, and more of Nightingale's back-story and just what happened to his fellow magicians. We also learn more about Peter, as his father gets involved in the investigation. The third book in the series is due to be published in November and I can't wait. Show Less
LibraryThing member -Eva-
When Constable (and sorcerer apprentice) Peter Grant examines the body of a musician, he hears notes of old jazz, notes that aren't actually being played in the here and now, so Grant knows it's time for him and DCI Nightingale to go on the hunt for a supernatural killer. Aaronovitch has really
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built a wonderful world, firmly based in real life London, but with the supernatural added in such a way that it all seems possible, even probable; when Grant hijacks an ambulance to save one of the river gods, he gets a run-of-the-mill bollocking from his boss, as if he had broken any regular copper's rule. Also, when the people get hurt in this series, they stay hurt - there are no instant fixes for magical damage, which really adds tons to the story's verisimilitude. It's all very good, but what really brings it home for me are the characters who are just so witty and real that I need to root for them - this is another of the few books (authors, really) where I find myself going back in the text just to read some passages out loud. Very entertaining installment in a series I hope to follow for a very long time. Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
Book two in the urban fantasy cop series that started with Midnight Riot (aka Rivers of London). This one features dead jazz musicians and vagina dentata (although not necessarily at the same time).
I had mixed feelings about the first book, as I really loved the setting, the way it handled the
Well, I'm pleased to report that I didn't have the same problems with this one. The detective plot wasn't super-special, and it leaves a lot of things open to (presumably) be picked up on in the sequels. But it was entertaining enough, and never frustrating the way the first one was for me. I'm still liking the world-building and the way it handles the supernatural elements; a lot of what this series is doing could easily feel like a generic urban fantasy retread, but there's enough originality here to avoid that, as well as a very strong sense of place that really helps to ground things. I like the main character a lot, too, even if I do feel inclined to look askance at his willingness to hop into bed with a woman who is connected to a murder he's investigating. (Tsk, tsk!) There's a good sense of humor threaded through it all, too, as well as some appealing (to me, anyway) flashes of nerdiness.
So, overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I'm feeling much more interested in continuing on with the rest of the series now.
I had mixed feelings about the first book, as I really loved the setting, the way it handled the
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magic, and a number of other things, but I thought the pacing was way off and I had some issues with the plot, especially the way I was able to figure out certain things long, long before the characters did. Well, I'm pleased to report that I didn't have the same problems with this one. The detective plot wasn't super-special, and it leaves a lot of things open to (presumably) be picked up on in the sequels. But it was entertaining enough, and never frustrating the way the first one was for me. I'm still liking the world-building and the way it handles the supernatural elements; a lot of what this series is doing could easily feel like a generic urban fantasy retread, but there's enough originality here to avoid that, as well as a very strong sense of place that really helps to ground things. I like the main character a lot, too, even if I do feel inclined to look askance at his willingness to hop into bed with a woman who is connected to a murder he's investigating. (Tsk, tsk!) There's a good sense of humor threaded through it all, too, as well as some appealing (to me, anyway) flashes of nerdiness.
So, overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I'm feeling much more interested in continuing on with the rest of the series now.
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LibraryThing member piemouth
I liked it better than the first one even though through most of it Peter was pretty much letting his dick guide him around, and ignoring the most obvious suspect. Still, great London and jazz history.
LibraryThing member SESchend
A great second act/novel from Aaronovitch and it was nice to see gradual/organic change in Peter Grant & his supporting cast. Too often, there's an overcorrection and huge jump/change between an intro book and a followup, and that didn't happen here. Good plot, interesting new characters and
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fleshing out returning characters. Recommended if you want a decently paced magical procedural. Show Less
LibraryThing member PDCRead
Slight incompetent PC and struggling apprentice wizard Peter Grant has been asked to investigate the brutal murder of a journalist in a toilet in the Groucho Club. And there are more deaths too, jazz musicians are collapsing and dying after gigs, supposedly of natural causes, the Peter detects the
The detective in charge really does't want Peter on the case, but reluctantly accepts that he needs to be, Peter starts to track the creatures that haunt these Soho clubs, and he realises that a proficient wizard, unknown even to Nightingale may be behind the deaths. As Peter finds the limits of his magic and starts to push the envelope with his abilities, even though his efforts are not always successful.
As the rush to find the perpetrator builds, he involves his dad in one of the bands, has a steamy liaison with the girlfriends of one of the murder victims and we find out more about Nightingale. It all ends as a bit of a blast, with a nice subtle twist.
The characters are growing in stature, Grant in particular. The plot was not quite as strong as the first book, but this is a series, so you are getting lines from the first, swirling through this book, and I can see others still being carried forward to the next. One of the great things about the book is the characterisation of the city, it does feel alive and real. Good solid urban fantasy.
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thaumaturgical signature of magic, meaning that these are not as natural as first thought.The detective in charge really does't want Peter on the case, but reluctantly accepts that he needs to be, Peter starts to track the creatures that haunt these Soho clubs, and he realises that a proficient wizard, unknown even to Nightingale may be behind the deaths. As Peter finds the limits of his magic and starts to push the envelope with his abilities, even though his efforts are not always successful.
As the rush to find the perpetrator builds, he involves his dad in one of the bands, has a steamy liaison with the girlfriends of one of the murder victims and we find out more about Nightingale. It all ends as a bit of a blast, with a nice subtle twist.
The characters are growing in stature, Grant in particular. The plot was not quite as strong as the first book, but this is a series, so you are getting lines from the first, swirling through this book, and I can see others still being carried forward to the next. One of the great things about the book is the characterisation of the city, it does feel alive and real. Good solid urban fantasy.
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LibraryThing member antiquary
The second Peter Grant fantasy mystery (after Rivers of London/Midnight Riot). That story stared brilliantly but got bogged down later in some unsatisfying unbelievable plot twists. This one is much more rightly plotted and better over all. It picks up with Grant investigating a series of murders
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by vagina dentata -- a creature called the Pale Lady goes around cutting off the victims' penises with teeth in her vagina. Some of them seem to deserve it, more or less --the first was a drunk who tried to rape her --but the next turned out to be an unlicensed but serious student of classical magic (of which Grant is the only current licensed apprentice) and his connections led to another, highly skilled though illicit magician known only as the Faceless One( he uses magic to hide his face) who apparently uses the Pale Lady as his hitwoman (hitmonster?) while also reviving a former London club (apparently run by his own master decades before) which provides sex with feline/human hybrids. Grant has a great chase/shown fight with the Pale Lady which climaxes in the Trocadero (a real London entertainment center I have visited) . Later he has another showdown exchanging fireballs and other magic with the Faceless One himself while also fending off one of his hybrids, Tiger Boy. The Faceless One escapes, presumably to provide a sequel,. but the as Grant's own master Inspector Nightingale remarks, Grant was doing well just to survive against a much stronger mage. This did not feel as frustrating as escaping villains often do since it really was a hard-won fight. i think one reason I like this volume better is that Grant the hero is more genuinely heroic. (So is his master, who cleanses the hybrid club, and also tells how he took out two Tiger tanks during World War Two, at the apparently desperate struggle at Etterburg to which there have been several references but no full explanation so far. There is a third plotline involving vampires who feed off the life-force of jazz musicians but that leads to a plot twist I will not disclose, though I will say it was much more credible than some of the ones in the first novel, and yet similar enough that I saw it coming.. Show Less
LibraryThing member anthonycamber
Now that A Room Full of Elephants is out, I'm planning to read more. Top of the pile: Moon Over Soho, the second book in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. If you remember, I enjoyed the first tremendously.
Although not a sequel, Moon dovetails nicely with the end of the
Where Moon isn't quite as successful, for me, is in the main plot. It feels a little disjointed, less coherent, than Rivers. Some of the plot developments aren't as surprising as it appears they're supposed to be. Without spoiling anything, our protagonist displays a certain... lack of due diligence in one particular area. I know from experience that it's tricky to keep revelations revelatory: as the author, you know whose fingers are in which pies and it's often hard to judge the correct balance between sprinkling a few crumbs and chucking buckets of pastry at the reader. Here it doesn't distract greatly from the fun of the book, merely triggering the occasional arctic eye-roll. (I'm sorry.)
One criticism I've heard – entirely fairly – about my own Till Undeath Do Us Part regards its detailed geographical references: the "he turned left onto King's Parade and waved at Charlie the bin-busker" sort of thing. Moon has these too. Not everyone likes them but I think they're fine here: London's a minor character, and the details help ground the reader in reality as a counterpoint to the magic. Knowing the locations – through personal experience or by reputation – heightens the fantastical elements.
I do like how Moon ends: both the end of the plot, and the winding up that takes place in the closing pages. Full of bittery sweetness, regrets and promise. The spark of magic glinting at the edges of the grey hardness of police life.
Overall: not quite as enjoyable as Rivers, but a solid, fun read that sets things up nicely for book three.
Although not a sequel, Moon dovetails nicely with the end of the
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first book. Rivers had consequences, and they're not funnelled into the Thames to dilute to nothing. Rather, they form an underlying thread at which Aaronovitch occasionally tugs, with the promise of more in subsequent books. I'm glad he didn't wave the big red magical-realism reset wand: I'm now two books into a series, and I'm certainly here for the duration. (The third book's already lower down the pile.)Where Moon isn't quite as successful, for me, is in the main plot. It feels a little disjointed, less coherent, than Rivers. Some of the plot developments aren't as surprising as it appears they're supposed to be. Without spoiling anything, our protagonist displays a certain... lack of due diligence in one particular area. I know from experience that it's tricky to keep revelations revelatory: as the author, you know whose fingers are in which pies and it's often hard to judge the correct balance between sprinkling a few crumbs and chucking buckets of pastry at the reader. Here it doesn't distract greatly from the fun of the book, merely triggering the occasional arctic eye-roll. (I'm sorry.)
One criticism I've heard – entirely fairly – about my own Till Undeath Do Us Part regards its detailed geographical references: the "he turned left onto King's Parade and waved at Charlie the bin-busker" sort of thing. Moon has these too. Not everyone likes them but I think they're fine here: London's a minor character, and the details help ground the reader in reality as a counterpoint to the magic. Knowing the locations – through personal experience or by reputation – heightens the fantastical elements.
I do like how Moon ends: both the end of the plot, and the winding up that takes place in the closing pages. Full of bittery sweetness, regrets and promise. The spark of magic glinting at the edges of the grey hardness of police life.
Overall: not quite as enjoyable as Rivers, but a solid, fun read that sets things up nicely for book three.
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LibraryThing member isigfethera
Peter Grant, the policeman and apprentice wizard, returns to solve the mystery of the dying jazz musicians, while something even more sinister starts to unfold. While I really enjoy this series, there are some niggling annoyances for me. This jazz mystery was easy to solve, and it was frustrating
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to watch Peter Grant being so clueless for the majority of the book. That spoiled my enjoyment somewhat. But these are fun books, with an engaging main character and a good supporting cast. I just wish they could have smoothed out some of the clunkier moments of plot development and made the hero a little bit smarter. The flaws showed up a bit more in this book than in 'Rivers of London'. Still, after this ending I'm going to have to read the next one! Show Less
LibraryThing member raypratt
Just finished "Midnight Riot" (I wish they had kept the UK title) two days ago, burned through this one in a day and a half, and am eagerly waiting for more. Basically, this is more of the same from "Midnight Riot" but even more so. Keep 'em coming!
LibraryThing member mummimamma
Very enjoyable sequel to "The Rivers of London". I still like the tone, the detail, and the music!, although Peter needs a bit of common sense.
Am looking forwards to the next book in the series.
Am looking forwards to the next book in the series.
LibraryThing member Jaie22
Love it! Of course, I'm obsessed with London and the Blitz, but I think I would like this book even if I weren't. I had to go watch a YouTube video about the bombing of the Cafe de Paris and tried (unsuccessfully) to locate a Snakehips Johnson version of Body and Soul. I read this in one four-hour
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stretch. The pacing was good, Grant seemed a little more mature(although I knew something was up with Simone as soon as we saw the ex-wife sitting out in the car watching the house, before we even met Simone herself) and the adventures were more-than-slightly madcap. Show Less
LibraryThing member readinggeek451
Jazz musicians are dying magically, of what appears to be heart failure or other natural causes, during or immediately after gigs. Jazz vampires? Constable Grant investigates, and gets himself in trouble again. Less focused than the first one, but pretty good. Room for a sequel, and I'd read it.
LibraryThing member Philotera
"Moon over Soho," Peter Grant's second expedition into London's overlapping world of black magic and ordinary cop work, didn't seem quite as strong to me as the initial "Midnight Riot." (AKA Rivers of London in the British edition, a far better title imo.) It suffered from several of its main
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characters being mostly off stage recovering from their injuries. It has the feel of the weak first part of two part Dr. Who episode (why yes, I am a Dr. Who fan). A necessary step perhaps but one that left this book flailing a bit. However, a truly wonderful villain and mystery for the third book was introduced. I look forward to Aaronovith's third where hopefully everyone will be back on stage for some great mayhem. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kellswitch
An excellent continuation of this series, I'm really enjoying the fleshing out of this world and the characters.
The mystery was a bit tighter this time around, though it wasn't hard to figure some of it out on your own and to see the connections the characters were all missing, none of which
I'm really enjoying the character of Peter Grant, he feels like a real person and it's nice to have such a strong character that is also a very nice and engaging person, it makes it easy to care for him and his family.
I also really loved the element of jazz in the story, it fit and felt right and was its own character in a way. It's not easy to write music as one of the main themes and have it feel approachable, I feel he pulled it off.
The mystery was a bit tighter this time around, though it wasn't hard to figure some of it out on your own and to see the connections the characters were all missing, none of which
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detracted from the ending which I felt was stronger in this book.I'm really enjoying the character of Peter Grant, he feels like a real person and it's nice to have such a strong character that is also a very nice and engaging person, it makes it easy to care for him and his family.
I also really loved the element of jazz in the story, it fit and felt right and was its own character in a way. It's not easy to write music as one of the main themes and have it feel approachable, I feel he pulled it off.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Thin but charming story of a young copper who’s now the only official magician in training, and magic seems to be returning to England. sequel to Midnight Riot (Rivers of London in the UK). Peter’s colleague and friend Leslie is still dealing with the consequences of the last book, but
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Peter’s moving on to new cases and new lovers. The immediate whodunnit is perfectly obvious, though Aaronovitch does a decent job of showing why Peter’s reluctant to see it, and there’s a nice setup for a long-term adversary. Show Less
LibraryThing member thewalkinggirl
Still a nice mix of funny, smart and grim, but Simone... I really didn't care for her and thought Peter's lustful fascination with her was... well, I found it suspicious given the situation. Still, Aaronovitch is a fine craftsman and his deliberateness in each scene and character is apparent.
Based
Based
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on how it ends, I think the series big bad has been identified and I also think we're going to get more of Leslie in the next book -- to which I say yay, since I think her limited presence in this book may be why I didn't like it quite as much as the first one Show Less
LibraryThing member missheather3
I think I enjoyed this book even more than I enjoyed Midnight Riot. Aaronovitch seemed to clean up his writing and the book flowed better to me than the first. I also am now hooked on the series and look forward to the next book to come.
LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
This series is the best thing in urban fantasy since The Dresden Files. I can't wait to see more of it.
LibraryThing member SandDune
[Rivers of London] was one of my favourite books of last year, but unfortunately in my opinion its sequel [Moon over Soho] doesn't live up to it.
Detective Constable Peter Grant is still the only wizard in training in the Metropolitan police, working for the mysterious Inspector Nightingale, who
I'm not sure why I liked this one so much less that the first book. As someone who has no interest in or knowledge of jazz I suppose the central theme didn't grab my attention, and both Lesley and Inspector Nightingale, key characters in [Rivers of London], were more peripheral in this. But it does have the same appealing combination of a believable real life London and magical events. So although it certainly wasn't a patch on the first book, [Moon over Soho] is still an enjoyable read, and I'll certainly follow it up with the next in the series.
Detective Constable Peter Grant is still the only wizard in training in the Metropolitan police, working for the mysterious Inspector Nightingale, who
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has been growing younger rather than older every day since the 1970's. Grant's skills are called in when a jazz musician is found dead with the vestigia (the imprint left by magic) of an old jazz tune emanating from his corpse. And as the corpses of more jazz musicians appear events seem to lead back to a bomb blast in the Cafe de Paris in the London Blitz, and the possibility of jazz vampires. And meanwhile, Grant's colleague Lesley, who suffered horrific facial injuries at the end of [Rivers of London], still hopes for a cure by any means possible.I'm not sure why I liked this one so much less that the first book. As someone who has no interest in or knowledge of jazz I suppose the central theme didn't grab my attention, and both Lesley and Inspector Nightingale, key characters in [Rivers of London], were more peripheral in this. But it does have the same appealing combination of a believable real life London and magical events. So although it certainly wasn't a patch on the first book, [Moon over Soho] is still an enjoyable read, and I'll certainly follow it up with the next in the series.
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LibraryThing member njstitcher
The second book in this series was as enjoyable as the first one, if not more. We met Peter's parents and learned more about his background and that of his mentor, Nightshade. Not a lot of new characters were introduced. And many of those in the first book had minor roles in this one (the river
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gods, Leslie). I hope to see more of those characters in the next book. The plot moved quickly, although you kind of new Peter's relationship with his new girlfriend was not going to be a keeper. Overall, a good book and I look forward to the next installment. I hope it 's not a long wait. Show Less
LibraryThing member cajela
Nothing deep here, but it's a good fun read. The story is set in a slightly fantasy modern London, with wizards and other supernatural entities about. Someone is killing the jazz musicians, and apprentice wizard detective Peter Grant is on the case! It's a nice read, a bit middle of the road
I haven't read the first one in the series, but I will. If you like Jim Butcher or Mike Carey, then you'll probably like this. And vice versa.
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Goldilocks - not too gritty, not too cosy; not too romantic, not too much action. The solution to the mystery was a bit obvious, but getting there was most of the fun. I haven't read the first one in the series, but I will. If you like Jim Butcher or Mike Carey, then you'll probably like this. And vice versa.
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
A worthy follow up to Aaronovitch's novel Midnight Riot. Same characters, different plot, just as awesome. I like how Aaronovitch weaves modern England with this whole supernatural world that Peter Grant's discovering. I love all the different characters, the way magic is portrayed and the cases
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that Grant must solve. What I also like is that while this is a book geared for adults, it doesn't try to be all things to all people. Instead, it's a fun ride. Crime drama + magic should equal cliches or something worse, but Aaronovitch manages to avoid that fate. I cannot wait to read more Peter Grant stories. Show Less
LibraryThing member lauren.castan
Good, very good. Now looking for the third one, but it's "being acquired" by all the libraries I have checked so far. I have formed the view over time that this may mean "being read by staff", and after all, there are some perks for every job, aren't there?
Language
Original publication date
2011-04-21
Physical description
288 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
9780345524591
Local notes
Rivers of London, 2
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Aaronovitch |