With this long new novella, bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch has crafted yet another wickedly funny and surprisingly affecting chapter in his beloved Rivers of London series. If you thought magic was confined to one country—think again.Trier: famous for wine, Romans and being Germany’s oldest city.When a man is found dead with his body impossibly covered in a fungal rot, the local authorities … rot, the local authorities know they are out of their depth. But fortunately this is Germany, where there are procedures for everything.
Enter Tobias Winter, an investigator for the Abteilung KDA, the branch of the German Federal Criminal Police which handles the supernatural. His aim is to get in, deal with the problem, and get out with the minimum of fuss, personal danger and paperwork.
Together with frighteningly enthusiastic local cop, Vanessa Sommer, he quickly links the first victim to a group of ordinary middle aged men whose novel approach to their mid-life crisis may have reawakened a bloody conflict from a previous century.
As the rot spreads, literally, and the suspect list extends to people born before Frederick the Great, Tobias and Vanessa will need to find allies in some unexpected places.
And to solve the case they’ll have to unearth the secret magical history of a city that goes back two thousand years.
Presuming that history doesn’t kill them first.
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Not nearly as fun as the rivers of London series
I’m a self-diagnosed Peter Grant addict, so I don’t know how this slipped past my reading radar. Once I got my hands on it though, I wondered if I would enjoy a non-Peter Grant Rivers of London book. Happily, it only took a few pages to be pulled into these new characters and new setting all delivered Aaronovitch’s usual style of snarky humor and sensory storytelling.
The October Man is a novella set in the same world (and the same vein) of the Rivers of London, but not featuring Peter Grant.
*** What to expect
The story is set at Trier, Germany, and focuses of police detective Tobias Winter as he unravels a case of supernatural death. While the novella has a lot of similarities (first person view of the police man), Aaronovitch does a credible view of giving Winter a different voice than Peter Grant, and playing with the different cultural and police organisations reactions to the supernatural.
This time Aaronovitch delves into the history of Trier’s vinyard and wine-making history, and you can expect the same style of story telling. Though Winter and Grant have their individual personalities, one gets the feeling they’d likely enjoy a beer together. One gets the feeling that – after ending a chapter in Grant’s life in the last full book – this novella sets the scenery for the next big adventure.
*** What I liked
I generally love Aaronovitch’s style, and it carries through here. I enjoyed the expanded world and background provided here, casting a different light on the main events of the series.
*** What to be aware of
As mentioned, this isn’t the usual Peter Grant point-of-view story in the series. Still, if you want to sample Aaronovitch’s work it can provide you with an interesting introduction.
*** Summary
Very nice, quick read in the Rivers of London series that expands the world and let us see things a little different than usual. Highly recommended for readers of the series.
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Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic – for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over: https://margaretmcgaffeyfisk.com/category/reviews/
I have fallen behind on the series, but this novella reminded me why I became a fan of Aaronovitch after reading the first book. The October Man is a police procedural written in a matter-of-fact, dry style despite the case revolving around barely understood magic and centuries-old river goddesses. The style matches my memories of the London-based stories enough for the narration to be familiar, but the use of German terminology and circumstances protected me from confusing the main characters.
The neighborhood feel draws you in while the dry reporting is supported by beautiful characterization and nice humorous elements to put the reader in an accepting mood. That’s a good thing, because there’s much in this story beyond the boundaries of our known world.
I’ll admit to being a little lost in the beginning because we’re tossed into the story with an unnamed first-person narrator and a situation new to me. Re-reading the book blurb before starting would have prevented this, but it wasn’t included in the Advanced Reader Copy. Still, it didn’t take long before someone called him by name and things clicked into place.
An easy example of the humor is when the main character, Tobias Winter, acquires his sidekick in the form of local police liaison Vanessa Sommer. She has more than her name to offer, though, as her eager exploration of the magic she previously doubted runs a good counterpoint to Tobi’s frustration with how little they know and well-founded fears about what he will face. She brings the wonder; he gives the cautious side. I am particular satisfied with how Vanessa’s arc progresses and resolves whatever Tobi might think.
There’s a sizable catch-up in the beginning to ground the reader in the international rules restricting human and magical interaction along with how these rules are falling to pieces before Tobi’s eyes. It would be an info dump, and technically is, but it provides necessary background in a humorous and quirky account that held my interest. We also learn a lot about Tobi’s feelings toward his job, both the magical aspects and the risk of obsession.
One reason I like the narrative style so much is because it reflects a refreshing attitude toward magic rather than being all about craving power whether for good or evil purposes. This is just a world where magic exists and is hidden from most humans. Someone has to investigate and clean up the mess when magic is abused.
Ultimately, the novella offers a fun read with a nice pair of main personalities who are very distinct, especially in their reactions to magic. There are interesting minor characters who are sometimes amusing in their eagerness to perform, whether the enthusiastic medical examiner or the magical cleaner crew getting to burn something down. The take on magic and the world adds to my enjoyment, making this a fitting addition to the series and an intriguing expansion beyond the Rivers of London.
P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest read.
I had some reservations going in, as the setting’s completely different (Germany) and it doesn’t have Peter. But the tone is familiar, and I liked Tobi from the start. The case was as peculiar as ever, and there are rivers involved again. The only difference was that (spoiler) Tobi didn’t blow up the whole town like Peter would have. I’m guessing there will be cross-over books later, and I’m looking forward to those.