Peter Grant looks look your average London police officer, but he is actually a part-time wizard in a very elite branch of the Metropolitan Police. It’s his job to investigate those crimes that regular cops don’t like to talk about because they often involve vampires or strange things in Underground tunnels. Peter’s latest case features a self-driving killer automobile, a Serbian refugee, the … Most Haunted Car in England, a handsome drug dealer with a nice paisley scarf and a seemingly harmless wooden bench with a dark past! Collecting the sell-out smash mini-series, Rivers of London: Body Work!
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This book was recommended to me by a friend and she could not have been more right! It’s a wonderfully written murder mystery but it’s also supernatural, funny and very very entertaining!!!
Will be recommending this to anyone who will listen!
Probationary cop Peter Grant longs for an interesting transfer in the Metropolitan Police Service, but after a strange encounter with Nicholas Wallpenny (who happens to be a ghost), what he gets is something unexpected. Learning that his new inspector is also a bit of a wizard, Grant finds himself talking to dead people, casting spells and tracking down a villain who can blow your face off.
One of the things I loved about this book is the author’s apparently comprehensive knowledge of London, not least including the fascinating history if its rivers. The details of the city’s lesser-known streets, theatres and historical figures are seamlessly interlaced with its vampires, apparitions and gods and goddesses. Aaronovitch’s humour had me cackling, too, and I liked his wit (though it does have a particularly British flavour).
My only gripe is that the main character comes over as a bit limp and doesn’t seem as clever as he should be (given what he’s dealing with). He also has a rather sexist view of women which, in my opinion, leaves him a bit lacking in the hero stakes.
A clever and witty book that takes policing London to a new level.
Quirky British fun.
Tremendous series, funny and irreverent, with an intriguing first person narrator, a black police constable in London, from a council house background, with an architectural education and, by the end, a good grounding in Latin and wizardry. Very entertaining.
So apparently this book is titled is ‘Midnight Riot’ in the USA….why would they change it???? Who knows. And it’s not important, what is important that you read this if you like supernatural/paranormal shenanigans that are funny, smart and totally absorbing. I LOVE the English sense of humour, the dry wit that only the English can do, and this book has it in spades. On top of that is an unpredictable story that carrys you along with the main character. Urban fantasy that you really need to check out.
mythology, science and the history of London and its rivers. Good mystery too.
3.5 STARS! (I cant select that on the stars)
This book was a mixed bag for me which was a nailed on 3 star until it picked up nearer the end.
I think it may have been a very high expectation that this was going to be the best book I’d read this year that it just kind of fell flat for me. The first section was interesting and had me, but when it started going a little too Harry Potterish I found myself persevering more than enjoying.
Grant is a good character, however I find his journey to being a wizard a little unbelievable and not massively explained. Nightingale is great and together they make a good pairing, I just feel that it skipped to them being able to do magic.
The story was interesting but there were some sections that completely lost me, especially around the actual rivers of London. A very interesting idea and judging by the consensus, Aaronovitch pulled it off but not for me. The stuff around the serial killer was way more interesting.
I may pick up the next book at some point, but my overwhelming feeling when finishing the book was relieved, so I won’t be rushing to it.