Ben Aaronovitch

Rivers of London (also listed as Midnight Riot) is the first book in a hugely popular series. My friends have been telling me for years to pick it up, and since I’m a stubborn idiot, I let it languish on my TBR. Well, no more! Now I’m one of those annoying evangelists telling you I don’t care what is next on your pile, throw it away and pick up this book instead.

Rivers of London introduces us to Police Constable Peter Grant. While investigating a murder he interrogates a witness, only show more to discover his witness is a ghost. Before he knows it he’s assigned to a new superior officer, Master Wizard and Detective Chief Inspector Nightingale. Now he’s mingling with gods and goddesses, wading through interdepartmental politics, and trying to solve a wave of horrific supernatural murders sweeping across London.

I don’t often say I was hooked on page one, but I really was. I love the writing style and the voice of Grant, and he’s a character I want to spend more time with. He’s a likeable smartass without being too snarky. He handles the revelation of magic with admirable level-headedness, but he’s not perfect; he definitely makes mistakes and sometimes bites off more than he can chew. Nightingale needs a touch more fleshing out but his character, and the master/apprentice relationship with Grant, has some real potential. And I appreciate the friendship he has with Lesley that seems destined to become more.

Also, as much as I love Harry Dresden, the way he ogles women and describes them becomes nauseating; in contrast Grant is a breath of fresh air. He admires women, he sees a few that he finds attractive, but it’s briefly mentioned and then he moves on. There’s no essay describing her melon-like breasts that defy gravity, etc. Just “oh hey she’s attractive, cool. Back to the case.” I would stand next to Grant on a subway and not be afraid he’s a creeper. It shouldn’t feel like a huge deal when a male fantasy author writes this way, but here we are.

Rivers of London neatly tied up the murder mystery while opening up plenty of questions for the further series to explore. Part urban fantasy, part police procedural, this book was 100% a delight. Expect to see the others in the series on my review list in short order, because I want to get to know this entire cast better. show less

The Rivers of London books really are a fun time. They are reliably engaging, fun, original, and exciting. Ideal to distract and refresh you after a long and tiring week at work. I think Aaronovitch has really settled into a good rhythm with the series. [b:Broken Homes|16078584|Broken Homes (Peter Grant, #4)|Ben Aaronovitch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403204872s/16078584.jpg|21875874] and [b:Foxglove Summer|20499240|Foxglove Summer (Peter Grant, #5)|Ben show more Aaronovitch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1402338677s/20499240.jpg|34142449] had a few issues, but [b:The Hanging Tree|21479290|The Hanging Tree (Peter Grant, #6)|Ben Aaronovitch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480443659s/21479290.jpg|40801856] and ‘Lies Sleeping’ were excellent. I enjoy how thorough and detailed the worldbuilding is, both mundane police procedure and arcane magic. The characters are appealing and develop well - Peter Grant has grown up and changed an impressive amount in the series so far, while retaining his compelling narrative voice. I can’t think of any specific faults in this instalment. It was easy and entertaining to read, with some memorable scenes and endearing details. One thing to note: events from the graphic novel series are referred to on multiple occasions in ‘Lies Sleeping’. I don’t find the comics as much fun as the books, but they’re worth following for their canonical links at least. Not that they’re bad, just that they inevitably lack the level of detail that gives the novels their cheerful air of conviction. (No police pun intended.)

Some notable highlights of ‘Lies Sleeping’, in a disorderly form because it’s 1am and I’m tired: I loved the introduction of Molly’s friend/relative/girlfriend called Foxglove, which was understated yet touching. Peter handled being kidnapped with aplomb. Lesley continues to be a really interesting villain. Much more so than Chorley, who struck me as a Brexiteer. Lesley made the good point that London dominates Britain, hoarding wealth, power, and opportunities. There was also an intriguing discussion of whether Peter would be a ‘paladin’ in the theoretical new Chorley-world. Is Peter so Lawful that he’d enforce the rules regardless of what they were? As ever, the pacing was adroitly done and the denouement suitably dramatic and rousing. The sequence of Peter kissing an earlier avatar of Beverley Brook, wielding a shield like Captain London, and confronting Mr Punch with his daughter was great. The revelation that he’s going to be a father was not hugely unexpected, yet still sweet.

There was also some excellent world-building through conversations about the implications of magic’s existence. Nightingale asked a really good question: why has no country officially recognised its existence? Talking of Nightingale, he continues to be frustratingly mysterious - will we ever learn more of his tragic backstory? Peter waited hopefully for him to provide it after suggesting Peter gets therapy, but no dice. That Peter does indeed get therapy is a sign of his growing maturity; he’s been through some very traumatic experiences in the past seven books. On a more trivial note, the scene of Abigail’s intelligent foxes being lured by cheese puffs was pretty hilarious. Aaronovitch is good at funny chapter titles as well. Not that I always noticed them before speeding on with the book.

While the individual events of each book run together rather in my mind, it is the characters and world-building that keep me invested in the Rivers of London series. I’m pleased that it seems to be going from strength to strength. show less

I really love the world building in this series. It's so engrained into the society, no one really bats an eye about magic. Well most usually roll their eyes like it's some annoying secret of London that they'd rather not have to deal with. Which is a hilarious way to address the public knowing about magic.

The love of music, mixed with the love of London, it's so engulfing. It feels like you're walking the streets with Peter. These books read like your sitting at a café, and Peter is show more telling you about his latest case. Which is fun, because Peters side thoughts are funny, and he tells it in such a laid back manner that you can't help but want to know more.

His character growth from the last book to this one is fascinating. He is like growing a heart I guess? Ha. I don't know how to explain it, he's still a pretty crass main character, but he is also becoming less of a solo act I guess. Caring about those around him, and doing what's right by them.

I love his approach to magic, wanting to do all the tests. It feels like the book has the old way on display as we learn about the world, and how Nightingale's era did things, but it also has the new way, which I hope is hinting to a new generation of magic users.

This case was intricate and took us all around London meeting interesting people-magical and not. I look forward to the plot lines that were opened up here for future books. It looks to be an exciting ride. I hope the cases having many layers to dissect continues, because it makes it more complex and harder to tell who the really villains are. I didn't suspect one of them in this book at all.

Lesley, oh Lesley. I don't want to say much here because I don't want to spoil any of her development but man. After our first run in with her in this book I was so hoping it was going to develop the way it did. Glad to see she will still be a key part of the series.

The Peter does seem to make a lot of HP comments, which feel a bit cheap, like it's leaning on that world building already there to explain how something works in this world. But I also get that if a lot of us discovered magic right now, we would probably be making the same comparisons.

If you love police procedural mysteries, that are funny but build a vast magical world, you'll love this series. show less

"Jazz vampires."
"I wish I hadn't started calling them that."

Whatever Peter Grant, Detective Constable of the Metropolitan Police and apprentice wizard, calls these supernatural beings, they are dangerous, and they're targeting the jazzmen of Soho, sucking out the life essence so that they (the jazz vampires) can stay young and beautiful. This may sound absurd, but it's precisely the sort of thing Peter is paid to believe in, and we get to accompany him as he sorts it all out with the show more assistance of his guv'nor, Inspector Nightingale.

Since this is the second book in the series, it is perhaps to be expected that it is not quite as exciting as the first. But now that we've been introduced to the world of Grant and Nightingale, it's that much easier to just sit back and enjoy the ride. We get to see Peter's parents (his father is also a jazz musician), further adventures in Peter's magical education (the Scindere and Impello spells provide much humour), and of course the hijinks that ensue when the magical and non-magical police worlds collide. All of this is narrated in Peter's inimitable fashion, with plenty of chuckles throughout.

Once you read this, you will probably want to have the third book, Whispers Under Ground, on hand. If you haven't started the series, definitely begin with the first, Rivers of London. show less