#bookreview: Rivers of London by @Ben_Aaronovitch ‏

Format: E-book (Kindle)
Published: 10th January 2011
Publisher: Gollancz
Pages: 392 Pages
Series: Peter Grant #1

The Blurb
Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut. But Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.

Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

Purchase the book: Amazon UK | Book Depository

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The Review

As always, I’m late on the bandwagon when it comes to reading certain popular book series. Friends and family had recommended the PC Peter Grant series previously, due to its fantasy and magical elements, so I thought I’d give it ago. Everyone loves something that’s different from the ordinary, don’t they? I know I do. Let’s just say I’ve been reading quite a lot of romance and chick-lit lately, so needed something new.

Peter Grant is not your typical London Police Officer. He’s a newbie on the beat but has some qualities that senior Mr Nightingale needs in his division. Armed with his silver-topped cane and experience and knowledge, Nightingale takes PC Grant under his wing for a life of crime-solving.

I know I say this quite often, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed Rivers of London an awful lot. It incorporated things that I want from a book: London history (I’m a big fan), magic and fantasy, plus, crime elements too.

The main case that Peter and Mr Nightingale have to investigate is that of Henry Pyke. Henry is out to seek destruction doesn’t care who he manipulates. The Punch and Judy puppet show is how Henry goes about causing a distraction. Punch and Judy is a traditional British play that children usually watch when they visit the seaside. Personally, I’m not sure why this is, but it’s very popular! Even though the play is for children, it’s not the nicest story. (insert Punch and Judy story here).

I found the writing incredibly clever because the story easily combined real-life policing with acts of fantasy. It sounds really silly when I say this, but sometimes when authors write fantasy it doesn’t sound plausible (I know it’s not real) and then I don’t end up enjoying the story. However, Rivers of London worked well. You believed that the things happening in modern-day London could actually happen and that was what made it a good book for me!

So, it’s safe to say that I need to start reading the next. Give me more!

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