Rivers of London

Rivers of London, Book 1

By: Ben Aaronovitch

Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

My name is Peter Grant, and until January, I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in 50 years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden...and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious, vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.

Read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

©2011 Ben Aaronovitch (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group Limited

Nice urban fantasy

Nothing stood out in either direction, it had no brilliant parts but also no horrible drops in quality. A nice distraction. 4/5 is just right

I really enjoyed this book!

This book seem to be both loved, and hated. Me personally loved it. If you like magic, English police and som mystery you might enjoy this book..

Not Harry Potter, but...

This book was a very pleasant surprise. The story is good, the narrator is excellent. The premise is a little old, but to be honest do any of us get sick of wizards and other "spirits of the night"?

The story as told was utterly believable and had a good dose of humor. It doesn't take itself too seriously and I actually cared about the characters.

Dry Entertaining

This is a Great listen and very well narrated. Definitely recommend for the commute to work.

The narrator is great, but...

The music in between chapters took me out of the immersion. Otherwise, no complaints. Fun time.