Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: Del Rey; 1 February 2011
ISBN: 034552425X
ASIN: 004C43F70
Series: Book 1 Rivers of London series
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson
Midnight Riot
Amazon
Synopsis: "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."
I think everyone has a slight love affair with London's underworld. Readers just seem to love the atmosphere and imagery that is created simply by mentioning names like Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper. Ben Aaronovitch has done a superb job of recreating that feeling and modernizing it with his new fantasy series.
Our hero Peter Grant, is written well. He is not the perfect cop, not even close, but that does not mean he is not trying. His efforts to some degree remind me of the movie Hot Fuzz. He really wants to be Simon Pegg's character Nicholas Angel in the beginning of the film, a tough, no-nonsense police officer. Only those efforts do not come off so well. Peter Grant is just trying to do his best under difficult and unusual circumstances. When he meets Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale things go even further off the deep end as Nightingale choses Grant as his apprentice.
This is where the urban fantasy comes into play. Inspector Nightingale is called in, or rather chooses to take on cases of the uncanny. The world that Nightingale opens up to Grant shows that there is more to the world than what can be seen with the naked eye. As Grant comes to learn about this new addition to the world he must also do his best to solve his current case.
Then there is the writing. Aaronovitch does an impressive job of nailing down the feel of the world his characters live in. As you read you feel as if you are in London and that there might just be something magical around the bend. Add to the fact that at the heart of the book is a mystery, you have an impressive start to a great series.
I enjoy urban fantasy, but I do not go out of my way to read it. A few other reviewers have praised this series and for good reason. It is a lot of fun to read and as I reached the end of the novel, I found I wanted more. The good news is that the next book in the series Moon Over Soho, Whispers Underground are already out and the forthcoming novel Broken Homes will be released later this year.
Midnight Riot or Rivers of London as it is known across the pond, is an impressive book. As soon as I finished the first book I immediately went online and purchased the released sequels. I have not read them yet, but their reviews should be coming out later this year. If you have not read Midnight Riot, I recommend you do. Great characters, pacing and mystery. Even if you were to take the fantasy out of the book it would make for a great read. Highly recommended.
Plot 8/10
Characters 8/10
Style 8.5/10
Overall 8.5/10
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