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Rivers of London
- Rivers of London, Book 1
- Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
- Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
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Editor reviews
An enthralling and at times hilarious crime thriller audiobook, book 1 of the unabridged Rivers of London: PC Peter Grant written by Ben Aaronovitch is brilliantly narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Listeners are taken into the depths of London’s hidden world of vampires, spirits, gods and goddesses of the mighty Thames. Join the impossibly funny PC Peter Grant as he leaves his policing life behind to become an apprentice to the last wizard of England, and listen intently as they embark on a battle against London’s sinister vampire underworld. Available from Audible now.
Summary
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.
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What listeners say about Rivers of London
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- Charlotte Sky Parker
- 09-08-18
Really enjoyed it
Listened to this over the course of three days. Really enjoyed it, good hook and nicely lightweight. Would recommend for a nice weekend read.
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- KB
- 22-04-18
Narrator amazing
Narrator was amazing. The story was good, it took me a while to get into it but then I really enjoyed it.
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- Agatha Christie
- 28-09-20
Great performance, good story
The book was recommended to me, but sadly, I didn’t completely love it. For me, the story was a bit shallow and cartoonish. I could clearly see the link between this book and the author’s previous work on Dr Who. At times it felt like an extension of that scenario: supernatural happenings, time travel, mysterious mentor figure, young Everyman thrown in at the deep end. I was ‘over it’ by about two thirds of the way through.
However, I stayed listening to the end for the excellent performance by Kobna Holbrook-Smith. Great storytelling and pace, and kudos for giving Dr Walid a believable Highland accent, and not just going for Glaswegian, as many actors would have done!
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- Jo Parker
- 11-08-21
loved the book
Loved the story line and was something different (for me) the Narrator nailed it and has such a lovely voice I could actually listen to Kobna all day.
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- Simmobb2
- 21-01-20
There is no coconut in Mars Bars
Interesting and unusual but failed to hold my attention for long enough for me to finish it. Doubt I'll read more in the series Thu.
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- Jeanie Bell
- 28-01-20
Great fun read.
really great read, stumbled on by accident and decided to give it a go.
Now purchased the second book and looking forward to further adventures
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- Hoops
- 01-12-19
Great Storytelling
Great start to what seems to be an engaging series. Well narrated. I've been missing some well written adult fantasy since I finished the Discworld series. This looks like it'll do the job.
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- Anonymous User
- 17-06-21
Brilliant
Such a great listen - but in fairness Kobna Holdbrook-Smith could make a life insurance agreement sound fabulous...hooked
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- TraDEd
- 02-06-21
Excellent narrator
I read this book several years ago, but wanted to listen to the others in the series, so started back with this first book. The narrator took an already good book and made it even better. I occasionally forgot that it was just one person reading. He is able to make female voices recognisable as such without ever mimicking a woman, if that makes sense. I loved the overall voice and tone he gave to the main protagonist, it suited him perfectly.
I enjoyed the story just as much the second time and possibly more so. I look forward to continuing the series.
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- Mr
- 09-06-20
Just clever. Just right
This set of stories are good, really good. Interesting premise, subtle characters. Really well written. Real life city policing, time travel and history lessons... and of course magic.
Aaronovitch is super but he has hit absolute gold with Kobna Holbrook-Smith. Best narrator for the genre iv ever heard. I’m only 90+ audible listenings and I’m sure there are far more enlightened and indulgent listeners than i out there, but to use a modern phrase I dislike. OMG.
Read them all.
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