Whispers Under Ground: Rivers of London, Book 3

This is another great volume in the Peter Grant series. Aaronovitch has established a set of likeable three-dimensional characters who inhabit a rich urban fantasy world. The central narrative thread of this volume (investigating a crime in the underground) moves along nicely, and the broader narrative arcs of the series are developed. Aaronovitch also does well in tackling some tricky real-world issues such as race and disability without ever seeming to preach. It's good to see Lesley back doing policework.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's narration is flat-out terrific. There is a broader set of accents for him to contend with here, but each voice emerges as individual and convincing. The central performance of Peter Grant holds the whole thing together - colloquial, self-deprecating, bright and perceptive in many ways, a bit obtuse in others.
Oh, and did I mention how funny the whole thing is in places? In fact, the only problem with this audiobook is the funny looks you get as you walk along apparently chortling to yourself.

These books are addictive as is the Narrator. I was very sceptical when I downloaded the first book in the series and initially was not sure about Kobna Holdbrook-Smith but the characters quickly grew on me and the knowledge of London is fascinating. Nothing gets done when I have these books plugged in and I've have been known to drive the long way home to find out how Peter, Lesley and Nightingale fare.

A third wonderful book in the series with more fantastic narration from Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Without a doubt this series by Ben Aaronovitch are my favorite audio books by some way

This series gets better and better. Love the premise, love the wry humour, love the delivery. Love the way it brings London alive, not in the touristy sense, but the real, I live here and I know about its' nooks and crannies sense. I do hope it can keep going.

I admit to being a little concerned before I bought this audiobook; the third in a series of books all to often shows the author flagging in invention and repeating previous plot devices. Not a bit of it! This book is as enjoyable as the first two. This is partly because of Kobna Holdbrook - Smith's superb narration; there is something about his depiction of the hero, (the book is written in the First Person) that perfectly compliment's the authors world view. Sometimes a narrator can ruin a perfrctly good book, but in this case, It is a match made in heaven!

The third instalment in the Peter Grant/Folly/Rivers of London series delivers as you would hope. As before, the plot bounces along at a cracking rate, the dialogue and language is witty and well-observed and the police procedural aspects are enlightening. And as always, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's reading is utterly superb, bringing all the characters to vivid life.



This time Lesley May is back, working with Peter Grant to solve a murder and a mystery and learning more about the supernatural London hiding beneath the surface we all know and recognise. The book works well alone as a mystery with a solution, but also advances the greater Folly story and the personal tales of the characters we know and love.



I love these books. I think they're up there with Terry Pratchett in terms of novelty and quality of writing. The characters are rich and rounded and the plot is up to snuff. If you're looking for a first book from Ben Aaronovitch, I'd still suggest starting with Rivers of London because it explains from the beginning. However, this one holds up on its own.

I'm fussy and I highly recommend this.

I really cant recommend this highly enough, it's a really fine audiobook. The 3rd in Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series & this is the best yet although If you haven't read/listened to the others I wouldn't start here as it'll spoil the previous plots somewhat.

Some people have said Harry Potter meets the Bill & suppose that gives you some idea but I think there's more humour, intelligence & fun than that description would indicate.

The reader is absolutely superb & makes the experience totally believable.

If like me you've lived a long time in London you'll get even more out of it as the descriptions of familiar places make it resonate even more.

Another fantastic title from the great combination of Ben Aaronovitch's writing and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's narration. The characters are now familiar and becoming more so with every book - it is like a following a good TV series!! I love the whole premise of the stories and can't wait for the next installment.

I love Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series, well written, interesting, imaginative and vivid characters. The narration is always excellent and a large part of why I enjoyed the book so much.

I have just finished the third of Aaronovich's Rivers of London series and I have found them an absolute pleasure. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith reads them superbly, somehow coping with the vast array of accents thrown at him. I understand there is another on the way - I can't wait!