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Rivers of London

Rivers of London, Book 1

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Rivers of London

By: Ben Aaronovitch
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
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Summary
 Book 1 in the Rivers of London series, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.

My name is Peter Grant, and I used to be a probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth.

My story really begins when I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was already dead...

Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London's Metropolitan Police. After taking a statement from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost, Peter comes to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.

Suddenly, 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.

Praise for the Rivers of London novels:

'Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there more than the real London'
NICK FROST

'As brilliant and funny as ever'
THE SUN

'Charming, witty, exciting'
THE INDEPENDENT

'An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups'
THE TIMES

Discover why this incredible series has sold over two million copies around the world. If you're a fan of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams - don't panic - you will love Ben Aaronovitch's imaginative, irreverent and all-round irresistible novels.©2011 Ben Aaronovitch Crime Fiction Fantasy Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Paranormal Exciting Funny Witty Scary England Wizardry Magic Magic Users
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Critic reviews

A darkly comic read with characters you can't help but like
Funny and wildly inventive
Masterfully crafted . . . gives the late, great Terry Pratchett a run for his money
Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there even more than the real London
Charming, witty, exciting
An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups
What would happen if Harry Potter grew up and joined the Fuzz. A hilarious, keenly imagined caper
A consummate story of real policing in a vividly real world intersecting the decidedly unreal to marvellous effect. Filled with detail and imagination, the quality of this achievement stands out, making Aaronovitch a name to watch
Magical, mysterious and mesmerising, Rivers of London will have you spellbound
An engaging mix of magic and police procedural, this is a great kick off to a very promising series as well as the most satisfying fantasy thriller to hit bookshelves in quite some time. Witty, imaginative and gripping
We can't fault the pace, ingenuity and creativity of Rivers of London. With each page, we're eager to learn more about this mysterious new world, set on very familiar streets
The perfect blend of CSI and Harry Potter
Great, great fun
It's a real treat - Hot Fuzz meets Harry Potter via hardboiled police procedural - with a compelling cast of characters and a nail-biting mystery to be solved
Rivers of London manages to be fresh and original and a wonderful read. I loved it
All stars
Most relevant
Fantastic listen - the best new author I have come across in a long time. I just wish you would hurry up and put his next book on audio - I couldn't wait so bought and read the hardback version - and that he will keep writing more of them. Fascinating for his detailed account of modern and historical London, blended with lighthearted spookiness and magic, and a convincing idea of how the Met would deal with magic, not only from the villains, but with the wizard in their ranks.

Rivers of London

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Have to review this, never felt the need before, but this has to be one of the most enjoyable books I have listened to in eons! Was a little put off at first, always wary of the 'bandwagon jumpers' with latest fantasy novels, can be a bit boring, but this was just fantastic. Gritty, great thriller plot and superbly narrated. If you are fan of any of the genres, be it fantasy, sci-fi, mystery or thriller, I don't think you will be dissapointed. Please hurry up and put next book on audible!

Fantastic listen

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Put this to the top of your wishlist, or better still, download it and listen! Many books I've listened to take a bit of "getting into", but this one draws you in within minutes! Didn't know what to expect, but the very high rating and reviews let me to be curious enough to "give it a go".

Always 'hunting' for good books, and this certainly is. Mixing detective story (which I don't normall listen to) with some magic. It's a great combination and the characters are well thought out. The narration is superb, great fit with the book! So, can't recommend enough, you'll be downloading Book 2 before you know it!

Put this to top of your wishlist!

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I wont say too much as I am clearly in the minority on this one!

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, but maybe it was just a bit out-there for me. I found the setting in London and Covent Garden great, but I wonder how non-Londers might find this? (I suspect I would have struggled even more if I did not know the area). Its certainly imaginative, and amusing at times. But overall I can only give it 3 starts as I was not totally absorbed in, or 'believed' the story (some things has no 'reason' behind them at all...and I know this is perhaps silly thing to say given the book is about magic, when anything can happy, but still - this found me rolling my eyes a few times)...but based on the other reviews clearly that is just me!

The narration is odd! Very breathy and 'interesting' phasing used throughout, however credit is due as after you get used to the style the narrator does have an excellent flair for the accents and conveying the character attitudes.

If you know London well - you will love it.

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I got lulled into this book off the back of all the 5* reviews. I couldn't finish it. Not because the book is bad per say - it's ok - there's definitely a really interesting premise going on. But it didn't live up to anywhere near the hype it's been given. I'd read it being likened to Pratchett... hahahaha no way Jose. The protagonist is either a gulable idiot or there are a few chapters missing from the book. It all happens too quickly. If you want to write magic into a real-life setting, you either better do a damn good job of convincing the reader, through the characters, the plausibility of magic existing in the real world or write in a setting where magic is already established and understood by all characters. This book does neither One day, our protagonist (who definitely needs to be on a sex offenders register) is just your average copper working on a case, and within the blink of an eye, he's met a ghost, discovered magic, signed up to be an apprentice wizard and is learning spells and meeting gods and goddesses. Just like that. Really threw the emersion out of the window for me. If it were handled in a more tongue-in-cheek/ breaking the fourth wall way then perhaps the author could get away with it. I also got the impression the author either has experience as a cop or has done some good research because the descriptions of life as a policeman are thorough, and couldn't help but feel this book would be better if it stuck to the who done it in London theme without the magic. All said and done, what I read was 'meh'. Think it's meant for a younger audience. But I've learnt to approach reviews with caution. Including this one.

Couldn't finish. Read with caution

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