Ben Aaronovitch A Rivers of London Novel Collection 6 Books Set by Ben Aaronovitch

Some of it may be my fault because I haven’t done a series reread prior to diving into this one, and it’s been years since I’ve read the first few books. Was this my favorite book of the series? Hardly (that would be book 7, actually). “This is what’s known as operational flexibility, and definitely not making it up as you go along.”

There’s a supernatural murder to solve while Peter’s twins with Beverley the river goddess are about to be born, and a few old friends or perhaps foes make an appearance, and Peter comes up with an interesting theory about magic. I got what I expected and spent a pleasant few days in the company of Peter Grant, an apprentice to London magical detective Thomas Nightingale in the Folly, “the Special Assessment Unit, famed throughout the Met as purveyors of weird bollocks, sudden violent upsets and, worse, poor detection rates” and a decent copper with a penchant for scientific approach to magical experimentation. I was comfortable with this book, and that’s alright. “Most plain clothes officers don’t routinely carry their ASP with them, but then most plain clothes officers aren’t called upon to face down unicorns, sentient mold, and the occasional carnivorous tree.” (And if you are for some weird reason starting the series with this book, stop and go back to book 1 because - seriously?).

Everything you’d expect from a Peter Grant book - and by this time, if you got to book 9, you know you like all that. We know the basic outlines of what we are getting - familiar characters pop in and out, a running architectural commentary, a bit of police procedural and a barrage of excellent one-liners. By book 9 of the series the world of it is cozily familiar.

Ben Aaronovitch A Rivers of London Novel Collection 6 Books Set by Ben Aaronovitch