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Rivers of London #5
Foxglove Summer
Peter Grant—cop, magical apprentice, and Londoner to the core—is being forced out of his comfort zone and into the English countryside. His latest case involves the disappearance of children in the small village of Herefordshire, and the local police are unwilling to admit there might be a supernatural element involved. Now Peter must deal with them, local river spirits, and the fact that all the shops close by 4 P.M.
323 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 13, 2014
1044 people are currently reading
11887 people want to read
About the author
Ben Aaronovitch
157 books13.4k followersBen Aaronovitch's career started with a bang writing for Doctor Who, subsided in the middle and then, as is traditional, a third act resurgence with the bestselling Rivers of London series.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,218 reviews
November 26, 2015
I continue to love this series. Great main character. Great voice. Great mix of mystery and resolution. Great mix of short and long term story lines.
Really, there's nothing here I don't like. And given how critical I can be, I hope you all realize how huge a statement that is coming from me....
I listened to this one on audiobook. And the Narrator is absolute top-notch.
Really, there's nothing here I don't like. And given how critical I can be, I hope you all realize how huge a statement that is coming from me....
I listened to this one on audiobook. And the Narrator is absolute top-notch.
January 20, 2025
I haven't yet been able to review a Peter Grant book immediately after finishing. I suppose I'm basking in book afterglow. Once again, Aaronovitch writes an engrossing, unpredictable urban fantasy. A good story, a generous sprinkling of dark police humor, decent police procedural all combine for a read that fully occupied my Sunday afternoon.
Chuckles as I started:
Sarcasm about family:
"I sighed--policing would be so much easier if people didn't have concerned relatives. The murder rate would be much lower, for one thing."
About procedure:
"'I'm fairly certain you're violating our human rights here,' she said.
'No,' I said with the absolute certainty of a man who'd taken a moment to look up the relevant legislation before leaving home."
About official-speak:
"I made a mental note to wheedle the list of old codgers out of Nightengale and get it properly sorted into a database. Hugh's 'grapevine' might be a useful source of information. If I'd been about four ranks higher up the heirarchy I'd have regarded it as an opportunity to realise additional intelligence assets through enhanced stakeholder engagement. But I'm just a constable so I didn't."
Okay, maybe that's not that funny. I thought so, but then I'm the sort to read the corporate bulletins, marveling at the abuse of language.
What I really love about Aaronovich--srsly, now--is that he brings a much looked for but seldom found level of social commentary to his urban fantasy. Grant has dark skin, and is painfully obvious out in the posh suburbs. At one point, there's a nice little aside when he notes the casual joking racism from an officer he's just met. He considers his normal snide comment, half laughing, half calling it out, but then decides to let it go with the assumption that the officer wouldn't even recognize the rebuke.
I'm always impressed the way Aaronovich weaves multiculturalism into his tales, in the most ideal of ways: acknowledging a different cultural experience, but not fetishizing it or diminutizing the truth of the experience. Grant understands the because he is a dark-skinned copper he will end up being 'poster boy' for the investigation. There's a world of cynicism, weariness and acceptance in the role he plays for the suburban police.
Grant has his own prejudices about the country, partly because he feels so out of his element, only going into the country when required on school trips.
"The air was still fresh but the sun was already sucking up the moisture from the fields and you didn't need to be chewing on a straw to know it was going to be another hot day."
There's also writing that is nicely balanced between description and action, occasionally even making a foray into lyricism:
"The pack [of reporters] has swept back into the village less than ten minutes after they'd left, and come boiling up the cul-de-sac like the return of a tide, licking at my heels as I ran up the path and only stopping at the hedge line because it was held by a special constable called Sally Donnahyde who was a primary school teacher in her other job and so wasn't going to take any lip from a bunch of journalists. The kitchen was at the back of the house, but I could still here them as a restless murmur, like surf on a pebble beach."
Oh yes, I liked the mystery, one of the most coherent storylines yet. The supernatural take is interesting, even if it comes to a somewhat familiar ending, but I appreciate the modern twist. It did trouble me somewhat that this might be a plot point that comes back to bite Peter in the butt, which led to unpleasant echoes of Dresden. But again, that's what fairy tales and mythology is about, putting the storyteller's spin on a cultural archetype.
Characterization is decent, with the majority of time spent on Peter. I don't mind; he's an interesting, thoughtful lead. I came to like his country partner. This time, Beverly Brook's role seemed appropriate and a little more fleshed out, if still slightly incoherent (must she always speak in riddles? must we have weird watery dalliances?)
In a rare moment for me, I would have liked a little more punctuation; at times it takes a minute to figure out the inflection (see above quote). But that's a stylistic quibble.
The ending, perhaps, was almost the least satisfying part of the story. Oh, don't worry; everything wraps up nicely with no nasty cliffhangers, except that giant multi-book arc that's going on. No, it is that the ending seemed a little too cinematic, and meant to appeal to the current UF reader, instead of being more character consistent. But that's me, and I'd be happy to discuss below with spoiler tags.
Still, Peter Grant remains one of the most consistently satisfying UF series out there, and I remain committed to reading whatever Aaronovitch releases.
Three and a half country stars
2025: skipped over it again, in my listen-through. In my defense, it was not on my 'currently downloaded' books, and I was on an airplane. :D
https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/...
Chuckles as I started:
Sarcasm about family:
"I sighed--policing would be so much easier if people didn't have concerned relatives. The murder rate would be much lower, for one thing."
About procedure:
"'I'm fairly certain you're violating our human rights here,' she said.
'No,' I said with the absolute certainty of a man who'd taken a moment to look up the relevant legislation before leaving home."
About official-speak:
"I made a mental note to wheedle the list of old codgers out of Nightengale and get it properly sorted into a database. Hugh's 'grapevine' might be a useful source of information. If I'd been about four ranks higher up the heirarchy I'd have regarded it as an opportunity to realise additional intelligence assets through enhanced stakeholder engagement. But I'm just a constable so I didn't."
Okay, maybe that's not that funny. I thought so, but then I'm the sort to read the corporate bulletins, marveling at the abuse of language.
What I really love about Aaronovich--srsly, now--is that he brings a much looked for but seldom found level of social commentary to his urban fantasy. Grant has dark skin, and is painfully obvious out in the posh suburbs. At one point, there's a nice little aside when he notes the casual joking racism from an officer he's just met. He considers his normal snide comment, half laughing, half calling it out, but then decides to let it go with the assumption that the officer wouldn't even recognize the rebuke.
I'm always impressed the way Aaronovich weaves multiculturalism into his tales, in the most ideal of ways: acknowledging a different cultural experience, but not fetishizing it or diminutizing the truth of the experience. Grant understands the because he is a dark-skinned copper he will end up being 'poster boy' for the investigation. There's a world of cynicism, weariness and acceptance in the role he plays for the suburban police.
Grant has his own prejudices about the country, partly because he feels so out of his element, only going into the country when required on school trips.
"The air was still fresh but the sun was already sucking up the moisture from the fields and you didn't need to be chewing on a straw to know it was going to be another hot day."
There's also writing that is nicely balanced between description and action, occasionally even making a foray into lyricism:
"The pack [of reporters] has swept back into the village less than ten minutes after they'd left, and come boiling up the cul-de-sac like the return of a tide, licking at my heels as I ran up the path and only stopping at the hedge line because it was held by a special constable called Sally Donnahyde who was a primary school teacher in her other job and so wasn't going to take any lip from a bunch of journalists. The kitchen was at the back of the house, but I could still here them as a restless murmur, like surf on a pebble beach."
Oh yes, I liked the mystery, one of the most coherent storylines yet. The supernatural take is interesting, even if it comes to a somewhat familiar ending, but I appreciate the modern twist. It did trouble me somewhat that this might be a plot point that comes back to bite Peter in the butt, which led to unpleasant echoes of Dresden. But again, that's what fairy tales and mythology is about, putting the storyteller's spin on a cultural archetype.
Characterization is decent, with the majority of time spent on Peter. I don't mind; he's an interesting, thoughtful lead. I came to like his country partner. This time, Beverly Brook's role seemed appropriate and a little more fleshed out, if still slightly incoherent (must she always speak in riddles? must we have weird watery dalliances?)
In a rare moment for me, I would have liked a little more punctuation; at times it takes a minute to figure out the inflection (see above quote). But that's a stylistic quibble.
The ending, perhaps, was almost the least satisfying part of the story. Oh, don't worry; everything wraps up nicely with no nasty cliffhangers, except that giant multi-book arc that's going on. No, it is that the ending seemed a little too cinematic, and meant to appeal to the current UF reader, instead of being more character consistent. But that's me, and I'd be happy to discuss below with spoiler tags.
Still, Peter Grant remains one of the most consistently satisfying UF series out there, and I remain committed to reading whatever Aaronovitch releases.
Three and a half country stars
2025: skipped over it again, in my listen-through. In my defense, it was not on my 'currently downloaded' books, and I was on an airplane. :D
https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/...
June 21, 2022
Lemonade and ice. BBQ and ribs. Mac and cheese. Salt and caramel. Some things are perfect complements of flavor. Holbrook-Smith's voice acting and Aaronovitch's words are the ultimate combination, the Ben & Jerry's of the book world.
This is the first series where audio has really demonstrated it's value for me, a fast reader. Prior to this, I've tried Evonovitch, a Harry Potter book and one or two others. An Alas, Babylon convinced me of the value of continuing to give the medium a try, so I finally dipped my toes into the Peter Grant series, and by Moon Over Soho, I was swimming in the deep end.
Something special happened with this book and the last: I'm actually getting a glimpse of the the multi-book arc. Before, I didn't understand Peter's fascination with Ettersburg, but with a little insight from Mr. Hugh, it is starting to become clear--as well as who the Faceless Man might be. I've got a good idea of what's behind the door in the Folly's basement, and it no longer seems like a plot device to get Peter on his own and prevent easy rescue from Nightingale.
It should be clear by now that Holdbrook-Smith is a stunning reader. When Nightingale made a brief appearance, it was delightful to hear his voice again. The wheezing, faltering tone of Hugh brought to life his infirm health. I did have a little trouble keeping the mothers and fathers sorted, but I had even more trouble reading, so there's that. I enjoyed his interpretation of the chain-smoking inspector, and the boyish cheerfulness of his new police pal.
Pass the Ben & Jerry's. I've got some listening to do.
This is the first series where audio has really demonstrated it's value for me, a fast reader. Prior to this, I've tried Evonovitch, a Harry Potter book and one or two others. An Alas, Babylon convinced me of the value of continuing to give the medium a try, so I finally dipped my toes into the Peter Grant series, and by Moon Over Soho, I was swimming in the deep end.
Something special happened with this book and the last: I'm actually getting a glimpse of the the multi-book arc. Before, I didn't understand Peter's fascination with Ettersburg, but with a little insight from Mr. Hugh, it is starting to become clear--as well as who the Faceless Man might be. I've got a good idea of what's behind the door in the Folly's basement, and it no longer seems like a plot device to get Peter on his own and prevent easy rescue from Nightingale.
It should be clear by now that Holdbrook-Smith is a stunning reader. When Nightingale made a brief appearance, it was delightful to hear his voice again. The wheezing, faltering tone of Hugh brought to life his infirm health. I did have a little trouble keeping the mothers and fathers sorted, but I had even more trouble reading, so there's that. I enjoyed his interpretation of the chain-smoking inspector, and the boyish cheerfulness of his new police pal.
Pass the Ben & Jerry's. I've got some listening to do.
April 27, 2023
'There’s weird shit,’ I said. ‘And we deal with the weird shit, but normally it turns out that there’s a perfectly rational explanation.’ Which is often that a wizard did it.By now Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series has clearly found its footing and has definitely established itself in the world of urban fantasy in all its refreshing quirkiness and nerdiness, and even got to a point when it needs to take a break from itself and take a quick interlude, a countryside detour, and learn that sometimes landscapes can replace architecture quite well.
Peter Grant, the perpetually self-deprecatingly snarky and magically inclined constable of the Folly, the Metropolitan Police "X-Files", a subunit dealing with all the supernatural occurrences that cannot be simply reasoned out (even though 'a wizard did it' can be indeed a quite reasonable explanation), has been called on duty outside of London to the countryside to investigate a suspicious disappearance of two young girls in the middle of a rural idyll, and has to pack his bags and “set course for what Londoners like to think of as ‘everywhere else". Of course, being Peter, almost no time passes until he uncovers trouble and is forced to save lives “with a couple of tons of enraged fairy tale on our arses."
“Rule of policing number one – when something good falls into your lap, pass it up the chain of command as quickly as possible before something else bad can happen.”I was worried a bit about what'd happen if you take Peter Grant out of London. After all, the whole series so far has been rooted in London, it's places and quirks and history. But no worries there; the strong sensation of places and connections to them has remained strong, only shifting to the countryside where there may be more trees than buildings but just as much history and supernatural attached to them. Even if local geniuses loci do tend to raise sheep.
And the countryside has its quirky charms - most notably, carnivorous unicorns (which, by the way, would be an awesome name for a band).
“This is where the whole ape-descended thing reveals its worth, I thought madly. Sucks to be you, quadruped. Opposable thumbs - don't leave home without them.”
This volume has even more of the police procedural feel than the rest of them, perhaps with the exception of the very first book, grounding the magical bits in solid reality - especially since Peter does not have his old magical pals/usual suspects to fall back on.
Yes, with the exception of Beverley Brook¹, the old cast members are nowhere to be seen. Our usual suspects - Nightingale, Walid, Tyburn, Molly, Zach, even Lesley - are left behind in London as Peter explores the countryside while replacing his architectural musings with contemplations of landscape and attempting to avoid any knowledge about the genealogy of the steaks and potatoes he tries to consume. Otherwise, save for Beverley, the supporting cast is new and notably and pointedly rural, and this abrupt scenery change is actually quite refreshing, serving as a nice recharging before Peter's inevitable return to the big city and the complicated tangle of mysteries, intrigues and connections he left behind.
¹ For the first time I wasn't annoyed when Beverley Brook was brought into the action. Ever since after the first volume, the river gods felt to me simply tacked onto the storyline for no obvious purpose, but the reintroduction of Beverley here was excellent, making me actually like her and want to see her as a more prominent cast member.The refreshing bit about this volume is that the narrative is pretty tight, not going into three different directions as its predecessors did but instead focusing on one storyline, one case presented confidently and strongly. Yes, there are slight wispy threads of storylines from the previous installment (Lesley, oh Lesley, what are you about?) as well as the clear set ups for the development and progression of the overall story arc (the river "insemination", Molly's origins revealed, the further information about the wizardly last stand in the World War II, etc), but overall the storyline of this one is rather standalone, focused, and self-contained, giving for a chance a hint of a feeling of completeness. Which may be good or bad, depending how you look at it. If you were hoping for a resolution of the plot threads left hanging after Broken Homes - too bad; this volume is an interlude, a break, a vacation to recharge and to regroup. If, however, you're not too adverse to a break in the middle of action and some space to revisit simpler times of dealing with just one case and one mystery - well, that's your lucky day.
“My dad would have told me to take the breaks as you get them and not worry about where they come from. But my mum never saw a gift horse that she wouldn’t take down to the vet to have its mouth X-rayed – if only so she could establish its resale value.”Yet as my starry-eyed excitement about Peter Grant books dampens a bit I start noticing bits and pieces that are a bit disappointing. A few writing / narrative continuity errors which I'm happy to let slide given that overall quality of writing is decent. A few plotlines that give no closure - but I sincerely hope will be addressed a bit more as Peter Grant's saga continues (and I believe I read somewhere that Ben Aaronovitch plans to keep writing these as long as there are people willing to read them, which I gather means quite a few future installments). But these bits I'm easily willing to overlook given the overall enjoyment level these books continue to provide.
Perfect? No. But entertaining enough to guarantee that I will happily wait for the next installment, remaining a huge fan of Peter Grant and his experimental brand of magic? You betcha.
3.5/5 stars.
---------
My reviews for the first four books in this series are here:
'Rivers of London' (a.k.a. 'Midnight Riot' in the US)
'Moon Over Soho'
'Whispers Under Ground'
'Broken Homes'
April 30, 2017
4.25ish stars.
Perhaps my favorite of the series so far not least because it's made the most sense. :) One of the only issues I have with the series is the general lack of cohesion from book to book. This is a personal preference but I favor focus in my police procedurals as opposed to more "true-to-real-life" stories following several plots and going on adventures that aren't necessarily relevant to the plot even if they do widen the universe and the characterizations. I thought the mystery here was engaging and the most traditional of any of the books so far which, again, I like.
Having said that, this book is really a departure in a lot of ways from previous books in the series: it takes place outside of London, several notable characters (Lesley, Nightingale) don't factor heavily, the Faceless Man is hardly even mentioned. These factors all mean that Peter is front and center more now than ever. He doesn't have Lesley as his better half, he doesn't have Nightingale as his failsafe, he's not even in his element back in London, and he grows so much from it all.
Now about that ending... I was listening to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's incomparable narration and wasn't paying attention to how much time was left (as opposed to reading a paper copy and being fully aware of the end approaching) so I was completely caught off guard when it just ended out of nowhere! It was pretty much build, build, build until the last five minutes and then everything was tidied up all of a sudden. A lot of interesting secondary stuff was introduced and never resolved or explained. But whatever, it was fun for what it was.
Now Beverley. :) I love her. I enjoy hers and Peter's relationship, especially because she doesn't feel like the "required female love interest" one might expect from one's UF. She's really only featured prominently in this book. I don't think she even made an appearance in 2 and 3 besides being mentioned? Anyway they're far from "soul mates." She and Peter have their thing and they work well together and while their relationship definitely moved forward in this book it's still far from traditional. Who knows how long or to what extent they'll be "together." But mostly I love her spunk. :)
I'm excited to return to The Folly as we know and love it, but it was nice to go on holiday in the country for a bit.
https://mrphilipslibrary.wordpress.co...
Perhaps my favorite of the series so far not least because it's made the most sense. :) One of the only issues I have with the series is the general lack of cohesion from book to book. This is a personal preference but I favor focus in my police procedurals as opposed to more "true-to-real-life" stories following several plots and going on adventures that aren't necessarily relevant to the plot even if they do widen the universe and the characterizations. I thought the mystery here was engaging and the most traditional of any of the books so far which, again, I like.
Having said that, this book is really a departure in a lot of ways from previous books in the series: it takes place outside of London, several notable characters (Lesley, Nightingale) don't factor heavily, the Faceless Man is hardly even mentioned. These factors all mean that Peter is front and center more now than ever. He doesn't have Lesley as his better half, he doesn't have Nightingale as his failsafe, he's not even in his element back in London, and he grows so much from it all.
Now about that ending... I was listening to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's incomparable narration and wasn't paying attention to how much time was left (as opposed to reading a paper copy and being fully aware of the end approaching) so I was completely caught off guard when it just ended out of nowhere! It was pretty much build, build, build until the last five minutes and then everything was tidied up all of a sudden. A lot of interesting secondary stuff was introduced and never resolved or explained. But whatever, it was fun for what it was.
Now Beverley. :) I love her. I enjoy hers and Peter's relationship, especially because she doesn't feel like the "required female love interest" one might expect from one's UF. She's really only featured prominently in this book. I don't think she even made an appearance in 2 and 3 besides being mentioned? Anyway they're far from "soul mates." She and Peter have their thing and they work well together and while their relationship definitely moved forward in this book it's still far from traditional. Who knows how long or to what extent they'll be "together." But mostly I love her spunk. :)
I'm excited to return to The Folly as we know and love it, but it was nice to go on holiday in the country for a bit.
https://mrphilipslibrary.wordpress.co...
February 16, 2018
ATTENTION SPECULATIVE FICTION FANS!!!
DROP WHAT YOU’RE DOING, SAVE YOUR PAGE ON THE BOOK YOU’RE READING.
GO GET ALL THE BEN AARONOVITCH PETER GRANT BOOKS AND READ THEM ALL!!!
Just finished his 2014 novel, and fifth in the series, Foxglove Summer and I immediately had ready book six The Hanging Tree (as well as the 5.5 novella The Furthest Station).
Not since Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series have I been so enamored of a storyline, and I love Atticus and Oberon but I think this is better.
What makes this work (one of the many things that makes this work) is the taut but energetic pace of the police procedural surrounded by elements of urban / contemporary fantasy. Take out the magic and you’ve still got a good police story made all the better by the colorful UK setting and charismatic London constable first person narrator. Add the magic and you’ve got enough Hogwart’s Hoedown to choke a Harry Potter Hippogriff.
Peter Grant is a copper's copper, so much so that Pratchett's Commander Vimes would smile (maybe).
This time around we find our protagonist out in the sticks helping out with a disappearance of two pre-teen girls. And, of course, there’s a lot more to the story than that. Aaronovitch ups the ante with even MORE! Fae hoopla and we also get more on the ongoing Lesley / Faceless man drama. We also get to learn more about Beverly Brook and guess what? She's even more badass than we thought.
All great fun and the writer keeps getting better with each installment.
On to book six!
DROP WHAT YOU’RE DOING, SAVE YOUR PAGE ON THE BOOK YOU’RE READING.
GO GET ALL THE BEN AARONOVITCH PETER GRANT BOOKS AND READ THEM ALL!!!
Just finished his 2014 novel, and fifth in the series, Foxglove Summer and I immediately had ready book six The Hanging Tree (as well as the 5.5 novella The Furthest Station).
Not since Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series have I been so enamored of a storyline, and I love Atticus and Oberon but I think this is better.
What makes this work (one of the many things that makes this work) is the taut but energetic pace of the police procedural surrounded by elements of urban / contemporary fantasy. Take out the magic and you’ve still got a good police story made all the better by the colorful UK setting and charismatic London constable first person narrator. Add the magic and you’ve got enough Hogwart’s Hoedown to choke a Harry Potter Hippogriff.
Peter Grant is a copper's copper, so much so that Pratchett's Commander Vimes would smile (maybe).
This time around we find our protagonist out in the sticks helping out with a disappearance of two pre-teen girls. And, of course, there’s a lot more to the story than that. Aaronovitch ups the ante with even MORE! Fae hoopla and we also get more on the ongoing Lesley / Faceless man drama. We also get to learn more about Beverly Brook and guess what? She's even more badass than we thought.
All great fun and the writer keeps getting better with each installment.
On to book six!
February 1, 2020
Best of the series for me! Dark humor was excellent, mystery was fantastic, and we finally get to know what kind of creature Molly is. It was worth the wait. Hope Ben will dish out more about her in coming books.
December 29, 2014
Well, that was fun.
Readers who don't know the series should not start here, but rather, with the first book, Rivers of London or, in its US retitling, Midnight Riot.
Readers who do know the series should not get spoilers, which leaves me with not much to say by way of a review. I liked this a lot, both in the new scenery and material specific to this volume, and the interstitial carrying-along of the larger series story arc, which is starting to take shape nicely. I want to reread it soon, but I rather think I want to do a reread of all the prior volumes first, to track how the new material casts a fresh light on the old material. This is a potential delight in a series: new books deepening or altering the reader's perceptions of the older ones without, if we are lucky, betraying them.
There is also an effect in play that I can only call "aesthetic suspense": it's what had me on the edge of my seat during the Lord of the Rings movies. Not "What will happen?" but "Will the filmmakers bring it off?" This series has succeeded in casting me into a state of aesthetic suspense, which only happens when a tale has made me care about it. And the regular kind as well -- what's happening back at the ranch with [spoilerspoilerspoiler]? When is the next book coming out...?
Although, for all that whipping one's readership into a froth of anticipation is just what a writer hopes to do, frothing readers can be a distraction to one's process. I do hope Aaronovitch takes as much time as he needs to give us good weight, "going forward" as the jargon has it. (Peter's ironic command of police-bureaucratic Newspeak was one of the many delights of this volume, hence the deeply amusing chapter titles. Plus his signature architecture-snark, shrewd observation, and voice, all up to series-standards.)
Ta, L.
September 1, 2021
Re-Read 9/1/21:
Gotta love getting run down by unicorns in the boonies.
Still a great UF. :)
Original Review:
This continues to be one of the very best UF series out there for a very good reason... It's always the careful attention to detail. Proper if you're a copper.
Honestly, I think this one might have hit me in the feels even more than the previous ones even though the last book's zinger was a doozy. I think it had everything to do with the fact it was a massive hunt for missing children.
Even the magical copper was called in for this one, and good thing, too.
So many of the great reveals in this mystery must remain hidden so I can only be super vague, but suffice to say: I loved the twists and turns this took. Our favorite Brook really shines in here, too.
I simply have no complaints about these books. They're solid, funny, immersive, have great magic scenes, even better police procedural, and the quirk is super. I'm almost starting to get upset that I've only one more book to go. I want to make these last. I want to stay here forever.
Gotta love getting run down by unicorns in the boonies.
Still a great UF. :)
Original Review:
This continues to be one of the very best UF series out there for a very good reason... It's always the careful attention to detail. Proper if you're a copper.
Honestly, I think this one might have hit me in the feels even more than the previous ones even though the last book's zinger was a doozy. I think it had everything to do with the fact it was a massive hunt for missing children.
Even the magical copper was called in for this one, and good thing, too.
So many of the great reveals in this mystery must remain hidden so I can only be super vague, but suffice to say: I loved the twists and turns this took. Our favorite Brook really shines in here, too.
I simply have no complaints about these books. They're solid, funny, immersive, have great magic scenes, even better police procedural, and the quirk is super. I'm almost starting to get upset that I've only one more book to go. I want to make these last. I want to stay here forever.
May 26, 2021
3.5 really. Not my favourite in the series but better than other books that I’ve rated 3 stars
Still excited to continue with this serious as audiobooks
Still excited to continue with this serious as audiobooks
February 9, 2017
Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca
Aaronovitch Shakes it Up! - 5 Stars
Aaronovitch does the right thing for this series. He takes the main character out of the city, puts some of the ongoing and unanswered questions on the shelf and make Peter Grant shine on his own. The story structure is a marked departure from the first four books but, in my opinion, is one of the best in the series.
Plot summary
In the British countryside, a couple of children have gone missing. Peter Grant's governor sends him to investigate as child abductions had traditionally been hallmarks of rouge wizards. Peter finds himself investigating without the help of Nightingale. While the case does not initially look like it involves any magical elements, Peter's keen senses leave him convinced that there is more than meets the eye. Using his unique, empirical investigative style, Peter uses science to investigate magic. Don't worry, he uses a bit of magic as well. In solving the mystery of the missing girls, he deals with angry mythical beasts, fairy magic and a few minor gods.
My Take
The Series Matures
The main character of Peter Grant really comes into his own in this installment. He seems to shake off the idea he is simply an apprentice as he uses only his learned skills to solve the crimes and deal with the paranormal elements. While I love this series, Peter cannot live in shadow of Nightingale forever.
If you are a reader that wants Peter to focus more on magic and less on science, you will be disappointed. Peter's magic skills have not progress that much but, to me, the draw of the series is the cerebral manner he approaches magic and the efforts he takes to understand the why of magic. Peter Grant is not blowing up buildings or burning up ghouls like Harry Dresden, but what he lacks in firepower he makes up in brainpower.
My Little Pony...from Hell
This installment delves deeper in the local lore and mythology and deals with more mythical creatures than previous installments. This serves as some excellent world building for the series and lets the author show off his imagination. Let's just say that this Brony was shattered when he learned that friendship is not magic.
Some readers may be disappointed that this book doesn't deal directly with the cliff-hangers from the previous novel. We don't hear about the faceless man and Lesley is in the background and only minor player. This story is all about Peter Grant.
Can this Book Stand Alone
Don't Do It. While the main story can be understood on its own, it is better enjoyed with previous knowledge and understanding of the characters. For example, Beverley plays a central role in the story but you really need to know her background and her relationship with Peter to appreciate her role. I suggest you start right from book 1 if you are new to the series.
Final Thoughts
Ben Aaronovitch can write me a book anytime. Peter Grant may be my favorite wizard in the Urban Fantasy realm and that is in large part due to Aaronovitch's writing style. He is always aware of his surroundings and ensures you get to know the city and places you are visiting with his characters. If you haven't started this series, grab book one and give it a go. Highly Recommended.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2.5
This book is a bit frisker than most of the others. While there are several sexual encounters, Peter never wants to bore you with details of the encounter. The sexual content is quite mild.
Language - 3.5
Mild obscenities are used. 31 uses of "Shit". 8 uses of "damn" 9 religious exclamations and sprinkling of other minor potty words. I did not recall any usage of the f-word but a search shows that it was used 40 times. I guess I shouldn't be relying on my memory alone.
Violence - 2
Violence did not play a major role in this installment. There was some minor fighting but nothing too graphic.
Aaronovitch Shakes it Up! - 5 Stars
Aaronovitch does the right thing for this series. He takes the main character out of the city, puts some of the ongoing and unanswered questions on the shelf and make Peter Grant shine on his own. The story structure is a marked departure from the first four books but, in my opinion, is one of the best in the series.
Plot summary
In the British countryside, a couple of children have gone missing. Peter Grant's governor sends him to investigate as child abductions had traditionally been hallmarks of rouge wizards. Peter finds himself investigating without the help of Nightingale. While the case does not initially look like it involves any magical elements, Peter's keen senses leave him convinced that there is more than meets the eye. Using his unique, empirical investigative style, Peter uses science to investigate magic. Don't worry, he uses a bit of magic as well. In solving the mystery of the missing girls, he deals with angry mythical beasts, fairy magic and a few minor gods.
My Take
The Series Matures
The main character of Peter Grant really comes into his own in this installment. He seems to shake off the idea he is simply an apprentice as he uses only his learned skills to solve the crimes and deal with the paranormal elements. While I love this series, Peter cannot live in shadow of Nightingale forever.
If you are a reader that wants Peter to focus more on magic and less on science, you will be disappointed. Peter's magic skills have not progress that much but, to me, the draw of the series is the cerebral manner he approaches magic and the efforts he takes to understand the why of magic. Peter Grant is not blowing up buildings or burning up ghouls like Harry Dresden, but what he lacks in firepower he makes up in brainpower.
My Little Pony...from Hell
This installment delves deeper in the local lore and mythology and deals with more mythical creatures than previous installments. This serves as some excellent world building for the series and lets the author show off his imagination. Let's just say that this Brony was shattered when he learned that friendship is not magic.
Some readers may be disappointed that this book doesn't deal directly with the cliff-hangers from the previous novel. We don't hear about the faceless man and Lesley is in the background and only minor player. This story is all about Peter Grant.
Can this Book Stand Alone
Don't Do It. While the main story can be understood on its own, it is better enjoyed with previous knowledge and understanding of the characters. For example, Beverley plays a central role in the story but you really need to know her background and her relationship with Peter to appreciate her role. I suggest you start right from book 1 if you are new to the series.
Final Thoughts
Ben Aaronovitch can write me a book anytime. Peter Grant may be my favorite wizard in the Urban Fantasy realm and that is in large part due to Aaronovitch's writing style. He is always aware of his surroundings and ensures you get to know the city and places you are visiting with his characters. If you haven't started this series, grab book one and give it a go. Highly Recommended.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 2.5
This book is a bit frisker than most of the others. While there are several sexual encounters, Peter never wants to bore you with details of the encounter. The sexual content is quite mild.
Language - 3.5
Mild obscenities are used. 31 uses of "Shit". 8 uses of "damn" 9 religious exclamations and sprinkling of other minor potty words. I did not recall any usage of the f-word but a search shows that it was used 40 times. I guess I shouldn't be relying on my memory alone.
Violence - 2
Violence did not play a major role in this installment. There was some minor fighting but nothing too graphic.
June 11, 2025
4.0⭐ Updated: Original review Feb. 25, 2020. Re- read April 19, 2022. Audiobook. May 15, 2022.
I liked this installment of the Peter Grant/magic police series a bit better from the preceeding "Broken Homes." Not sure why, exactly. It's set in the country not London, so that's a bit different. It also features more of the classic elements of British fantasy: changelings, fairies (fae), unicorns, wizard's towers; all of which I quite enjoyed.
The story starts with Peter being seconded to help with the search for two missing girls and things get strange from there. Less direct involvement from Peter's governor and master wizard, the Nightingale but a lot from his girlfriend and minor river goddess, Beverly Brook.
As usual Aaronovitch delivers clever, light entertainment with his keen descriptions and cheeky humor.
2022 re-read. Along with the first book in the series, this is my favorite so far, for the reasons listed above, for the superior pacing, and because it's the " coziest " of the 'Rivers' stories, no doubt because of its rural setting. Nothing like a British village to bring out the foul deeds, magical or otherwise. Upped the rating to 4⭐.
Audio book May 2022. Decided to try this after seeing all the glowing reviews for Kobna Holdbrooke Smith's narration, which are richly deserved. Great range of accents and good pacing and clarity. Recommended.
I liked this installment of the Peter Grant/magic police series a bit better from the preceeding "Broken Homes." Not sure why, exactly. It's set in the country not London, so that's a bit different. It also features more of the classic elements of British fantasy: changelings, fairies (fae), unicorns, wizard's towers; all of which I quite enjoyed.
The story starts with Peter being seconded to help with the search for two missing girls and things get strange from there. Less direct involvement from Peter's governor and master wizard, the Nightingale but a lot from his girlfriend and minor river goddess, Beverly Brook.
As usual Aaronovitch delivers clever, light entertainment with his keen descriptions and cheeky humor.
2022 re-read. Along with the first book in the series, this is my favorite so far, for the reasons listed above, for the superior pacing, and because it's the " coziest " of the 'Rivers' stories, no doubt because of its rural setting. Nothing like a British village to bring out the foul deeds, magical or otherwise. Upped the rating to 4⭐.
Audio book May 2022. Decided to try this after seeing all the glowing reviews for Kobna Holdbrooke Smith's narration, which are richly deserved. Great range of accents and good pacing and clarity. Recommended.
May 10, 2016
A full five stars for this one both for the book itself which was excellent and for the narrator who is just brilliant! He has really made this series for me. I am not sure if it would be as good reading it to myself. This is the fifth in the series and our main character is really finding his feet in the magical world. He is also doing pretty well in his love life and apart from missing one particular person life is good. I always enjoy the way he mixes mundane police work with his magical skills and always comes out on top. Eventually anyway! Sadly I might have to slow down on this series now - there is only one more currently published. I hope Mr Aaronovitch is busy writing more!
October 2, 2018
Either this story was way better than most of the others, or taking a (long) break from the series helped reboot my enjoyment of it, because I read this one quite quickly compared to the last one in the series.
This one doesn't really push the Faceless Man storyline forward, other than some phone interactions with you-know-who after that person you-know-what'd in the last book and what appears to be a dire warning.
But honestly, the fae storyline in this one was fantastic.
This one doesn't really push the Faceless Man storyline forward, other than some phone interactions with you-know-who after that person you-know-what'd in the last book and what appears to be a dire warning.
But honestly, the fae storyline in this one was fantastic.
April 25, 2015
5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/01/02/b...
There are only a few urban fantasy series I would drop everything for, and this is one of them. So when Foxglove Summer arrived on my doorstep, I did exactly that – every other book that was on my plate got put on hold while I set forth to devour this one. Move over, “The Boy Who Lived”, for when it comes to my favorite British wizard, his name is Peter Grant.
Foxglove Summer may the fifth installment of the series, but it’s still going strong. While I hardly ever recommend starting in the middle of a series, I suppose if you’ve been mighty curious about these books, this could possibly be a decent place to jump on board, it being book five notwithstanding. Here, author Ben Aaronovitch gives our protagonist a little break from his long-term struggle with his arch nemesis the Faceless Man, sending Peter out of London into the rural countryside to investigate the possibility of magic involvement in the disappearance of two young girls.
We could all use a little breather sometimes, and this served as a nice rest from the hustle and bustle of the city. But of course, it’s never a vacation for Police Constable Grant, a Londoner to the core and who now finds himself way out of his element. He is thrown into the case, working with the cordial yet skeptical local police who have no idea what to make of Peter’s area of expertise, namely all things supernatural and thaumaturgical – a perfectly reasonable response, if you can imagine what it would be like if Mulder and Scully suddenly showed up at your precinct going on about formae and vestigia. But time’s a-ticking, and the desperation grows with each day that goes by with still no trace of the two missing girls. It’s time to try anything and everything Peter can think of, including bringing in his friend Beverley Brook, a genius loci of the rivers.
Out of all the books so far, I feel this one has reads the most like a police procedural and also has the strongest self-contained and cohesive mystery plot yet. A lot of urban fantasies sell themselves as mysteries, but this one actually feels like a mystery, with subtle clues dropped along the course of the investigation that the attentive reader might pick up and use later on to put together the pieces. The story is also light on the magical elements in the beginning, but rest assured no Peter Grant adventure ends without a whole lot of weird stuff going on by the time it’s finished. What sort of weird stuff, you ask? Try a couple of invisible and pissed off carnivorous unicorns on for size.
Why do I love these novels so? Namely because they feel so different from my usual urban fantasy fare. I’ve seen the series described as “very British” in terms of the writing, and definitely when it comes to the humor as well. Indeed, Peter’s most hilarious lines are often laced with strong undertones of sarcasm and self-deprecation, and delivered with the kind of subtlety that contrasts greatly with the in-your-face type of snark that I’m so used to in my mostly American UF heroes and heroines. Oh, but how Peter Grant makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. Reading these books in public is a risk, because I never know when something Aaronovitch writes will make me guffaw out loud, drawing stares from strangers around me who all then think I’ve gone nuts.
It’s hard to believe, considering how much I adored the first and second books in the series, but Foxglove Summer may be my favorite Peter Grant novel so far. It’s true that it’s a bit of a departure from the previous books. For one thing, the city of London has been as much of a character as the people living in it, but now we have a story that takes place almost entirely in a small village in the outskirts. And yet, the beautiful descriptions of the English countryside more than make up for it, not to mention the fascinating information on the geography and history of Herefordshire. Also noticeably absent are the usual supporting characters, including the Rivers (with the exception of Beverley) and most glaringly of all, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the mentor and supervisor of Peter Grant – and also my favorite character after Peter. Still, I was more than willing to overlook this, given how tightly the story was told. These days, a lot of urban fantasies are so overwhelming with the sheer amount of things going on in them, it’s nice just to sit back and enjoy a straight-up mystery with a highly focused plot and a clear direction.
I look forward to when we’ll get back to the larger story arc following the Faceless Man, especially after the giant bombshell dropped on us at the end of the last book, Broken Homes. Still, for a brief respite, I couldn’t be happier with the way Foxglove Summer turned out. I sense the events of this book will have some lasting repercussions, possibly extending into the next book since things ended pretty abruptly here with a couple of minor loose ends still unresolved. On the whole, however, this book is a great example of how a series and its main character can grow while still retaining everything that makes the previous novels so great. An extraordinary fun ride that’s not to be missed.
There are only a few urban fantasy series I would drop everything for, and this is one of them. So when Foxglove Summer arrived on my doorstep, I did exactly that – every other book that was on my plate got put on hold while I set forth to devour this one. Move over, “The Boy Who Lived”, for when it comes to my favorite British wizard, his name is Peter Grant.
Foxglove Summer may the fifth installment of the series, but it’s still going strong. While I hardly ever recommend starting in the middle of a series, I suppose if you’ve been mighty curious about these books, this could possibly be a decent place to jump on board, it being book five notwithstanding. Here, author Ben Aaronovitch gives our protagonist a little break from his long-term struggle with his arch nemesis the Faceless Man, sending Peter out of London into the rural countryside to investigate the possibility of magic involvement in the disappearance of two young girls.
We could all use a little breather sometimes, and this served as a nice rest from the hustle and bustle of the city. But of course, it’s never a vacation for Police Constable Grant, a Londoner to the core and who now finds himself way out of his element. He is thrown into the case, working with the cordial yet skeptical local police who have no idea what to make of Peter’s area of expertise, namely all things supernatural and thaumaturgical – a perfectly reasonable response, if you can imagine what it would be like if Mulder and Scully suddenly showed up at your precinct going on about formae and vestigia. But time’s a-ticking, and the desperation grows with each day that goes by with still no trace of the two missing girls. It’s time to try anything and everything Peter can think of, including bringing in his friend Beverley Brook, a genius loci of the rivers.
Out of all the books so far, I feel this one has reads the most like a police procedural and also has the strongest self-contained and cohesive mystery plot yet. A lot of urban fantasies sell themselves as mysteries, but this one actually feels like a mystery, with subtle clues dropped along the course of the investigation that the attentive reader might pick up and use later on to put together the pieces. The story is also light on the magical elements in the beginning, but rest assured no Peter Grant adventure ends without a whole lot of weird stuff going on by the time it’s finished. What sort of weird stuff, you ask? Try a couple of invisible and pissed off carnivorous unicorns on for size.
Why do I love these novels so? Namely because they feel so different from my usual urban fantasy fare. I’ve seen the series described as “very British” in terms of the writing, and definitely when it comes to the humor as well. Indeed, Peter’s most hilarious lines are often laced with strong undertones of sarcasm and self-deprecation, and delivered with the kind of subtlety that contrasts greatly with the in-your-face type of snark that I’m so used to in my mostly American UF heroes and heroines. Oh, but how Peter Grant makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. Reading these books in public is a risk, because I never know when something Aaronovitch writes will make me guffaw out loud, drawing stares from strangers around me who all then think I’ve gone nuts.
It’s hard to believe, considering how much I adored the first and second books in the series, but Foxglove Summer may be my favorite Peter Grant novel so far. It’s true that it’s a bit of a departure from the previous books. For one thing, the city of London has been as much of a character as the people living in it, but now we have a story that takes place almost entirely in a small village in the outskirts. And yet, the beautiful descriptions of the English countryside more than make up for it, not to mention the fascinating information on the geography and history of Herefordshire. Also noticeably absent are the usual supporting characters, including the Rivers (with the exception of Beverley) and most glaringly of all, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the mentor and supervisor of Peter Grant – and also my favorite character after Peter. Still, I was more than willing to overlook this, given how tightly the story was told. These days, a lot of urban fantasies are so overwhelming with the sheer amount of things going on in them, it’s nice just to sit back and enjoy a straight-up mystery with a highly focused plot and a clear direction.
I look forward to when we’ll get back to the larger story arc following the Faceless Man, especially after the giant bombshell dropped on us at the end of the last book, Broken Homes. Still, for a brief respite, I couldn’t be happier with the way Foxglove Summer turned out. I sense the events of this book will have some lasting repercussions, possibly extending into the next book since things ended pretty abruptly here with a couple of minor loose ends still unresolved. On the whole, however, this book is a great example of how a series and its main character can grow while still retaining everything that makes the previous novels so great. An extraordinary fun ride that’s not to be missed.
May 12, 2018
Another excellent book in a great urban fantasy series. For a change of scene and pace, Peter is sent out to a small village in Herefordshire where two 11 year old girls have disappeared. He's asked to check on any amateur or retired magic practitioners in the district and make sure there are no magical elements to the disappearance.
It's great to see Peter out of his element in the countryside, where he discovers trees and birds as well as some unusual bees. He also gets to meets some mythical creatures and some of the local magical folk. Most of the other main characters and plots are left behind in London, putting Peter centre stage although his girlfriend, the marvelous Beverley Brook joins him and also plays a major role. Without Nightingale and Leslie watching over him, Peter becomes more self assured, making decisions and actions on the fly (not that they don't get him into trouble). As well as some lovely lyrical writing about the countryside, there's a lot of tongue in cheek humour from the chapter titles to the local gastropub menus to Peter's policespeak and interactions with the local magical folk. After this splendid interlude in the country I'm looking forward to Peter getting back to London and the troubles waiting for him there (namely Leslie and the faceless man).
It's great to see Peter out of his element in the countryside, where he discovers trees and birds as well as some unusual bees. He also gets to meets some mythical creatures and some of the local magical folk. Most of the other main characters and plots are left behind in London, putting Peter centre stage although his girlfriend, the marvelous Beverley Brook joins him and also plays a major role. Without Nightingale and Leslie watching over him, Peter becomes more self assured, making decisions and actions on the fly (not that they don't get him into trouble). As well as some lovely lyrical writing about the countryside, there's a lot of tongue in cheek humour from the chapter titles to the local gastropub menus to Peter's policespeak and interactions with the local magical folk. After this splendid interlude in the country I'm looking forward to Peter getting back to London and the troubles waiting for him there (namely Leslie and the faceless man).
July 25, 2019
Aaronovitch‘s urban fantasy series continues to be a delight.
Whilst this fifth entry offers something slightly different, it continues to have all the elements that makes this series perfect.
Swapping the London setting for a trip to a rural Herefordshire village shows the strength of the characters and mythology the author has created.
Our main protagonist P.C. Peter Grant needs a break from the capital after the events from the previous book, he jumps at the chance to help solve the missing child’s case of two eleven-year old local girls.
These types of cases feel even more real in a small village setting, whilst the inclusion of fairies and unicorns work even better in this environment.
It’s always great to spot all the various geeky references (especially the Doctor Who ones - with he’s association with the show) too!
Another fine entry in the series!
Whilst this fifth entry offers something slightly different, it continues to have all the elements that makes this series perfect.
Swapping the London setting for a trip to a rural Herefordshire village shows the strength of the characters and mythology the author has created.
Our main protagonist P.C. Peter Grant needs a break from the capital after the events from the previous book, he jumps at the chance to help solve the missing child’s case of two eleven-year old local girls.
These types of cases feel even more real in a small village setting, whilst the inclusion of fairies and unicorns work even better in this environment.
It’s always great to spot all the various geeky references (especially the Doctor Who ones - with he’s association with the show) too!
Another fine entry in the series!
December 2, 2019
Another one in the excellent Peter Grant series.
This time Peter makes a trip to the countryside to support the local police in a case of missing children.
It’s hard to say anything about the content without giving too much of the story away. We (and Peter) definitely learn a lot about English forests, history and mythology. Also there are clear hints that the case of the faceless man is still ongoing.
What I particularly liked was, that Peter could finally determine, what kind of creature Molly is. My own assumptions had been completely wrong so far.
Altogether this is great fun for fans of the series and probably for everyone enjoying urban fantasy.
More than 4, but not quite 5 stars (I am unusually stingy with granting 5 stars)
This time Peter makes a trip to the countryside to support the local police in a case of missing children.
It’s hard to say anything about the content without giving too much of the story away. We (and Peter) definitely learn a lot about English forests, history and mythology. Also there are clear hints that the case of the faceless man is still ongoing.
What I particularly liked was, that Peter could finally determine, what kind of creature Molly is. My own assumptions had been completely wrong so far.
Altogether this is great fun for fans of the series and probably for everyone enjoying urban fantasy.
More than 4, but not quite 5 stars (I am unusually stingy with granting 5 stars)
November 27, 2017
Spoilers for those who have not read books #1 through #4.
Nah.
Seriously. I know I am probably going to get yelled at for this review. But I stand by everything I am saying. This felt like half a book. There were so many dangling threads left that when the book came to an end I had to make sure that I didn't accidentally skip over the pages. The lack of Nightingale being part of things was felt. Peter was being a fool throughout most of the book so that was frustrating. I don't know what we are supposed to be feeling about Lesley. But her coming out with a whole, "I did it for you Peter" mess just made me roll my eyes. I don't know what Ben Aaronovitch is doing with her character.
"Foxglove Summer" has Peter away from London going to help out on a case of two missing girls. Initially, Peter doesn't think that magic had anything to do with the two girls and really wants to stay and help (also to avoid thinking about Lesley) but once magic starts to creep up, he realizes that something supernatural is going on.
Peter was a mess in this one. I get it, it's like what happened to Muller when Scully was MIA. Peter though he is trying to deny it, misses Lesley cause she's not there to point out things he is missing. I really wanted him to be more angry though. At least Nightingale seems to get how dangerous it is that Lesley is out in the world working for the Faceless Man. I didn't like that Peter essentially keeps doing stupid things throughout this book and even in the end, without Beverly helping out, he would have been screwed.
We have Beverly fully in this one, so that is the only reason why I gave this two stars. I still don't understand her and Peter's "relationship" at all. I was just glad they finally stopped with the will they or won't they thing. I just found it very odd she and Peter don't really get into what Lesley did or what exactly does it mean that Peter is sleeping with her.
I don't get what Aaronvitch is doing with Lesley. Okay she betrayed Peter and Nightingale. I kept thinking that she wasn't jealous of Peter and Beverly, but that seems to be where she is at headspace wise. Is this why she is doing this? I hope not, I am not thrilled with her betraying everyone. But if this turns out to be she did this to get her face back so Peter could love her, yuck. It also didn't help that she goes that in a year the Faceless Man is going to ruin the world, but hey Peter I am going to keep you safe. Is she out of her mind? So screw her family, his family, Molly, Nightingale, etc. Only Peter matters? I was just baffled by the whole thing.
There are only phone calls between Peter and Nightingale which was frustrating. At least a new character finally clued us into what the big battle was all about and why Nightingale doesn't want to talk about it though.
I really didn't like anyone besides the character of Dominic who steps into Lesley's shoes and made me laugh. That said, there was very little humor in this one.
The writing was okay, just muddled at times. We don't have Ben Aaronovitch going back to tie things up so I was just confused about a number of plot points.
The flow was off after a good 20 percent of the book. I found myself getting bored. Without anyone to really bounce things off of, Peter is kind of a boring character.
The setting of Herefordshire was good. I could picture a village that has a touch of magic about it and all of the neighbors knowing each other. I just didn't get a sense for the village as a whole. We stayed focused on the two families, and Dominic's family and that was about it. I wish that Peter had been out and about more with the locals.
The ending was a letdown. I think that Aaronovitch thought he wrapped things up...but yeah not even a little bit. This book felt shorter to me too. It was 333 pages though so it's not that. It just felt like very little got done in this one compared to the other books in the series.
Nah.
Seriously. I know I am probably going to get yelled at for this review. But I stand by everything I am saying. This felt like half a book. There were so many dangling threads left that when the book came to an end I had to make sure that I didn't accidentally skip over the pages. The lack of Nightingale being part of things was felt. Peter was being a fool throughout most of the book so that was frustrating. I don't know what we are supposed to be feeling about Lesley. But her coming out with a whole, "I did it for you Peter" mess just made me roll my eyes. I don't know what Ben Aaronovitch is doing with her character.
"Foxglove Summer" has Peter away from London going to help out on a case of two missing girls. Initially, Peter doesn't think that magic had anything to do with the two girls and really wants to stay and help (also to avoid thinking about Lesley) but once magic starts to creep up, he realizes that something supernatural is going on.
Peter was a mess in this one. I get it, it's like what happened to Muller when Scully was MIA. Peter though he is trying to deny it, misses Lesley cause she's not there to point out things he is missing. I really wanted him to be more angry though. At least Nightingale seems to get how dangerous it is that Lesley is out in the world working for the Faceless Man. I didn't like that Peter essentially keeps doing stupid things throughout this book and even in the end, without Beverly helping out, he would have been screwed.
We have Beverly fully in this one, so that is the only reason why I gave this two stars. I still don't understand her and Peter's "relationship" at all. I was just glad they finally stopped with the will they or won't they thing. I just found it very odd she and Peter don't really get into what Lesley did or what exactly does it mean that Peter is sleeping with her.
I don't get what Aaronvitch is doing with Lesley. Okay she betrayed Peter and Nightingale. I kept thinking that she wasn't jealous of Peter and Beverly, but that seems to be where she is at headspace wise. Is this why she is doing this? I hope not, I am not thrilled with her betraying everyone. But if this turns out to be she did this to get her face back so Peter could love her, yuck. It also didn't help that she goes that in a year the Faceless Man is going to ruin the world, but hey Peter I am going to keep you safe. Is she out of her mind? So screw her family, his family, Molly, Nightingale, etc. Only Peter matters? I was just baffled by the whole thing.
There are only phone calls between Peter and Nightingale which was frustrating. At least a new character finally clued us into what the big battle was all about and why Nightingale doesn't want to talk about it though.
I really didn't like anyone besides the character of Dominic who steps into Lesley's shoes and made me laugh. That said, there was very little humor in this one.
The writing was okay, just muddled at times. We don't have Ben Aaronovitch going back to tie things up so I was just confused about a number of plot points.
The flow was off after a good 20 percent of the book. I found myself getting bored. Without anyone to really bounce things off of, Peter is kind of a boring character.
The setting of Herefordshire was good. I could picture a village that has a touch of magic about it and all of the neighbors knowing each other. I just didn't get a sense for the village as a whole. We stayed focused on the two families, and Dominic's family and that was about it. I wish that Peter had been out and about more with the locals.
The ending was a letdown. I think that Aaronovitch thought he wrapped things up...but yeah not even a little bit. This book felt shorter to me too. It was 333 pages though so it's not that. It just felt like very little got done in this one compared to the other books in the series.
August 20, 2016
A brand new change for Peter! He’s out of London and has no Nightingale to cover up his back during the meeting with some bad big muscular princesses Lunas poking around and some other crazy fairy stuff.
I admired how Peter shines as a character being left alone in the magic field. He definitely grew up to be more self-confident and skilled. And he has a girlfriend worthy his magical self. Yay!
Also it was cool to know more about the mysterious Ettersberg and to my joy there are still enough mysteries left for other books, though I missed a really great villain – The Faceless Man and of course my favorite complaint all the time due to Mr. Aaronovitch books: Not enough of Nightingale and Molly. I wanted more as usual.
The story in this book is really well written, it was gripping, interesting and a real page turner for me. I loved the new characters. They shone with shrewd simplicity as really good examples of their profession/lifestyle. Oh and I loved how Mr. Aaronovitch made the clues not obvious. Sometimes I was clueless and it made joy for me to try to crack the mystery. The place was also so different from the Peter Grant’s London, which I began to get used to. The story fits the countryside perfectly, because countryside is a code name for creepy secrets in its peace and quiet.
I’m a little bit disappointed that the author didn’t use Hugh Oswald and his grand-daughter more. I would like to meet them in the future books.
I swallowed “Foxglove Summer” in two days and immediately wanted more.
I admired how Peter shines as a character being left alone in the magic field. He definitely grew up to be more self-confident and skilled. And he has a girlfriend worthy his magical self. Yay!
Also it was cool to know more about the mysterious Ettersberg and to my joy there are still enough mysteries left for other books, though I missed a really great villain – The Faceless Man and of course my favorite complaint all the time due to Mr. Aaronovitch books: Not enough of Nightingale and Molly. I wanted more as usual.
The story in this book is really well written, it was gripping, interesting and a real page turner for me. I loved the new characters. They shone with shrewd simplicity as really good examples of their profession/lifestyle. Oh and I loved how Mr. Aaronovitch made the clues not obvious. Sometimes I was clueless and it made joy for me to try to crack the mystery. The place was also so different from the Peter Grant’s London, which I began to get used to. The story fits the countryside perfectly, because countryside is a code name for creepy secrets in its peace and quiet.
I’m a little bit disappointed that the author didn’t use Hugh Oswald and his grand-daughter more. I would like to meet them in the future books.
I swallowed “Foxglove Summer” in two days and immediately wanted more.
January 5, 2021
The events in this book take place a little over a month following the explosive ending in Broken Homes. Life at the Folly is back to relative normal as Peter and Nightingale settle back into their old routine, with a few minor changes. One being Nightingale now has to babysit Varvara Sidorovna and the other being too spoilery to mention. Since Nightingale can’t leave the Folly until he uncovers more about the Faceless Man and whatever plans he’s cooking up, it’s up to Peter to take on a missing children case in the village of Rushpool, a place well known for its UFO sightings.
With the help of Beverly Brook and local detective (and future sidekick??) Dominic, Peter takes the lead on this investigation.
For years there have been reports of strange things happening around Herefordshire, a rural area around Rushpool where the missing girls lived, but no one paid them much attention until the girls went missing. Due to the strangeness of this case, local law enforcement have no leads, and so they’re open to any suggestions Peter might have. And Peter, true to his penchant for experiments with the unknown, takes the opportunity to explore as much of the unknown as he can, and the results he uncovers are quite… fascinating.
This book is the quintessential summer read, and for Peter, the adventure doubles as a much-needed break from the chaos and turmoil of London. In many ways, this book is lighthearted and fun and I can see why some people might have issues with it not picking up directly where Broken Homes left off, but personally, I’m glad for some summer R&R. It takes the pressure off of escalating the story arc too fast and too soon into climactic territory that might turn into melodrama. A climax and confrontation are in the works, as they’re alluded to many times, and things will build up to something even more explosive than what we’ve seen so far. But it’s gonna take time to get there, I think.
So if you jump in expecting many revelations or a continuation of the events in Broken Homes, you will be disappointed. But if you enjoy this book for what it is, another one of Peter’s adventures into the world of natural magic, then you’ll have a better time. And this adventure is chock full of creatures yet to be determined.
Dr. Walid doesn’t get enough credit for what he does for the magical side of London law enforcement.
Peter is mostly on his own again, like in Rivers of London and Moon Over Soho, and I find that I like the story more this way, when he’s working things out all by his lonesome. For one, there’s a lot more funny quips, such as:
I had every intention of saving this book for Christmas break when things slow down enough for me to actually enjoy the read. But, nope, it was too tempting not to delve right in. So I devoured it a few days time. No regrets. It’s a fun read, a bit different than previous books, but still satisfying overall. I’d like to thank the people at Gollancz for sending me an e-copy to enjoy while I wait for my hard copy.
* * * * spoilers & quotes * * * *
* * * * *
REREAD: December 2020
Still as good as the first read and still my favorite installment in the series.
If I were to rank the books, I think it would look something like this:
1. Foxglove Summer
2. Moon Over Soho
3. Whispers Under Ground
4. The Furthest Station
5. False Value
6. Broken Homes
7. Rivers of London
8. The Hanging Tree and Lies Sleeping
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
With the help of Beverly Brook and local detective (and future sidekick??) Dominic, Peter takes the lead on this investigation.
For years there have been reports of strange things happening around Herefordshire, a rural area around Rushpool where the missing girls lived, but no one paid them much attention until the girls went missing. Due to the strangeness of this case, local law enforcement have no leads, and so they’re open to any suggestions Peter might have. And Peter, true to his penchant for experiments with the unknown, takes the opportunity to explore as much of the unknown as he can, and the results he uncovers are quite… fascinating.
This book is the quintessential summer read, and for Peter, the adventure doubles as a much-needed break from the chaos and turmoil of London. In many ways, this book is lighthearted and fun and I can see why some people might have issues with it not picking up directly where Broken Homes left off, but personally, I’m glad for some summer R&R. It takes the pressure off of escalating the story arc too fast and too soon into climactic territory that might turn into melodrama. A climax and confrontation are in the works, as they’re alluded to many times, and things will build up to something even more explosive than what we’ve seen so far. But it’s gonna take time to get there, I think.
So if you jump in expecting many revelations or a continuation of the events in Broken Homes, you will be disappointed. But if you enjoy this book for what it is, another one of Peter’s adventures into the world of natural magic, then you’ll have a better time. And this adventure is chock full of creatures yet to be determined.
Are you certain you’re completely human? Would you like to find out for sure? Then come on down to Dr. Walid’s crypto-pathology lab where we put the “frank” back into Frankenstein!
Dr. Walid doesn’t get enough credit for what he does for the magical side of London law enforcement.
Peter is mostly on his own again, like in Rivers of London and Moon Over Soho, and I find that I like the story more this way, when he’s working things out all by his lonesome. For one, there’s a lot more funny quips, such as:
I sighed–policing would be so much easier if people didn’t have concerned relatives. The murder rate would be much lower, for one thing.
[…]
People shouldn’t be non-specific about where they made their money, not in front of the police.
[…]
This is where the whole ape-descended thing reveals its worth, I thought madly. Sucks to be you, quadruped. Opposable thumbs–don’t leave home without them.
[…]
Alas all good things must end–even if only to avoid back strains.
I had every intention of saving this book for Christmas break when things slow down enough for me to actually enjoy the read. But, nope, it was too tempting not to delve right in. So I devoured it a few days time. No regrets. It’s a fun read, a bit different than previous books, but still satisfying overall. I’d like to thank the people at Gollancz for sending me an e-copy to enjoy while I wait for my hard copy.
* * * * spoilers & quotes * * * *
* * * * *
REREAD: December 2020
Still as good as the first read and still my favorite installment in the series.
If I were to rank the books, I think it would look something like this:
1. Foxglove Summer
2. Moon Over Soho
3. Whispers Under Ground
4. The Furthest Station
5. False Value
6. Broken Homes
7. Rivers of London
8. The Hanging Tree and Lies Sleeping
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
December 13, 2022
Pre-release review: Somewhere in the back reaches of my brain is a desperate hope that this book will be a Peter Grant (Ben Aaronovitch)/Merrily Watkins (Phil Rickman) crossover story. I'm just going to pretend that the "small village in Herefordshire" is Ledwardine, the "local police...reluctant to admit that there might be a supernatural element" includes Franny Bliss, that there's a scene where Merrily and Nightingale have a good old chinwag about theological issues next to the Aga at the Vicarage, as well as one where Jane and Beverley strike sparks off each other in the bar of the Black Swan. (Tiny.) Mind. Blown.
Mini review of the actual book: A thoroughly enjoyable re-acquaintance with old friends after the traumatic ending of Broken Homes.
Enjoyed the hell out of: seeing Peter out of his city boy element, discombobulated by the local flora and fauna (why so loud, birds?); the sumptuous depiction of that most rural of English counties during a heat wave; the evolution of Beverley Brook and Peter's relationship; the hints at what Lesley and the Faceless Man are up to, with the surety of further books to come; more details on what went down at Ettersberg and some exploration of that lost generation of magical practitioners; a hint at what Molly is; the utterly adorable Dominic and his 'mates'; and, to a Merrily Watkins devotee, what felt like in-jokes in namedropping Ella Mary Leather, ghostly orchards, Elgar and Caratacus. (Basically, my brain cannon is 100% on board with Aaronovitch’s demi-monde existing in the shadows alongside Merrily’s more traditionalist spiritual take on things, and no one can steer me differently.)
Less fond of: basically, the plot, which started off rather entertainingly bonkers but ended up a bit of an incoherent mess, taking in (deep breath): . And then, after building to a climax that swirls all this batfuckery together like a particularly implausible & otherworldly ice cream sundae, it just…ended. What happened with the missing girls, with Melissa, with Dominic and Victor?
As with all the Rivers of London books, the characterization and humour are sufficiently enjoyable to get you to overlook – or even buy into – a lot of the more out-there plot twists but, although a lot of this stuff was legit fascinating on its own merit, by the end it felt like everything and the kitchen sink had been thrown at the reader, with the end result signifying…not a lot, really. But it's still a hell of a lot of fun.
Mini review of the actual book: A thoroughly enjoyable re-acquaintance with old friends after the traumatic ending of Broken Homes.
Enjoyed the hell out of: seeing Peter out of his city boy element, discombobulated by the local flora and fauna (why so loud, birds?); the sumptuous depiction of that most rural of English counties during a heat wave; the evolution of Beverley Brook and Peter's relationship; the hints at what Lesley and the Faceless Man are up to, with the surety of further books to come; more details on what went down at Ettersberg and some exploration of that lost generation of magical practitioners; a hint at what Molly is; the utterly adorable Dominic and his 'mates'; and, to a Merrily Watkins devotee, what felt like in-jokes in namedropping Ella Mary Leather, ghostly orchards, Elgar and Caratacus. (Basically, my brain cannon is 100% on board with Aaronovitch’s demi-monde existing in the shadows alongside Merrily’s more traditionalist spiritual take on things, and no one can steer me differently.)
Less fond of: basically, the plot, which started off rather entertainingly bonkers but ended up a bit of an incoherent mess, taking in (deep breath): . And then, after building to a climax that swirls all this batfuckery together like a particularly implausible & otherworldly ice cream sundae, it just…ended. What happened with the missing girls, with Melissa, with Dominic and Victor?
As with all the Rivers of London books, the characterization and humour are sufficiently enjoyable to get you to overlook – or even buy into – a lot of the more out-there plot twists but, although a lot of this stuff was legit fascinating on its own merit, by the end it felt like everything and the kitchen sink had been thrown at the reader, with the end result signifying…not a lot, really. But it's still a hell of a lot of fun.
March 31, 2021
3/28/21 Just had to look up the term "Midwich Cuckoo colored hair" because I had no idea what that meant. Apparently, it means platinum blonde. A Google search uncovered the following information: In 1957, John Wyndham published a science fiction book titled, "The Midwich Cuckoos." The book is based in an English village where women were impregnated by parasitic aliens. The resulting offspring have blonde hair, silvery skin and golden eyes.
While I am here, I may as well post my favorite quotes so far:
I enjoy the witty humor such as: "I tuned the car radio to Five Live, which was doing its best to build a twenty-four hour news cycle out of about half an hour of news."
"in the end they both settled for a can of Coke each and a couple of mini Swiss rolls - the nation's parental bribe of choice." Swiss rolls are favorite treats from my own childhood. Chocolate sponge cake rolled up with white cream filling inside and coated in chocolate. Now, I want one!
"my mum never saw a gift horse that she wouldn't take down to the vet to have its mouth X-rayed - if only so she could establish its resale value." What a character!
3/31/21 - Just finished reading the final sentence. What a thrilling story! I was on the edge of my seat right through to the end.
I love that I was introduced to some new vocabulary words. And the plentiful references to tea were quite delightful. For example: "A cup of tea later," "You make the tea and I will wash up," and "She hadn't offered me a tea when she let me inside, which is always a bad sign." Then, there's my personal favorite, "over tea and biscuits."
While I am here, I may as well post my favorite quotes so far:
I enjoy the witty humor such as: "I tuned the car radio to Five Live, which was doing its best to build a twenty-four hour news cycle out of about half an hour of news."
"in the end they both settled for a can of Coke each and a couple of mini Swiss rolls - the nation's parental bribe of choice." Swiss rolls are favorite treats from my own childhood. Chocolate sponge cake rolled up with white cream filling inside and coated in chocolate. Now, I want one!
"my mum never saw a gift horse that she wouldn't take down to the vet to have its mouth X-rayed - if only so she could establish its resale value." What a character!
3/31/21 - Just finished reading the final sentence. What a thrilling story! I was on the edge of my seat right through to the end.
I love that I was introduced to some new vocabulary words. And the plentiful references to tea were quite delightful. For example: "A cup of tea later," "You make the tea and I will wash up," and "She hadn't offered me a tea when she let me inside, which is always a bad sign." Then, there's my personal favorite, "over tea and biscuits."
January 14, 2023
“He called it potentia because there's nothing quite like Latin for disguising the fact you're making it up as you go along.”
It had been a while, but I was glad to be back with Constable Peter Grant, especially as in Foxglove Summer he is taken out of his comfort zone, into the countryside, which brings about some very amusing situations. Shops closing at 4pm, village life, and new supernatural beings to come to terms with. You can take the London copper out of London, but you can't take the London out of the copper.
The previous instalment, Broken Homes, was my least favourite of the series (apart from the ending which was brilliant), but I'd say this a return to form. A shame to not see as much of some key, favourite characters, such as Nightingale. But we learn a lot about him and meet a bunch of new and quirky figures who fill the book with unique interactions and contribute to the natural progression of this story, essentially a crime tale, but with supernatural elements which are at the heart of these place cases.
“From then on, it was even twistier B-roads through a country so photgenically rural that I half expected to meet Bilbo Baggins around the next corner - providing he'd taken to driving a Nissan Micra.”
This is a really entertaining series, which wraps each book up nicely, with its own self-contained tale, and some larger arcs which link them all. This fifth instalment to the instalment was a really fun listen.
3.5/5 STARS
It had been a while, but I was glad to be back with Constable Peter Grant, especially as in Foxglove Summer he is taken out of his comfort zone, into the countryside, which brings about some very amusing situations. Shops closing at 4pm, village life, and new supernatural beings to come to terms with. You can take the London copper out of London, but you can't take the London out of the copper.
The previous instalment, Broken Homes, was my least favourite of the series (apart from the ending which was brilliant), but I'd say this a return to form. A shame to not see as much of some key, favourite characters, such as Nightingale. But we learn a lot about him and meet a bunch of new and quirky figures who fill the book with unique interactions and contribute to the natural progression of this story, essentially a crime tale, but with supernatural elements which are at the heart of these place cases.
“From then on, it was even twistier B-roads through a country so photgenically rural that I half expected to meet Bilbo Baggins around the next corner - providing he'd taken to driving a Nissan Micra.”
This is a really entertaining series, which wraps each book up nicely, with its own self-contained tale, and some larger arcs which link them all. This fifth instalment to the instalment was a really fun listen.
3.5/5 STARS
March 1, 2017
I love this series so much, and I could talk endlessly about it. But I have to admit, this one was a little weak by the end. However, I couldn't give it less than 4 stars!
(If you're a loyal fan of any series, you'll know why.)
Before we delve into it, the review with all the gifs and no gif errors can be found on my blog! Check it out for more reviews. By the way, absolutely anyone can comment on the blog - just leave the "website" box empty.
There's also the fact that the entire book was very strong (as usual), but the ending just felt botched, like the author ran out of time or patience. I can't punish the whole book for that, now can I? Can I??
So for those who have read the previous installments, I'll say that this one is not as action-packed as some of the others in this series. On the contrary, it's quite slow - it rather reminded me of a good mystery book than your typical #RiversOfLondon mystical adventure. But that was okay, because it does keep you wondering, and you don't quite end up tying the knots before they get untied by the narration.
(Or maybe that's just me, because I have been known as a gullible reader.)
The story goes like this (no worries, I won't spoil - spoiler tags!). Having just come out of the events of the previous book, Peter needs some time and space to recover from the crazy events in book four, and he is quite lucky that a case in the countryside comes up. It's about two missing girls, and although at first it doesn't seem anything out of the ordinary, as he follows up, Peter finds that indeed there is some Falcon aspect to the case (Falcon is cop slang for "magic", cause no self-respecting copper would utter that word in public anyway). As Peter delves into the case, he finds a lot of fun stuff going on there, such as (mild spoiler)
This book is fun just like the others, and we even get to find out some saucy details about Molly's origins, but like I said, I had a few problems with the story. For those who have read, it, here are my quibbles. Do check out the spoiler tag, if you've read it, cause I'd love to hear your opinion.
If you haven't read it and don't want to be spoiled, here's a series of GIFs to sum up my feelings about the ending:
(If you're a loyal fan of any series, you'll know why.)
Before we delve into it, the review with all the gifs and no gif errors can be found on my blog! Check it out for more reviews. By the way, absolutely anyone can comment on the blog - just leave the "website" box empty.
There's also the fact that the entire book was very strong (as usual), but the ending just felt botched, like the author ran out of time or patience. I can't punish the whole book for that, now can I? Can I??
So for those who have read the previous installments, I'll say that this one is not as action-packed as some of the others in this series. On the contrary, it's quite slow - it rather reminded me of a good mystery book than your typical #RiversOfLondon mystical adventure. But that was okay, because it does keep you wondering, and you don't quite end up tying the knots before they get untied by the narration.
(Or maybe that's just me, because I have been known as a gullible reader.)
The story goes like this (no worries, I won't spoil - spoiler tags!). Having just come out of the events of the previous book, Peter needs some time and space to recover from the crazy events in book four, and he is quite lucky that a case in the countryside comes up. It's about two missing girls, and although at first it doesn't seem anything out of the ordinary, as he follows up, Peter finds that indeed there is some Falcon aspect to the case (Falcon is cop slang for "magic", cause no self-respecting copper would utter that word in public anyway). As Peter delves into the case, he finds a lot of fun stuff going on there, such as (mild spoiler)
This book is fun just like the others, and we even get to find out some saucy details about Molly's origins, but like I said, I had a few problems with the story. For those who have read, it, here are my quibbles. Do check out the spoiler tag, if you've read it, cause I'd love to hear your opinion.
If you haven't read it and don't want to be spoiled, here's a series of GIFs to sum up my feelings about the ending:
December 19, 2014
My fifth book following the magical investigations of Peter Grant, and there is no sign of flagging interest (as comparison, I have given up on Harry Dresden antics after four books, even if my friends keep telling me that the series get better later on). One of the keys to success may be the apparent lack of formula, with each new book going in a different direction than the previous one, but remaining consistent with the already established lore and expanding on the worldbuilding and the characters background. The author doesn’t treat his series like a cash cow, to be milked as far as possible in endless repetitions of a lucky recipe. Case in point, after four books set in London and treating us to many interesting trivia on police procedures and arhitectural landmarks, Peter goes to the countryside, to walk the narrow lanes bordered by old hedges and search through old growth forests for clues to a susect kidnapping. There is still an interesting building to admire, a Victorian folly serving as a wizard tower worthy of Tolkien, but most of the action is out in the open, during an improbable heat wave that sounds un-British in its fierceness.
The actual criminal investigation is the disparition of two eleven y.o. girls in circumstances that raised warning flags in the London lair of Peter Grant and Inspector Nightingale, his master. An added bonus in sending Peter away has to do with events at the end of Broken Homes . As an assistant , Peter gets paired with Beverly Brook, one of the river goddesses, or nymphets, we met in an earlier book and a change to introduce some romantic entanglements into the story. I was unsure how the idyll will play out (I kind of have a soft spot for Leslie), but I am satisfied with the result for now, with the touches of humour and with the subtle reservations that keep the options open for the next books.
I was also unsure about the actual investigation, which started out a tad predictable (there is a magic connection), but here also I shouldn’t have worried. The same combination of standard police procedural, geeky electronics know-how and improvisational talent in the magic area that first grabbed my fancy in Rivers of London, will point Peter in the right direction. His sarcastic voice and his one-liners are toned down, in line with the trauma he went through in the previous novel. I would have liked more information towards the end about the alternative world in which the Fae live, but I am willing to wait for the next installments. There was little progress in the main story arc and with the chase after the rogue wizard that is threatening Nightingale and Peter, but it is not altogether forgotten.
I dont’t have many quotes saved this time, only one reiterating the interesting spell system used in the series, and one about the joys of using proper language (for some reason making me miss Oscar Wilde and his inventive insults):
So, like the violin, it is possible to learn magic by trial and error. Only unlike potential fiddlers, who merely risk alienating their neighbours, potential wizards tend to drop dead before they get very far. Knowing your limits is not an aspiration in magic – it’s a survival strategy.
---
I cordially hate the use of the word feds – I’d rather be called the filth, at least that would be English English. It’s the lack of imagination that pisses me off.
I am still onboard for the next adventure of Peter Grant, hopefully the publishing schedule of one book each year will continue.
August 11, 2021
***2021 Dog Days of Summer***
It's time for my summer theme and this year I have chosen to read books that include canine companions. This volume of the Peter Grant series has only a couple of mentions of Toby the terrier, as the ghost hunting dog. Peter once again mentions the yap-o-metre, Toby's bark rate which varies depending on magic levels. Still this was a very enjoyable re-read.
I can't believe that I didn't write a review after my first reading, but perhaps Goodreads ate it. At any rate, this is the fateful volume in which Peter becomes hooked up with Beverley. She's obviously been planning her assault and a little river magic which needs to be done gives her the excuse she wants. Peter is out of London, but not as out of his element as he thinks. He's a copper right down to his toes! Even when confronted with the Fae and invisible unicorns, he sticks to procedure and to scientific principles. Somehow the combination works, even when involved in weird bollocks.
Aaronovitch writes with his trademark humour, letting Peter get himself into trouble and then dig himself back out again. This time, however, he requires a bit of Beverley assistance. Peter has his faults, but he is a loyal friend to Lesley, a cop dedicated to best outcomes for the civilians, a good coworker to Dominic, and a basically good student of Nightingale. He's a guy I'd be willing to be friends with, especially to hear his stories when he's off duty (although he says coppers are never really off duty). And what are these books but tales of Peter, Nightingale and the Folly?
It's time for my summer theme and this year I have chosen to read books that include canine companions. This volume of the Peter Grant series has only a couple of mentions of Toby the terrier, as the ghost hunting dog. Peter once again mentions the yap-o-metre, Toby's bark rate which varies depending on magic levels. Still this was a very enjoyable re-read.
I can't believe that I didn't write a review after my first reading, but perhaps Goodreads ate it. At any rate, this is the fateful volume in which Peter becomes hooked up with Beverley. She's obviously been planning her assault and a little river magic which needs to be done gives her the excuse she wants. Peter is out of London, but not as out of his element as he thinks. He's a copper right down to his toes! Even when confronted with the Fae and invisible unicorns, he sticks to procedure and to scientific principles. Somehow the combination works, even when involved in weird bollocks.
Aaronovitch writes with his trademark humour, letting Peter get himself into trouble and then dig himself back out again. This time, however, he requires a bit of Beverley assistance. Peter has his faults, but he is a loyal friend to Lesley, a cop dedicated to best outcomes for the civilians, a good coworker to Dominic, and a basically good student of Nightingale. He's a guy I'd be willing to be friends with, especially to hear his stories when he's off duty (although he says coppers are never really off duty). And what are these books but tales of Peter, Nightingale and the Folly?
February 5, 2022
2022-02: I needed a pick-me-up, and this book did it for me. The wonderful voicings of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith were what I needed to get me through a cold day. And it's always great to check in with Peter "distracted" Grant while he deals with all the weird stuff. Like big, furious unicorns.....
2018-05: Though the ending felt abrupt with a bunch of questions left unanswered, I loved Peter's time in the British countryside and dealing with the coppers and residents on a weird child disappearance case. I liked the officer Peter was paired with, who seemed to accept the oddness happening on the case pretty well. And Beverly's back!
I really appreciate the way Ben Aaronovitch populates this series with such a wide variety of people; it never feels like tokenism or preachy.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith again narrates, and does a fantastic job with all the characters. I loved the way he made Hugh sound so terribly tired and ill, and though Nightingale doesn't appear too much in this story, his dry, retrained tone was a pleasure to hear again.
2018-05: Though the ending felt abrupt with a bunch of questions left unanswered, I loved Peter's time in the British countryside and dealing with the coppers and residents on a weird child disappearance case. I liked the officer Peter was paired with, who seemed to accept the oddness happening on the case pretty well. And Beverly's back!
I really appreciate the way Ben Aaronovitch populates this series with such a wide variety of people; it never feels like tokenism or preachy.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith again narrates, and does a fantastic job with all the characters. I loved the way he made Hugh sound so terribly tired and ill, and though Nightingale doesn't appear too much in this story, his dry, retrained tone was a pleasure to hear again.
February 6, 2015
Yummy, but where did the ending go?
May 7, 2018
First of the series where I listened to the audio instead of reading it. I liked the audio a lot. Holdbrook-Smith does an excellent job of keeping it lively, real and impersonating the various characters well.
The first of the books not set in London. Nightingale is mostly absent, which is a shame, but the characters that do re-appear or are introduced are fun.
Quite a police procedural (with a twist). I enjoyed the Britishness of it and the countryside setting.
There were two characters that I had expected to play a more pivotal role in the book and who didn‘t. Hopefully they will show up again. For more on their house in Herefordshire go here (after reading the book):
http://temporarilysignificant.blogspo...
Retiring to the countryside and becoming a beekeeper reminds me of some other great detective. I love all the references to other books and to films that Aaronovitch seeds his books with. And his fascination with architecture.
Why, oh why, did I not like the first book, when I read it a few years ago?
The first of the books not set in London. Nightingale is mostly absent, which is a shame, but the characters that do re-appear or are introduced are fun.
Quite a police procedural (with a twist). I enjoyed the Britishness of it and the countryside setting.
There were two characters that I had expected to play a more pivotal role in the book and who didn‘t. Hopefully they will show up again. For more on their house in Herefordshire go here (after reading the book):
http://temporarilysignificant.blogspo...
Retiring to the countryside and becoming a beekeeper reminds me of some other great detective. I love all the references to other books and to films that Aaronovitch seeds his books with. And his fascination with architecture.
Why, oh why, did I not like the first book, when I read it a few years ago?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,218 reviews