Green City Wars

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Philip Marlowe meets Redwall in this superior adult noir tale, where all the characters are animals, fighting for survival in the city underneath the humans.

Down these mean streets a beast must walk...

Meet Skotch. Racoon, P.I.—Yours for a few buttons as long as the job isn't too illegal, whatever that means.

A mouse has gone missing. Normally this wouldn't raise any hackles, nor any alarms, but this mouse has something that everyone seems to want, though nobody appears particularly eager to say what that something is.

The fee is good—perhaps too good. Certainly not something Skotch can easily turn down.

If only Skotch can work out where the mouse is hiding, what he's hiding, and why his secrets are upsetting a lot of animals caught up in the Green City wars.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Adult, Noir, Animals

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.

Reviews

[aria ✧]

this man's output is insane

[Ashley]

does this man ever sleep? this is a genuine question. i'm worried for his cortisol levels.

[keegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

** A copy of this book was provided by the publisher **

Really dug this but I recommend not reading it in a single six hour stretch like I did! The labeled sections work pretty well as episodes which fits the pulp detective stylings of the story, so I recommend maybe reading one section a day to give yourself some time to think on the ideas the book is presenting and the central mystery of the whole thing.

[Kent Fairbourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written book with a fun and creative premise. The animal underworld and all of its intricate workings were well developed and explained. I really came to like and root for Skotch and Lulu!

Wondering if you’d enjoy this book? My thoughts, if you liked Scalzi’s Starter Villain you’d like this one. Totally different books, but similar vibe.

* I received an early copy of this book from the publisher *

[BookishKB]

🔎🦝 Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky 🦝🔎

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

🧩 What to Expect
• Animal detective lead
• Futuristic city
• Noir mystery
• Genetically engineered animals
• Class divide
• Political conflict
_ _ _
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo (John Pirhalla)
📅 Pub Date: June 23, 2026
📝 Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

detective noir meets sci fi!! full of weird lil guys, amazing.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character in this novel is an animal who, as the author says, "has a reputation for dishonesty, roguishness, sharp dealing. He [Skotch] can only imagine how much easier that would make everything, if it were actually true. Who the hell has a use for a faithful raccoon?"

This novel is brain food of the best quality. I hadn't read any of Adrian Tchaikovsky's works before. That's about to change.

I received an advance from Tor.

[rachel x]

"Philip Marlowe meets Redwall in this superior adult noir tale, where all the characters are animals, fighting for survival in the city underneath the humans."

does this man sleep??

[Blake C]

Redwall in the blurb and it's about a noir detective Raccoon? I'll be there day one

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prolific Adrian Tchaikovsky does it again, he doesn't need to call it a "Secret Project," just an interesting sci-fi fantasy thriller. (No dig at that other author whose work I also enjoy, but when people talk about consistently good sff authors who publish with frequency, I rarely see Tchaikovsky getting the credit he is due.) The general feel of the book is a fusion of detective mystery with dystopian science fiction. Despite the cast being animals this noir detective story leans more toward Bogie's Philip Marlowe than Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy, which is to say that it is grittier than comic parody. There is plenty of satire, and nuanced humor in the social commentary but nothing aimed at cheap laughs. Readers are transported to the seedy underbelly of a future world where genetically engineered animals keep things clean for humans, but there are factions and hierarchies among the animals themselves. Tasked with tracking down a missing mouse, the PI at the center of the story, Skotch, finds out if he has bitten off more than he can chew. This seems to be self contained (a stand-alone), though I wouldn't mind returning to Skotch and his world for another mystery. And, clearly, if I'm ready for a follow-up, I enjoyed this book. More specifically, I enjoyed the audiobook of this book and found that the narrator told the story very well.
I received the ALC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Coca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25/5

This review is for the audio version of the book, provided by NetGalley, and narrated by John Pirhalla.

Being an independent racoon in one of the "green cities" can be a rough life, but Scotch (our main character) is making it work by taking odd jobs and working as a kind of investigator.

When his old employers, those responsible for his enhanced genetic code, bring him in to find a missing, genius, mouse from the farmlands, he thinks it's smart not to ask too many questions.

It doesn't take long to figure out that he's not the only one intent on finding the missing rodent, and not everyone wants to bring him in alive.

This was excellent. This had all the hallmarks of a classic detective/noir novel. The down on his luck gumshoe with the sketchy connections, gang wars, corruption corporations, and even the "femme-fatale", though she's not a love interest here.

The world that was built touched on a lot of relevant issues about the working class vs. the "ruling class". It got really deep, really quickly and it struck home quite a bit in that regard.

The characters are engaging in a "matter of fact" way. They all had their genetic code altered to fulfill some need in these cities, and the depth to which that was explored was surprising and well thought out (at least I thought it was).

The plot was good and steady, though, you can kind of guess where it's headed by about the 50% mark, the journey to that anticipated ending was very satisfying.

I had fun with this and it was worth the time to read.

[Kate Hyde · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I don't always rush to read a new Tchaikovsky because I find his style rather formulaic, his characters and their groupings based on his D & D past, albeit he always has a pretty good story to tell. Well, in this case, much like The Children of Time series, he has aced it. The premise of an eco-city where animals have been genetically engineered to serve all human needs, unseen, and who develop (of course) their own ways of cutting a bit off the edges, was very well executed. The world-building was excellent, and the characters so well drawn that one couldn't help becoming invested. The Marlowe-esque style was also very well done, Skotch was literally a put-upon hairy detective, sans trench coat. And enough emotional losses - and saves - to keep the pace up right until the climax. Thoroughly enjoyable read, my thanks to Edelweiss for the Arc, all opinions are my own.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite authors of all time. Even his books that aren't my favorite, I can still say are fantastically written and plotted. This book is up there with Alien Clay and House of Open Wounds for me as Tchaikovsky's best work.

He had me sold at a Raccoon detective in an eco-utopian setting but then that Skotch, the Raccoon, turned out to be one of my favorite detective characters of all time. A little Sam Spade, a little J.J. Gittes from Chinatown, Skotch immediately becomes one of the best characters I've read in a long time. And the supporting characters are fantastic as well.

There were a number of times I was speechless with a twist and there was even a moment that I teared up at the lost of a character.

Utterly fantastic and bound to be nominated for all the awards next year.

Green City Wars is not a book to sleep on.

[Amanda Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Green City Wars is like slashing your way through a verdant jungle of words and concepts - somewhat familiar and somewhat alien - that twine and wrap around the story and characters. Adrian Tchaikovsky doesn't stop and wait for you to catch up. You are dropped into it; knee deep in the lovable rascality of raccoon Skotch and a host of fellow genetically engineered animal working stiffs. Their creation and reason for being all going on behind the leafy green scenes make possible the comfortable and environmentally friendly urban human life. If we only knew what the multitude of anarchist amphibians, territorial squirrel gangsters, genius mice and fey feline and stout assassins were up to.... Thank goodness for Rule One to keep everything in order...

[Ginni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like noirs with gruff detectives reluctantly taking cases they know will mean trouble? Do you like futurism, well-developed sci-fi worlds, and simmering political commentary? Do you like intrigue and skullduggery? Most importantly, do you like talking animals? If so, Green City Wars is for you.

This was my first Tchaikovsky read and it was so much fun. It’s fast-paced, drily witty, and refreshingly original. It's not an epic work spanning generations and galaxies; it's a brief adventure befitting of an animal with a brief lifespan, and I loved every second. Discovering a book like this and then finding out that the author already has a prolific catalogue of previous works is the best feeling.

(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not normally a SFF person but when you tell me there’s a noir with animals, I’m signing up. I was fortunate enough to get the ARC of this book. I found the world building excellent. It was very natural and nothing felt so alien that I couldn’t follow along (which is common for me in this genre). It really felt like a classic noir.

The only thing stopping me from giving it five stars is really that it’s still fantasy. I tend to find the genre overly long and descriptive and that’s the case here but I think that’s a me thing. I’m recommending this to my husband because he’s probably love this. I expect a lot of people will adore it. I liked it and it’s not even my genre!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Maureen Landress · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all let me say that I am not a genre snob, I read books from all across the spectrum including sci-fi, thriller, suspense and even on occasion a well written comedy romance. Since there are so many books published and so little time to read them all I give a book until the third chapter to capture and hold my interest - sadly this book did not do that I could barely make it to the second chapter. Why? Because I had to keep going back to the glossary at the front of the book to figure out who was who, where they were and what was going on. I do not have the patience for that sort of thing.

[Bill Philibin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5.0 Stars)

Thank you to #NetGalley for making this book available to read and review.

I really liked everything about this book. Imagine if you took Disney's Zootopia and mashed it up with Huxley's Brave New World and maybe made it more gritty or seedy, that is how you feel reading this book.

The audiobook narration was excellent!

Tchaikovsky is very good with bring characters to life and painting a great backdrop, and really shines in this book. You'll never look at racoons quite the same again!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! This author is one of my favorites and I was excited to win this ARC. The plot was very imaginative and believable at the same time. The characters were well written and enjoyable.

[chi]

wdym you can tell that i grew up on erin hunter books...

[pareidolia]

Adrian Tchaikovsky's days must be longer than other people's. Only explanation for his insane output.

[Mariko1988]

23/07/26

[Seung]

My second most anticipated read of the year. The first being the authors, "Children of Strife."