Phantom Signals: Book One of the Code and Stone Series

by M.P. Moorland

When London’s oldest firewall begins to fail, who do you call for tech support?

Stephen Harris likes problems with sensible explanations. Password resets. Network outages. Users who swear they haven’t changed anything.The impossible was never supposed to be one of them.

Then a mysterious voice warns him not to board his usual Tube.

Minutes later, twenty-seven commuters collapse at Westminster Station. The official explanation is a gas leak. Stephen knows it wasn’t. So do the people who come looking for him.

Hidden beneath the streets of London, a secret government taskforce has spent years investigating incidents that don’t make it into official reports.

Their latest investigation leads them to Stephen Harris.

His abandoned software, the project that cost him his career and marriage, may hold the answer.

It wasn’t detecting network intrusions.

It was detecting something else.

Stephen is forty-five, mildly traumatised, and would quite like his life to make sense again. He has no interest in being anyone’s chosen one, serious reservations about four-pound coffee, and an unfortunate talent for noticing things he’d rather not notice.

London doesn’t need another hero.

It needs someone who understands the architecture.

Stephen is fairly certain he never applied for that job.


Perfect for readers who enjoy British urban fantasy, hidden history, supernatural mystery, and dry humour.

Genres: Urban Fantasy

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 24, 2026

About the author

M.P. Moorland is fascinated by London's hidden history and quietly convinced that buildings marked "Authorised Personnel Only" are hiding something far more interesting than stationery cupboards.

That curiosity became the Code & Stone series, where British mythology, forgotten folklore and contemporary London collide. His novels imagine a London where ancient infrastructure still shapes the modern city, technology brushes against old magic, and the paperwork is somehow even worse than you'd imagine.

When he isn't writing, Marcus lives in Hampshire with his wife, fuelled by too much coffee, the occasional beer or two, and a healthy suspicion that London is far stranger than any of us realise.

Recent rabbit holes include boundary stones, forgotten folklore, curious architecture, London's hidden history, and the stories attached to places most people pass every day without noticing.

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across Phantom Signals, book one in the Code and Stone urban fantasy series, when author M.P. Moorland posted a sorta-kinda-but-not-really advertisement on Reddit. I was intrigued by the synopsis and gave it a read - despite the (as of the time of writing this review) only 5 ratings. To very briefly summarize the plot: IT-professional Stephen accidentally finds himself embroiled in the fantastic after receiving a phone call telling him not to get on the Tube, and soon needs to figure out how to save London (and, potentially, England itself) from the Hungry Dark. Shenanigans ensue.

This book is comparable to Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series, with a focus on infrastructure (think computer networks, but on a larger scale) and a unique cosmic horror twist. It's urban fantasy without the vampires, werewolves, or fae, which I find very exciting. I really enjoyed the book - I read it in one sitting - and I'm honestly excited to read more. I highly recommend checking it out; this may just be the next big series in the urban fantasy genre.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a unique take on urban fantasy, and I really enjoyed it! Being a raging Anglophile, a supernatural story taking place in and around London was exactly my cup of tea. I loved the protagonist, Stephen, and the other main characters. In particular, the fact that a young woman is the 'muscle ' of the group made me happy.

I look forward to the next book in what I hope is a long running series.

[Kristin Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun new entry in urban fantasy with a novel battle methodology. Basically pocket sand? Whatever, it works. Phantom Signals works well as a first book in a series, setting up a world, leaving unanswered questions and hints of what's to come. I have to say I also liked the twist that the PUREST agency isn't some ancient order, but rather a thrown together group that's only been around a few years.

[Kara Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripped me like The Da Vinci Code, but better written

This book took me quite by surprise. I hadn’t even meant to read it but it was my first open on Kindle Unlimited, and by chapter 3 I was hooked. The characters are relatable, and the pace of writing is well-considered. Moorland has a talent for keeping momentum and building intrigue and excitement, and allows the reader to exhale momentarily where necessary. The location specifics around London are fascinating and I found myself wondering which parts of the story were fiction versus true from extensive research… some parts are, undoubtably, somewhere in between. I inspected the cover several times while reading, as it is full of Easter eggs, signs, interpretations and symbols. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good writing from someone who is paying attention. Moorland is an author who clearly loves and respects literature, detail, history, intrigue, suspense and the unknown. Looking forward to book 2.

[Owen De · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard of the book on Reddit, and thought I’d see if it was on kindle unlimited. It was and 4 days later I’d finished it!

Urban fantasy? Yep.
Vampires? No.
Teenagers? No.
Wizards? No.
Moody protagonist? Moody? No, grumpy, yeah I’d say grumpy.
Detective? No, PC monkey yes (IT departments really don’t like that description though)
Good? Yes!

It starts strong and develops the theme of London as a living thing which people have done, just in its own IT slant to it. The protagonist is fully fleshed out middle aged man rather than your young chosen one which I can identify more with now. It sets out the world well without lore dumping on you, and keeps it a tight read, when it ends I wanted to read the next, even if it’s not out yet.

Would definitely recommend to people.

[Babette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I am in IT and was able to commiserate with Stephen, the main character. He seemed to respond to a bad situation with in a more realistic way than other similar books I've read (The Laundry for example). Crap happens and a normal response is to freak the hell out. Stephen does that. As the story progresses, I hope the a secret government taskforce gets expanded to a larger department. Too much work for three people.

[Richard Coy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and well written.
I'm looking forward to the next book already.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunningly Good

I couldn't put it down for a second. This is one of the best books I've read in years. More please.

[Fuzzles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great new urban fantasy series, by a new author! Far better than any 1st novel has a right to be. I really enjoyed this!

Stephen is an IT tech, just getting on with his life after his marriage and business fell apart, when he gets a mysterious call that saves his life, and plunges him into the middle of a supernatural investigation.

[ARR62 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Is Fantastic

If you wanted the IT answer to Rivers of London, this it. Only its a middle aged guy who has gone through life ignoring his paranormal instincts. Suffered for that. And, caught up in an incident he recognizes but can't admit that he does, he begins to understand and believe. This is a good story, well told. I am eagerly waiting for the next book!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Great debut! Looking forward to the next book in the series. I’ve seen it compared to Rivers of London and Alex Verus and I’d have to agree.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much AI use, particularly later in the book. There is definitely human writing in here too, but the phrasing and structure becomes quite jarring. (If it’s not AI, it’s just not great writing).

It’s a pity because the idea for the story is quite fun.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun, nice concept and a good read.

The first few pages had me laughing out loud at the description of the London commute that will strike a chord for anyone else who's had to endure it.
Great fun to read, now I just have to wait for the next instalment.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for a new author - enjoyed the plot and hope the writing improves in the next one. There's a little too much "It's not X, it's Y" in this one, especially in the 2nd half.

[Jeanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, I think, debut novel. Will continue in the series. Action from the get go.