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Rivers of London #7.5
The October Man
A brand new stand-alone novella in the Rivers of London series!
Tobias Winter has been assigned to the Abteilung KDA - the Department for Complex and Unspecific Matters.
Despite the intriguing department name, as Winter explains, dealing with the strange and the supernatural is 'actually 90% paperwork'. But this is a story about the other 10% of the job: the life-threatening danger part.
This is a tale about the Queen of the Harvest, the October Man, and the little-known time the vineyard around Trier started to eat people . . .
Winter may be P. C. Peter Grant's German counterpart, but surviving this investigation is entirely down to him . . .
157 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2019
712 people are currently reading
6271 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 1,486 reviews
July 17, 2019
Yes, I know. I hardly believe my rating either.
Listening--as opposed to my usual reading speed--exposes the fact that the first four or so chapters are largely a re-explanation of things we already know from the seven book Peter Grant series. Unfortunately, details aren't quickly summarized, and as far as I can tell, almost everything Peter Grant has learned in the first few books is included. Details on rivers, shields, magic returning, Latin, the history of magic users, political organization, vestigia, ghosts, etc. Worse, Tobias is pedantic, so it's actually a bit like listening to a dry-as-dust History of Magic Professor at Hogworts. For a novella-length story, this is inexcusable. I admit, I had a moment of wondering if this was strictly a marketing ploy where Ben was trying to broaden appeal to German readers.
Regarding the audio version:
Listening--as opposed to my usual reading speed--exposes the fact that the first four or so chapters are largely a re-explanation of things we already know from the seven book Peter Grant series. Unfortunately, details aren't quickly summarized, and as far as I can tell, almost everything Peter Grant has learned in the first few books is included. Details on rivers, shields, magic returning, Latin, the history of magic users, political organization, vestigia, ghosts, etc. Worse, Tobias is pedantic, so it's actually a bit like listening to a dry-as-dust History of Magic Professor at Hogworts. For a novella-length story, this is inexcusable. I admit, I had a moment of wondering if this was strictly a marketing ploy where Ben was trying to broaden appeal to German readers.
Regarding the audio version:
July 17, 2019
You should always realize that my ratings for Ben Aaronovitch are relative to his own works; his Peter Grant series is generally five-star in comparison to any other urban fantasy. In this novella, he leaves Grant behind to follow Tobias Winter, a special agent in the special division for magical enforcement in Germany. Winter is relaxing at his parent's house when he gets a call about "possible infraction in Trier," which is official-speak for a potentially magic-related death. He is assigned a liaison officer, Frau Sommer, and together they work to solve the mystery.
It's an interesting idea, to base the concept of a story on the idea of a world and the police procedural structure, but to leave out any characters from the last seven books. Tobias needs to explain the whole 'magic' thing to Sommer, so a reader joining the world at this particular point would not be left out. In a way, that's a nice idea. For series fans, however, I'd say this will feel slightly disappointing, as there have been so many interesting characters throughout the seven books that I could name a handful that would be a lot of fun to explore. Kumar, from the Underground; the sword-wielding Li; Madame Tang; even, dare I say, more Abagail. I know he's been doing some of the exploration with the graphic novels (Guleed, Nightingale, Varvara, the River Twins), but those prove less character-expanding and more about the adventure.
Tobias, unfortunately, felt largely like a watered-down Peter to me. Less funny, more methodical, prone to explaining but also still prone to methodological leaps. He gets a run and a cooking interlude to help distinguish himself. Sommer felt largely bland, with portentous hints.
There's also a bit of German language sprinkled in. To be honest, I'm not sure why. It doesn't really give much of a sense of atmosphere, and since German isn't really a common language, it's largely incomprehensible. Here's one bit:
"I joined the Bundeskriminalamt rather than the Polizei Baden-Württemberg so Papa wouldn't be able to order me about at work."
or
"Trier is not famous as a policing hotspot, having been voted Germany's Quaintest Town five years in a row in the poll of popular destinations conducted by the Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus."
Sigh. Ben, Ben, Ben. You're missing the point of using non-English words in your writing when you are writing in English. You are supposed to be conveying the inexplicable, or a cultural idiom, n'est-ce pas?
This is going to sound grumpy, I suppose; but you should always assume that I like an Aaronovitch book and what I have to specify are the ways in which it wasn't a five-star read. The writing is clear and sophisticated. There's certainly weird bullocks, as Det. Seawoll would say, but it's used to good effect. Violence and gore for the sake of being thrilling and titillating is generally avoided, although there's certainly some more horrific elements here than what we've usually seen Peter deal with. A new kind of fae sneaks in, as well as more encounters with rivers. Plot moves reasonably fast, although typically twisty, once we get Tobias out to Trier. Setting is developed decently, and definitely feels different from London policing.
That said, I'd really prefer Grant & Co. There were just a couple of points where I laughed, one early on:
"Despite my admiration for Förstner's ability to insult both of us at the same time, my brain still finally managed to flag a crucial piece of information." I was left feeling like I spent the day with Peter's older, less interesting brother. A decent story, but I missed the sense of fun.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an advance reader copy.
It's an interesting idea, to base the concept of a story on the idea of a world and the police procedural structure, but to leave out any characters from the last seven books. Tobias needs to explain the whole 'magic' thing to Sommer, so a reader joining the world at this particular point would not be left out. In a way, that's a nice idea. For series fans, however, I'd say this will feel slightly disappointing, as there have been so many interesting characters throughout the seven books that I could name a handful that would be a lot of fun to explore. Kumar, from the Underground; the sword-wielding Li; Madame Tang; even, dare I say, more Abagail. I know he's been doing some of the exploration with the graphic novels (Guleed, Nightingale, Varvara, the River Twins), but those prove less character-expanding and more about the adventure.
Tobias, unfortunately, felt largely like a watered-down Peter to me. Less funny, more methodical, prone to explaining but also still prone to methodological leaps. He gets a run and a cooking interlude to help distinguish himself. Sommer felt largely bland, with portentous hints.
There's also a bit of German language sprinkled in. To be honest, I'm not sure why. It doesn't really give much of a sense of atmosphere, and since German isn't really a common language, it's largely incomprehensible. Here's one bit:
"I joined the Bundeskriminalamt rather than the Polizei Baden-Württemberg so Papa wouldn't be able to order me about at work."
or
"Trier is not famous as a policing hotspot, having been voted Germany's Quaintest Town five years in a row in the poll of popular destinations conducted by the Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus."
Sigh. Ben, Ben, Ben. You're missing the point of using non-English words in your writing when you are writing in English. You are supposed to be conveying the inexplicable, or a cultural idiom, n'est-ce pas?
This is going to sound grumpy, I suppose; but you should always assume that I like an Aaronovitch book and what I have to specify are the ways in which it wasn't a five-star read. The writing is clear and sophisticated. There's certainly weird bullocks, as Det. Seawoll would say, but it's used to good effect. Violence and gore for the sake of being thrilling and titillating is generally avoided, although there's certainly some more horrific elements here than what we've usually seen Peter deal with. A new kind of fae sneaks in, as well as more encounters with rivers. Plot moves reasonably fast, although typically twisty, once we get Tobias out to Trier. Setting is developed decently, and definitely feels different from London policing.
That said, I'd really prefer Grant & Co. There were just a couple of points where I laughed, one early on:
"Despite my admiration for Förstner's ability to insult both of us at the same time, my brain still finally managed to flag a crucial piece of information." I was left feeling like I spent the day with Peter's older, less interesting brother. A decent story, but I missed the sense of fun.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an advance reader copy.
August 6, 2019
Ah, that was fun, and just the right size story for its length, a generously portioned novella.
Readers of the Rivers of London series should find lots of familiar tropes in an unfamiliar setting. I very much enjoyed getting to see some of what is going on with the resurgence of magic in other parts of the world, and of course can't help wondering if it will ever intersect with the main series. Also very curious about the Director. New readers should be able to read it as a stand-alone contemporary fantasy-mystery, I would think, but I'm not in a position to say for sure.
The new PoV/narrator Tobias Winter has a lot in common with Peter Grant -- young policeman-detective fairly new to magical affairs -- which excused the similarity of voice somewhat. Slightly less snarky humor but not none. Seemed to be dealing with a lot of the same sorts of organizational structures, which may simply be a case of welcome to modernity. If this is the result of a vacation/work trip by the author to the Moselle region, Aaronovitch should be encouraged to travel more.
Ta, L.
Readers of the Rivers of London series should find lots of familiar tropes in an unfamiliar setting. I very much enjoyed getting to see some of what is going on with the resurgence of magic in other parts of the world, and of course can't help wondering if it will ever intersect with the main series. Also very curious about the Director. New readers should be able to read it as a stand-alone contemporary fantasy-mystery, I would think, but I'm not in a position to say for sure.
The new PoV/narrator Tobias Winter has a lot in common with Peter Grant -- young policeman-detective fairly new to magical affairs -- which excused the similarity of voice somewhat. Slightly less snarky humor but not none. Seemed to be dealing with a lot of the same sorts of organizational structures, which may simply be a case of welcome to modernity. If this is the result of a vacation/work trip by the author to the Moselle region, Aaronovitch should be encouraged to travel more.
Ta, L.
September 8, 2021
Re-read 9/8/21:
Oh, and let's not forget the water spirits. :)
Original Review:
This is probably my favorite novella in the Rivers of London series. Of course, we're NOT in London. This takes place in Germany! The place where all weird things have a place and a procedure attached to it. It's Germany! :)
And we have a lot of fresh faces. And fungi. And fun times with fungi. And a pretty awesome refresher on the magic system as well as some really cool police procedural legwork.
All in all, it's a slam dunk Magic Police procedural across the border, chatting up the local rivers and the regular people. Not to say that local rivers AREN'T regular people, because they most certainly are. I don't want anyone to get the wrong opinion from me. In fact, if there are any rivers out there reading this review, you're welcome to chat with me and look me up. I'll offer you some wine any day.
I'm REALLY looking forward to the next novel in the series. :) :)
Oh, and let's not forget the water spirits. :)
Original Review:
This is probably my favorite novella in the Rivers of London series. Of course, we're NOT in London. This takes place in Germany! The place where all weird things have a place and a procedure attached to it. It's Germany! :)
And we have a lot of fresh faces. And fungi. And fun times with fungi. And a pretty awesome refresher on the magic system as well as some really cool police procedural legwork.
All in all, it's a slam dunk Magic Police procedural across the border, chatting up the local rivers and the regular people. Not to say that local rivers AREN'T regular people, because they most certainly are. I don't want anyone to get the wrong opinion from me. In fact, if there are any rivers out there reading this review, you're welcome to chat with me and look me up. I'll offer you some wine any day.
I'm REALLY looking forward to the next novel in the series. :) :)
June 6, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
So this little gem of a novella takes place in the same world as the Rivers of London, but in Germany instead, and features a new main character in a similar role as Peter Grant there in Germany. The mystery/police procedural with magic worked well for this novel, and we got to meet a few new characters that I'd love to see make appearances in the main series novels.
After the end of the last main series novel, I was unsure as to where the series would be going. I'm even more excited now that I've seen a glimpse of a bigger magical world.
So this little gem of a novella takes place in the same world as the Rivers of London, but in Germany instead, and features a new main character in a similar role as Peter Grant there in Germany. The mystery/police procedural with magic worked well for this novel, and we got to meet a few new characters that I'd love to see make appearances in the main series novels.
After the end of the last main series novel, I was unsure as to where the series would be going. I'm even more excited now that I've seen a glimpse of a bigger magical world.
July 20, 2019
If we had to have a fake (also younger and German) Peter Grant, 
Kinda like when Serena would visit Bewitched.
Aaronovitch could at least have named him Dieter so we could remember his name easily.
Too often, new wunderkind Tobi just sounds like Peter transported mysteriously to a German life. There's too much paperwork in policing! Everything has an acronym name! Plus everything has a funny seven-syllable German name that ends in "-er" or "- en," too! (A joke that stopped being funny way too early in the book.)
Worst of all, Tobi's just not as interesting as Peter. Bland parents, bland girl-pal Vanessa who's pretty much a Lesley clone. We're always aware that we're reading a spinoff. And oddly, it feels a little disloyal to Peter to read what feels like one of his adventures, just with someone else in the driver's seat.
Funniest riff in spite of itself: when Tobi, bemoaning his office's understaffing and poor equipment, imagines that his hero Peter Grant must never have these problems and must have all the cool gadgets.
Kinda like when Serena would visit Bewitched.
Aaronovitch could at least have named him Dieter so we could remember his name easily.
Too often, new wunderkind Tobi just sounds like Peter transported mysteriously to a German life. There's too much paperwork in policing! Everything has an acronym name! Plus everything has a funny seven-syllable German name that ends in "-er" or "- en," too! (A joke that stopped being funny way too early in the book.)
Worst of all, Tobi's just not as interesting as Peter. Bland parents, bland girl-pal Vanessa who's pretty much a Lesley clone. We're always aware that we're reading a spinoff. And oddly, it feels a little disloyal to Peter to read what feels like one of his adventures, just with someone else in the driver's seat.
Funniest riff in spite of itself: when Tobi, bemoaning his office's understaffing and poor equipment, imagines that his hero Peter Grant must never have these problems and must have all the cool gadgets.
March 23, 2019
The author has taken his urban fantasies to a new locale. This time the detective who searches for signs of magic at crime scenes is Tobias Winter and he’s in Germany. Unfortunately, he’s not as sharp or amusing as Peter Grant. The river goddess is also a pale imitation of her London counterparts. In truth, I didn’t not see the need to tell basically the same story about vestigia and river gods but just use a different country and character. I also found the plot confusing. One of the characters seemed to have three different identities (or maybe not, it all got very fuzzy at the end). Also there were some editing errors, like a baby changing gender, that forced me to keep searching things in the book. The novella did hold my interest, but I hope the author sticks with Peter Grant. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
March 11, 2019
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/03/11/...
With Lies Sleeping ending with the final showdown between Peter Grant and his archnemesis the Faceless Man, bringing a seven-book story arc to a close, fans are wondering where the Rivers of London series will be going from here. Rumor is that Peter will be back, but in the meantime, we get to whet our appetites with a spinoff novella called The October Man.
Providing readers with some much-needed breathing space following the intensity of all that Faceless Man action, this tale features a classic down-to-earth mystery taking place in the German city of Trier and introduces a new protagonist. Tobias Winter is an investigator for the Abteilung KDA, Germany’s own version of a supernatural crime fighting force similar to the Folly, and he is also one of the country’s few officially sanctioned magical practitioners. He arrives to the Mosel wine region after a suspicious death is reported in the area, teaming up with local police officer Vanessa Sommer to figure out what happened to the victim whose body was found covered in a grey fungus known as noble rot—an important infestation used in the process of making particularly fine and concentrated sweet wine.
Magic may have killed the poor man, but it is good old-fashioned detective work leads our characters to a nearby vineyard owned by a woman named Jacky Stracker, whose family has had a long and interesting history of interacting with the surrounding genius loci. Their investigation also uncovers a connection between the victim and a peculiar drinking club whose members are a group of middle-aged friends holding weekly get-togethers to enjoy good wine and experience the culture and arts of Trier. With a history that stretches back to the time of Ancient Rome, Germany’s oldest city offers no shortage of suspects, both mundane and magical, and it is up to Winter and Sommer to crack the case before the killer can strike again.
The October Man is a very well-constructed detective story, simple enough to be told in the span of a novella (granted, at more than two hundred pages, this one’s on the longer side) while still containing plenty of complexity to hold the reader’s attention. In addition, its pacing allows for plenty of fast-paced action and police work, but moments of downtime also provide opportunities to get to know our characters better. Despite being in a new setting and following a new protagonist, I was delighted to feel all the familiar attributes and the fine balance of Ben Aaronovitch’s writing style.
And of course, the best part about this story was being able to see magic in another part of the world. Expanding the Rivers of London universe, Aaronovitch shows how other places have their own protective spirits and genius loci. He also explores the way magical crimes are investigated and handled in Germany, and it was interesting to contrast attitudes and procedures between Abteilung KDA and the Folly due to political and cultural differences. Trier itself is a fascinating setting, boasting rich architectural history and a lively social and art scene, all of which the author highlights with the same kind of passion and attention to detail he gives to the Peter Grant novels. I also loved how the story revolved around the region’s wine industry and incorporated the history and process of wine making into many threads of the plot.
Perhaps my only criticism is Tobias Winter’s voice, which does not distinguish itself enough from Peter Grant’s. They sound so similar that I found myself frequently forgetting that we were supposed to be following a completely different protagonist, and only the occasional German brought me back. Although Tobias comes across as slightly more serious than Peter, to me it just seems there should be a greater distinction between their two personalities and narrative patterns, given their disparate backgrounds. That said, this can also be viewed as a positive, because if you enjoy the tone and style of the main series, then you should feel right at home with this one too.
All in all, Ben Aaronovitch has delivered another fun and captivating Rivers of London mystery, The October Man being a novella and featuring a different setting and characters notwithstanding. I loved getting to meet Tobias and Vanessa, and it would thrill me greatly to see this corner of the series expanded with more stories in the future.
With Lies Sleeping ending with the final showdown between Peter Grant and his archnemesis the Faceless Man, bringing a seven-book story arc to a close, fans are wondering where the Rivers of London series will be going from here. Rumor is that Peter will be back, but in the meantime, we get to whet our appetites with a spinoff novella called The October Man.
Providing readers with some much-needed breathing space following the intensity of all that Faceless Man action, this tale features a classic down-to-earth mystery taking place in the German city of Trier and introduces a new protagonist. Tobias Winter is an investigator for the Abteilung KDA, Germany’s own version of a supernatural crime fighting force similar to the Folly, and he is also one of the country’s few officially sanctioned magical practitioners. He arrives to the Mosel wine region after a suspicious death is reported in the area, teaming up with local police officer Vanessa Sommer to figure out what happened to the victim whose body was found covered in a grey fungus known as noble rot—an important infestation used in the process of making particularly fine and concentrated sweet wine.
Magic may have killed the poor man, but it is good old-fashioned detective work leads our characters to a nearby vineyard owned by a woman named Jacky Stracker, whose family has had a long and interesting history of interacting with the surrounding genius loci. Their investigation also uncovers a connection between the victim and a peculiar drinking club whose members are a group of middle-aged friends holding weekly get-togethers to enjoy good wine and experience the culture and arts of Trier. With a history that stretches back to the time of Ancient Rome, Germany’s oldest city offers no shortage of suspects, both mundane and magical, and it is up to Winter and Sommer to crack the case before the killer can strike again.
The October Man is a very well-constructed detective story, simple enough to be told in the span of a novella (granted, at more than two hundred pages, this one’s on the longer side) while still containing plenty of complexity to hold the reader’s attention. In addition, its pacing allows for plenty of fast-paced action and police work, but moments of downtime also provide opportunities to get to know our characters better. Despite being in a new setting and following a new protagonist, I was delighted to feel all the familiar attributes and the fine balance of Ben Aaronovitch’s writing style.
And of course, the best part about this story was being able to see magic in another part of the world. Expanding the Rivers of London universe, Aaronovitch shows how other places have their own protective spirits and genius loci. He also explores the way magical crimes are investigated and handled in Germany, and it was interesting to contrast attitudes and procedures between Abteilung KDA and the Folly due to political and cultural differences. Trier itself is a fascinating setting, boasting rich architectural history and a lively social and art scene, all of which the author highlights with the same kind of passion and attention to detail he gives to the Peter Grant novels. I also loved how the story revolved around the region’s wine industry and incorporated the history and process of wine making into many threads of the plot.
Perhaps my only criticism is Tobias Winter’s voice, which does not distinguish itself enough from Peter Grant’s. They sound so similar that I found myself frequently forgetting that we were supposed to be following a completely different protagonist, and only the occasional German brought me back. Although Tobias comes across as slightly more serious than Peter, to me it just seems there should be a greater distinction between their two personalities and narrative patterns, given their disparate backgrounds. That said, this can also be viewed as a positive, because if you enjoy the tone and style of the main series, then you should feel right at home with this one too.
All in all, Ben Aaronovitch has delivered another fun and captivating Rivers of London mystery, The October Man being a novella and featuring a different setting and characters notwithstanding. I loved getting to meet Tobias and Vanessa, and it would thrill me greatly to see this corner of the series expanded with more stories in the future.
October 22, 2022
Do you ever wonder if there are still German practitioners of magic and, if so, what they are up to? Well, wonder no longer. Meet Tobias Winter, apprentice, and follow along as he pursues a case. Of course his assigned local officer is Vanessa Sommer. Winter and Sommer, which makes the local river goddess snicker.
Tobias is not nearly as chaotic as Peter was in the beginning. He proceeds with caution, tries to be very polite (but firm) with the special folk that he encounters, and keeps his partner in the loop. He certainly knows about Peter and his reputation, especially for Peter's enthusiasm for trying to scientifically measure magical phenomena.
I would definitely be willing to read more about Tobias and I suspect that further adventures of Vanessa are probable too. And wouldn't it be fun if they could meet up with Peter and Nightingale someday?
Tobias is not nearly as chaotic as Peter was in the beginning. He proceeds with caution, tries to be very polite (but firm) with the special folk that he encounters, and keeps his partner in the loop. He certainly knows about Peter and his reputation, especially for Peter's enthusiasm for trying to scientifically measure magical phenomena.
I would definitely be willing to read more about Tobias and I suspect that further adventures of Vanessa are probable too. And wouldn't it be fun if they could meet up with Peter and Nightingale someday?
January 14, 2021
Tobi Winter, the protagonist of this book, is the German equivalent of Peter Grant. This novel is, so to speak, the pork-knuckle-with-sauerkraut-variant of the stories about the Folly and Peter Grant.
Tobi, the German sorcerer's apprentice, is called to investigate a seemingly strange murder in the vineyards of Trier. The general conditions are also very reminiscent of the Peter Grant books. There is the German equivalent of the Folly, magical events and beings and also the obligatory river gods are not missing. The odd half-knowledge of the regular police officers about magic can also be found here.
I was admittedly a little disappointed with this Germanized version of the Rivers of London series, because so much was simply copied. Since I like the Peter Grant books very much, I still had fun reading it, though and rate it with 3 stars.
--------------------------------------------------
Tobi Winter, der Protagonist dieses Buches, ist das deutsche Äquivalent zu Peter Grant. Dieser Roman ist sozusagen die Eisbein-mit-Sauerkraut-Variante der Geschichten ums Folly und um Peter Grant.
Tobi als deutscher Zauberlehrling, wird zur Aufklärung eines merkwürdig anmutenden Mordes in den Trierer Weinbergen gerufen. Auch die Rahmenbedingungen erinnern sehr an die Peter Grant-Bücher. Es gibt die deutsche Entsprechung zum Folly, magische Ereignisse und Wesen und auch die obligatorischen Flussgötter fehlen nicht. Auch das eigenartige Halbwissen der regulären Polizeibeamten über Magie findet sich hier.
Ich war zugegebenermaßen schon ein bisschen enttäuscht von dieser germanisierten Fassung der Flüsse-von-London-Reihe, weil gar so viel einfach kopiert wurde. Da ich die Peter Grant-Reihe aber sehr mag, hatte ich dennoch beim Lesen meinen Spaß und vergebe 3 Sterne.
Tobi, the German sorcerer's apprentice, is called to investigate a seemingly strange murder in the vineyards of Trier. The general conditions are also very reminiscent of the Peter Grant books. There is the German equivalent of the Folly, magical events and beings and also the obligatory river gods are not missing. The odd half-knowledge of the regular police officers about magic can also be found here.
I was admittedly a little disappointed with this Germanized version of the Rivers of London series, because so much was simply copied. Since I like the Peter Grant books very much, I still had fun reading it, though and rate it with 3 stars.
--------------------------------------------------
Tobi Winter, der Protagonist dieses Buches, ist das deutsche Äquivalent zu Peter Grant. Dieser Roman ist sozusagen die Eisbein-mit-Sauerkraut-Variante der Geschichten ums Folly und um Peter Grant.
Tobi als deutscher Zauberlehrling, wird zur Aufklärung eines merkwürdig anmutenden Mordes in den Trierer Weinbergen gerufen. Auch die Rahmenbedingungen erinnern sehr an die Peter Grant-Bücher. Es gibt die deutsche Entsprechung zum Folly, magische Ereignisse und Wesen und auch die obligatorischen Flussgötter fehlen nicht. Auch das eigenartige Halbwissen der regulären Polizeibeamten über Magie findet sich hier.
Ich war zugegebenermaßen schon ein bisschen enttäuscht von dieser germanisierten Fassung der Flüsse-von-London-Reihe, weil gar so viel einfach kopiert wurde. Da ich die Peter Grant-Reihe aber sehr mag, hatte ich dennoch beim Lesen meinen Spaß und vergebe 3 Sterne.
June 28, 2019
“Life is too short to drink bad wine.” – Goethe
“I drank what??” – Socrates
Let me just begin by saying that I’ve been anxiously awaiting any new story from Ben Aaronovitch since 2018 Lies Sleeping. Peter Grant is one of the coolest urban fantasy protagonists practicing these days and Aaronovitch’s world building is maybe THE best, and I’ve read Harry Dresden, Jane Yellowrock and the Iron Druid series. What really sets these apart is his wink and nod minimalism, these are snappy police procedurals with magic on the side. Obviously it’s the magic that keeps us coming back, but the writer is too cool for his own good.
Then I discover that it’s NOT a Peter Grant story but rather about Tobias Winter, a German apprentice practitioner and junior constable in the Rhineland. So, NOT the Rivers of London at all but in the same world building. We still have some “special” characters and some mischievous locality deities of the watery sort.
“We ain’t in the London writin’ business, we in the magic story business, and cousin, business is a boomin”
Tobias Winter and his associate Vanessa Sommer (I know right?) are on are the trail of a strange murder in the ancient city of Triers and we are off again on another FUN!!! Aaronovitch adventure in this slightly off-center novella.
I can see some fans saying “Hold the phone!” we like London and Peter Grant and … and – and I got it, BUT, gentle readers, this is fun too. More fun that a chimney cake and some Gluhwein, and those are SO GOOD!
Aaronovitch demonstrates again that he can tell a great story and that his magic rules and world building will keep us coming back again and again.
“I drank what??” – Socrates
Let me just begin by saying that I’ve been anxiously awaiting any new story from Ben Aaronovitch since 2018 Lies Sleeping. Peter Grant is one of the coolest urban fantasy protagonists practicing these days and Aaronovitch’s world building is maybe THE best, and I’ve read Harry Dresden, Jane Yellowrock and the Iron Druid series. What really sets these apart is his wink and nod minimalism, these are snappy police procedurals with magic on the side. Obviously it’s the magic that keeps us coming back, but the writer is too cool for his own good.
Then I discover that it’s NOT a Peter Grant story but rather about Tobias Winter, a German apprentice practitioner and junior constable in the Rhineland. So, NOT the Rivers of London at all but in the same world building. We still have some “special” characters and some mischievous locality deities of the watery sort.
“We ain’t in the London writin’ business, we in the magic story business, and cousin, business is a boomin”
Tobias Winter and his associate Vanessa Sommer (I know right?) are on are the trail of a strange murder in the ancient city of Triers and we are off again on another FUN!!! Aaronovitch adventure in this slightly off-center novella.
I can see some fans saying “Hold the phone!” we like London and Peter Grant and … and – and I got it, BUT, gentle readers, this is fun too. More fun that a chimney cake and some Gluhwein, and those are SO GOOD!
Aaronovitch demonstrates again that he can tell a great story and that his magic rules and world building will keep us coming back again and again.
November 2, 2020
IT'S GOT A COVER.
from Gollanz https://www.gollancz.co.uk/2018/11/26...
* * * * *
4.5 stars
Ah, so this is what it's like to follow a magically competent police detective around on a case and not royally messing things up along the way. I get it now. More stories like this please and thank you in advance.
from Gollanz https://www.gollancz.co.uk/2018/11/26...
* * * * *
4.5 stars
Ah, so this is what it's like to follow a magically competent police detective around on a case and not royally messing things up along the way. I get it now. More stories like this please and thank you in advance.
June 3, 2019
The world of magical policing is not limited to London. In The October Man, Ben Aaronovitch extends this magical universe to Germany while also providing his reading audience with further information on the international and historical scope of this world. Tobias Winter is the young officer in training who responds to an unusual death in Germany’s wine country, in Trier, an old, even ancient city, known to the Romans. And, in keeping with its setting, the victim has died due to a rot peculiar to grapes.
Obviously this is not a “normal” death so Tobias, accompanied by his local liaison officer, Vanessa Sommer, begins an investigation of the unusual aspects. During the course of the story, he also includes teaching Vanessa (and the readers) of the status of magical policing in Germany (Tobias and the Director), aspects of the history of magic in Germany, and how to get out of the way if magic is being used.
I have read several of the Peter Grant/London Rivers novels and enjoyed them a lot. They are almost all witty and engaging, with interesting characters and stories. Here in this new setting with new characters of very different personalities the formula works differently. The attempts at humor are so dry as to blow away. I do miss the witty reparteeof Peter Grant etc always. But I did actually like the educational bits. Because of their German, continental focus, it contained new information and a different slant. Perhaps this German group will develop into a more interesting group with time.
I definitely would be inclined to read about Tobias Winter again if Aaronovitch returns to this German setting. Maybe someday he could have magical police of all Europe work together against a major evil. After all, many of these mighty rivers flow through the entire continent.
Probably 3.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Obviously this is not a “normal” death so Tobias, accompanied by his local liaison officer, Vanessa Sommer, begins an investigation of the unusual aspects. During the course of the story, he also includes teaching Vanessa (and the readers) of the status of magical policing in Germany (Tobias and the Director), aspects of the history of magic in Germany, and how to get out of the way if magic is being used.
I have read several of the Peter Grant/London Rivers novels and enjoyed them a lot. They are almost all witty and engaging, with interesting characters and stories. Here in this new setting with new characters of very different personalities the formula works differently. The attempts at humor are so dry as to blow away. I do miss the witty reparteeof Peter Grant etc always. But I did actually like the educational bits. Because of their German, continental focus, it contained new information and a different slant. Perhaps this German group will develop into a more interesting group with time.
I definitely would be inclined to read about Tobias Winter again if Aaronovitch returns to this German setting. Maybe someday he could have magical police of all Europe work together against a major evil. After all, many of these mighty rivers flow through the entire continent.
Probably 3.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2019
Peter Grant without Peter Grant and set in Germany instead.
It's interesting for the contrast in main character. Tobias Winter is just as dedicated to policing as Peter is and about as competent magically speaking. In many ways you could drop Peter in his spot and the story wouldn't feel any different, but where this falls down is that the London series has had seven books to build up a fascinating cast of characters and background around Peter as well as all his own mannerisms.
With this you get Tobias and a new group of background characters, but long familiarity with the main series makes these feel like poor-man's versions of characters we know and love.
Overall an interesting experiment at looking at the wider world of this series, but I'm glad it was only novella length.
It's interesting for the contrast in main character. Tobias Winter is just as dedicated to policing as Peter is and about as competent magically speaking. In many ways you could drop Peter in his spot and the story wouldn't feel any different, but where this falls down is that the London series has had seven books to build up a fascinating cast of characters and background around Peter as well as all his own mannerisms.
With this you get Tobias and a new group of background characters, but long familiarity with the main series makes these feel like poor-man's versions of characters we know and love.
Overall an interesting experiment at looking at the wider world of this series, but I'm glad it was only novella length.
March 13, 2019
Another enjoyable romp with magical, mythical bad guys and river goddesses! Only this time the story takes place in Germany with new characters. Interestingly the London practitioners, Nightingale and Peter Grant, are mentioned as peers/ possible rivals across the channel. Looks like Aaronovitch is setting up an international network of practitioners for future novels. I missed Peter and Beverly but overall enjoyed the new novella and look forward to the next chapter.
September 6, 2021
OMG, this was FANTASTIC! *lol*
This novella takes place in Germany. In Trier, the oldest city in Germany, to be precise. The events are told by Tobias Winter, a German cop and wizard. By the way, the reason a German cop was taught magic was that Nightingale took an apprentice (which apparently puts him in breach of an arrangement between England and Germany).
Tobias is called to investigate in Trier, where a person died under very „strange“ circumstances. During the investigation, Tobias sets up a meeting with a river goddess in the hope of getting answers. What he gets instead is a kick in the shin (literally). *lol* Also, it was interesting to see that the river goddess knew about Nightingale and that he had taken on an apprentice but asked Tobias for confirmation.
He is aided by another cop, Vanessa, who is a „normal“ cop but very curious about all things magic. They had an interesting dynamic (when compared to Sahra Guleed’s with Peter for example).
Anyway, the case itself - as I had expected - wasn’t all that important despite the spreading fungal rot and potential Roman connection having been quite interesting (at least to me). Instead, it was about introducing Tobias and German magic. Can’t say I’m a fan of all the institutions and regulations, but it did bring the narrative home, so to speak. ;)
Now, I need to take a moment to gush about how great an author Aaronovitch is. His historical and geographical facts are precise and the immersion in the story is 150% thanks to several fantastic details. Such as the narrator reading with a German accent. Or some cultural quirks that the author got 100% right (references to Alfred Biolek, Weimar and more). And the humour (especially )! Spot-on! (Yes, Germans do have a sense of humour. And a great one to boot.)
Moreover, Tobias is one year younger than I am and is from Mannheim, a town in Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany’s states - the same state I am from! Bwahahahahahahaha!
Sadly, while there were references, we don’t get to see any werewolves in here. But I shan’t lose hope that they will make an appearance in the series.
Wonderful addition to the series and a great introduction (forget the „moment“) of a fascinating character that I hope we’ll see much more of.
This novella takes place in Germany. In Trier, the oldest city in Germany, to be precise. The events are told by Tobias Winter, a German cop and wizard. By the way, the reason a German cop was taught magic was that Nightingale took an apprentice (which apparently puts him in breach of an arrangement between England and Germany).
Tobias is called to investigate in Trier, where a person died under very „strange“ circumstances. During the investigation, Tobias sets up a meeting with a river goddess in the hope of getting answers. What he gets instead is a kick in the shin (literally). *lol* Also, it was interesting to see that the river goddess knew about Nightingale and that he had taken on an apprentice but asked Tobias for confirmation.
He is aided by another cop, Vanessa, who is a „normal“ cop but very curious about all things magic. They had an interesting dynamic (when compared to Sahra Guleed’s with Peter for example).
Anyway, the case itself - as I had expected - wasn’t all that important despite the spreading fungal rot and potential Roman connection having been quite interesting (at least to me). Instead, it was about introducing Tobias and German magic. Can’t say I’m a fan of all the institutions and regulations, but it did bring the narrative home, so to speak. ;)
Now, I need to take a moment to gush about how great an author Aaronovitch is. His historical and geographical facts are precise and the immersion in the story is 150% thanks to several fantastic details. Such as the narrator reading with a German accent. Or some cultural quirks that the author got 100% right (references to Alfred Biolek, Weimar and more). And the humour (especially )! Spot-on! (Yes, Germans do have a sense of humour. And a great one to boot.)
Moreover, Tobias is one year younger than I am and is from Mannheim, a town in Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany’s states - the same state I am from! Bwahahahahahahaha!
Sadly, while there were references, we don’t get to see any werewolves in here. But I shan’t lose hope that they will make an appearance in the series.
Wonderful addition to the series and a great introduction (forget the „moment“) of a fascinating character that I hope we’ll see much more of.
January 5, 2020
Rivers of London reset. I enjoyed this very much despite the names and the overly large gaps between my reading sessions making it difficult for me to model either the timeline or suspect list in my head.
The characters here are not drawn in any great depth, nor is the plot particularly fresh. It's very much the same formula as a typical Peter Grant adventure, only with different, German, characters in the roles, but I think that's fine. Variations on same are the point of this sort of series. What was refreshing for me was that this reads a bit like a reset to early Peter Grant in the sense it's focused on the mystery rather than the main character's sex life or romantic relationship. Quite frankly, the proportion of relationship content in the main series has become annoying.
Anyhow, this was a treat. I'd love to see this continue, though I suspect it will be a one off or we'll simply see the characters appearing as guests in the main series.
The characters here are not drawn in any great depth, nor is the plot particularly fresh. It's very much the same formula as a typical Peter Grant adventure, only with different, German, characters in the roles, but I think that's fine. Variations on same are the point of this sort of series. What was refreshing for me was that this reads a bit like a reset to early Peter Grant in the sense it's focused on the mystery rather than the main character's sex life or romantic relationship. Quite frankly, the proportion of relationship content in the main series has become annoying.
Anyhow, this was a treat. I'd love to see this continue, though I suspect it will be a one off or we'll simply see the characters appearing as guests in the main series.
August 14, 2019
6/10
Ah a short story, my eternal struggle with this format continues. To be fair, there wasn't much helping me out in this one though. This felt like a bit of a pointless exercise unless the whole purpose was to set things up for later books.
I avoided the audiobook (which with Kobna absent was a no brainer) and went the old fashioned way (thanks Mr. Library, very kind) but there isn't much to write home about here. The main guy doesn't differ enough from Peter to make it worthwhile, it feels like a Peter Lite on holiday in Germany with a similar mystery as Peter would encounter.
I'm being harsh, it was a decent enough read but it will be easily forgotten and I don't think it's a requirement to read this. Or at least not yet. Time will tell. As Carol pointed out in her review, "there have been so many interesting characters throughout the seven books that I could name a handful that would be a lot of fun to explore. Kumar, from the Underground; the sword-wielding Li; Madame Tang; even, dare I say, more Abagail. I know he's been doing some of the exploration with the graphic novels (Guleed, Nightingale, Varvara, the River Twins), but those prove less character-expanding and more about the adventure." Couldn't have put it better myself
Ah a short story, my eternal struggle with this format continues. To be fair, there wasn't much helping me out in this one though. This felt like a bit of a pointless exercise unless the whole purpose was to set things up for later books.
I avoided the audiobook (which with Kobna absent was a no brainer) and went the old fashioned way (thanks Mr. Library, very kind) but there isn't much to write home about here. The main guy doesn't differ enough from Peter to make it worthwhile, it feels like a Peter Lite on holiday in Germany with a similar mystery as Peter would encounter.
I'm being harsh, it was a decent enough read but it will be easily forgotten and I don't think it's a requirement to read this. Or at least not yet. Time will tell. As Carol pointed out in her review, "there have been so many interesting characters throughout the seven books that I could name a handful that would be a lot of fun to explore. Kumar, from the Underground; the sword-wielding Li; Madame Tang; even, dare I say, more Abagail. I know he's been doing some of the exploration with the graphic novels (Guleed, Nightingale, Varvara, the River Twins), but those prove less character-expanding and more about the adventure." Couldn't have put it better myself
January 3, 2020
I absolutely loved this Rivers of London novella. It's tightly plotted, exciting, intriguing and funny. I really, really like new protagonists Tobias and Vanessa and I can't wait to see how they end up interacting with the regular cast in future installments! How long 'til book eight, again? Too long!
June 21, 2022
Im Vergleich zu seinem Londoner Bruder ist die Geschichte etwas zu oberflächlich und ich habe den Witz vermisst. Das Originellste war, dass die Handlung in Deutschland spielt.
June 23, 2019
This is the second novella published from the world of Peter Grant (Rivers of London - depending on whose listing you look at). However this is set in Germany, now it is most certainly from the same world but there are only fleeting references to the main series.
Now the story itself is as usually just as engrossing and fun as ever however how you are being introduced to not only a new group of characters but a different country and most certainly a different way approaching things.
This leads to a familiar but noticeably different read and one I really did enjoy. The length of the book could be seen as a tester to see how well expanding the "universe" would be (from this read I think pretty well) although I wished the story was longer.
Also and this is the cynic in me - it could be an attempt to create new characters who can pick up the story in replacement of London and the Folly. Then again it could be setting the scene for an even bigger story line where not only various characters cross path but also cross continents too.
The real truth of the matter is that it shows the world is getting "bigger" and that there are still many more possible stories out there if Mr Aaronovitch is inclined to go looking. I am just even more intrigued now to see what the never Peter Gran book has to offer.
Now the story itself is as usually just as engrossing and fun as ever however how you are being introduced to not only a new group of characters but a different country and most certainly a different way approaching things.
This leads to a familiar but noticeably different read and one I really did enjoy. The length of the book could be seen as a tester to see how well expanding the "universe" would be (from this read I think pretty well) although I wished the story was longer.
Also and this is the cynic in me - it could be an attempt to create new characters who can pick up the story in replacement of London and the Folly. Then again it could be setting the scene for an even bigger story line where not only various characters cross path but also cross continents too.
The real truth of the matter is that it shows the world is getting "bigger" and that there are still many more possible stories out there if Mr Aaronovitch is inclined to go looking. I am just even more intrigued now to see what the never Peter Gran book has to offer.
July 11, 2019
Excellent! Aaronovitch's prose and especially humour really work for me.
March 8, 2019
Please note that I received this via NetGalley. This did not affect my reviews or rating.
So this was pretty cool. Instead of following Peter or Nightingale (why???) we follow another magic practitioner named Tobias Winter. Tobias is the equivalent to our Peter Grant in England, only Tobias operates in Germany. Tobias is working on a case that seems to involve wine, ghosts, and magic.
Tobias's family seemed very interesting and I wanted to know more about his dad, mother, and the family's history with policing. I did love the introduction of Vanessa and how she finds out about magic being real and that Tobias can do it. We even have a goddess in this one (seriously this series is lousy with goddesses, everyone is one it seems).
I liked the narration though Tobias at times can sound a bit like Peter in my opinion.
The flow was not that great though which is the main reason why I gave this four stars. The book stops and starts throughout. Usually in a Peter Grant story his voice is so forceful through the whole thing I don't notice the laggy bits as much. Or I probably do and it doesn't bother me as much.
The book setting changing to Germany was a good idea. I honestly don't know much about German forklore/magic/spirits/etc. so it was pretty cool that this book revolved around that. I honestly didn't get a few words that were used though and felt a little bit confused here and there. Not often, but a little. There is also some discussion of the Nazis and Hitler and Hitler not being a revenant.
I really got a kick out of the ending with Tobias and Vanessa finding out about the fact that there were more magic users out there in places like London (Peter and Nightingale), the French reopened something called The Academy, and now we know of Germany and the Abteilung KDA - the Department for Complex and Unspecific Matters.
So this was pretty cool. Instead of following Peter or Nightingale (why???) we follow another magic practitioner named Tobias Winter. Tobias is the equivalent to our Peter Grant in England, only Tobias operates in Germany. Tobias is working on a case that seems to involve wine, ghosts, and magic.
Tobias's family seemed very interesting and I wanted to know more about his dad, mother, and the family's history with policing. I did love the introduction of Vanessa and how she finds out about magic being real and that Tobias can do it. We even have a goddess in this one (seriously this series is lousy with goddesses, everyone is one it seems).
I liked the narration though Tobias at times can sound a bit like Peter in my opinion.
"There are bad things in the world, and most of them aren't my job. But, of the things that are my responsibility, revenants are the worse."
"Momentum is critical when dealing with practitioners. Magic takes concentration, even for malevolent spirits of the dead. For a successful capture you have to pile the pressure on, and never them them catch their balance."
The flow was not that great though which is the main reason why I gave this four stars. The book stops and starts throughout. Usually in a Peter Grant story his voice is so forceful through the whole thing I don't notice the laggy bits as much. Or I probably do and it doesn't bother me as much.
The book setting changing to Germany was a good idea. I honestly don't know much about German forklore/magic/spirits/etc. so it was pretty cool that this book revolved around that. I honestly didn't get a few words that were used though and felt a little bit confused here and there. Not often, but a little. There is also some discussion of the Nazis and Hitler and Hitler not being a revenant.
I really got a kick out of the ending with Tobias and Vanessa finding out about the fact that there were more magic users out there in places like London (Peter and Nightingale), the French reopened something called The Academy, and now we know of Germany and the Abteilung KDA - the Department for Complex and Unspecific Matters.
June 23, 2021
2.5⭐
Audio Book narrated by Sam Peter Jackson.
I don't think Aaronovitch's 'Rivers of London' series travels well. In this case, to Germany. Instead of DC Peter Grant, our hero is Tobias Winter, from the German equivalent of the Folly (the British magic police), known as the Department of Complex and Unspecified Matters. Winter is called to investigate a suspicious death in a vinyard in Trier for signs of the supernatural, which he quickly confirms. The story then follows Aaronovitch's usual formula involving ghosts, river nymphs, magic spells mixed in with a conventional murder mystery/police procedural. It's not a terrible story and it's clear the author has some knowledge of Germany but he can't make his locale come alive the way he does with the stories set in London. This book feels more like a travel guide. I also thought the ending was muddled and rushed. Aaronovitch tries for some of the same cheeky observations that flavour his 'Rivers' books but here they just seem awkward and heavy handed. Not the best effort but good enough to please the fans. It's generally improved by the narration, which captures Winter's ironic tone nicely.
Audio Book narrated by Sam Peter Jackson.
I don't think Aaronovitch's 'Rivers of London' series travels well. In this case, to Germany. Instead of DC Peter Grant, our hero is Tobias Winter, from the German equivalent of the Folly (the British magic police), known as the Department of Complex and Unspecified Matters. Winter is called to investigate a suspicious death in a vinyard in Trier for signs of the supernatural, which he quickly confirms. The story then follows Aaronovitch's usual formula involving ghosts, river nymphs, magic spells mixed in with a conventional murder mystery/police procedural. It's not a terrible story and it's clear the author has some knowledge of Germany but he can't make his locale come alive the way he does with the stories set in London. This book feels more like a travel guide. I also thought the ending was muddled and rushed. Aaronovitch tries for some of the same cheeky observations that flavour his 'Rivers' books but here they just seem awkward and heavy handed. Not the best effort but good enough to please the fans. It's generally improved by the narration, which captures Winter's ironic tone nicely.
September 24, 2019
The change of setting - the German's version of The Folly - is quite refreshing. The main character however was bland and dispassionate. Also, I think there are still things (that matter) left unexplained. I am curious about the Witch of the East though, I hope she'll meet Nightingale one day.
September 21, 2019
I may be biased here because I'm German, but I loved this book and I hope Aaronovitch will return to the characters and the KDA soon.
I love the Rivers of London series as a whole, but a large part of that is the characters and initially I wasn't sure I would be able to love a novel set in the same universe with the same premise (magic police) as much with different characters, but Tobi and Vanessa won me over quickly. Add to that a perfectly good criminal plot and enigmatic side characters like the director and the pathologist who NEED to be expanded upon and you have me begging for a sequel!
While I love the main series I have no personal connection to the actual rivers of London, but I did grow up with stories about the Rhine (such as the Mäuseturm or the Loreley) and I definitely want to see Aaronovitch's take on that.
The book's greatest appeal to me (and here's where the German bias comes in), is seeing the way Aaronovitch imagines a magical background and history for Germany through a British lense. I'm not from the Moseltal and I've only been there a couple of times as a tourist, so I can't speak to the accuracy of his portrayal of that region and its wine culture, but I did get a lot of enjoyment from Tobi droppping casual references to drinking wine like Alfred Biolek and driving a golf and his mom being very Green. The implication that Merkel knows about the magic police and is the one who - during her first term - reformed that particular police department made me laugh though. It's just the thought ... Merkel ... damn.
Also, having Tobi not know anything about Harry Potter to differentiate him from Nerd Extraordinaire Peter Grant was clever. Tobi still makes pop-culture references from time to time, just not as often and it's a different kind of reference. That said, Tobi still reads a lot like Peter to me. Perhaps too much. Another reason Aaronovitch should return to this book and tell us a little more about Tobi.
Speaking of Peter ... any mentions of Peter, Nightingale and the Folly, of course, caused me to squeal in delight. I didn't expect we would get any of that at all. I certainly didn't expect the Germans/Europe/the world to be watching the Folly so closely, although I should have guessed Nightingale really is that famous after all that Varvara said in the main series. It's amazing how much we learned about some of the background of the main series even though we still don't know exactly what, for instance, those international agreements about limiting the numbers of practitioners and apprentices say.
I also didn't expect we would finally get some useful information on . Tobi's insight, if incomplete, into what went down on the other side of the magical part of ww2 is very much appreciated. And I won't lie, any mentions of the cleansing of the local magical sites actually made me very emotional.
All in all this is a worthwhile read. Its greatest appeal are its characters and the view of something familiar (the magical police procedural we have come to know and love through the main series of novels) through a new lense. The crime plot isn't super tense or thrilling, but it doesn't need to be. It's interesting, a bit creepy, and most of all its perfectly paced to give us time to get to know the setting and the characters. It's like a Lokalkrimi, but written in English, by a British author, and with magic and deer-men.
I love the Rivers of London series as a whole, but a large part of that is the characters and initially I wasn't sure I would be able to love a novel set in the same universe with the same premise (magic police) as much with different characters, but Tobi and Vanessa won me over quickly. Add to that a perfectly good criminal plot and enigmatic side characters like the director and the pathologist who NEED to be expanded upon and you have me begging for a sequel!
While I love the main series I have no personal connection to the actual rivers of London, but I did grow up with stories about the Rhine (such as the Mäuseturm or the Loreley) and I definitely want to see Aaronovitch's take on that.
The book's greatest appeal to me (and here's where the German bias comes in), is seeing the way Aaronovitch imagines a magical background and history for Germany through a British lense. I'm not from the Moseltal and I've only been there a couple of times as a tourist, so I can't speak to the accuracy of his portrayal of that region and its wine culture, but I did get a lot of enjoyment from Tobi droppping casual references to drinking wine like Alfred Biolek and driving a golf and his mom being very Green. The implication that Merkel knows about the magic police and is the one who - during her first term - reformed that particular police department made me laugh though. It's just the thought ... Merkel ... damn.
Also, having Tobi not know anything about Harry Potter to differentiate him from Nerd Extraordinaire Peter Grant was clever. Tobi still makes pop-culture references from time to time, just not as often and it's a different kind of reference. That said, Tobi still reads a lot like Peter to me. Perhaps too much. Another reason Aaronovitch should return to this book and tell us a little more about Tobi.
Speaking of Peter ... any mentions of Peter, Nightingale and the Folly, of course, caused me to squeal in delight. I didn't expect we would get any of that at all. I certainly didn't expect the Germans/Europe/the world to be watching the Folly so closely, although I should have guessed Nightingale really is that famous after all that Varvara said in the main series. It's amazing how much we learned about some of the background of the main series even though we still don't know exactly what, for instance, those international agreements about limiting the numbers of practitioners and apprentices say.
I also didn't expect we would finally get some useful information on . Tobi's insight, if incomplete, into what went down on the other side of the magical part of ww2 is very much appreciated. And I won't lie, any mentions of the cleansing of the local magical sites actually made me very emotional.
All in all this is a worthwhile read. Its greatest appeal are its characters and the view of something familiar (the magical police procedural we have come to know and love through the main series of novels) through a new lense. The crime plot isn't super tense or thrilling, but it doesn't need to be. It's interesting, a bit creepy, and most of all its perfectly paced to give us time to get to know the setting and the characters. It's like a Lokalkrimi, but written in English, by a British author, and with magic and deer-men.
July 19, 2019
My poor brain is still confused from switching between German and English all the time xD
But I liked Tobias and Vanessa, and I liked the setting (my father being from that area, it gave me some nice flashbacks), and I would love to read more of the White Library!
But I liked Tobias and Vanessa, and I liked the setting (my father being from that area, it gave me some nice flashbacks), and I would love to read more of the White Library!
February 24, 2021
Tobias Winter is a different kind of police officer from Peter Grant. He is, like Peter, part of an organization within the German Federal Criminal Police, Abteilung KDA, that functions like the Folly. So Tobias is a magic cop!
He’s sent to Trier when a body is found at a winery, covered with fungus. Tobias' liaison on the Trier police force is Vanessa Sommer, who’s introduced to the “weird bollocks”, the wider, magical world during the investigation: river spirits, glamours, vestigia, and palm lights (“Lux”).
Toby and Vanessa have an interesting dynamic, and while he’s a very different person than Peter, Toby’s got his own, quirky charm, along with a very dry sense of humour.
I would love to read more stories of Tobias and Vanessa investigating, and Tobias commenting on the differences between his organization and the Folly.
He’s sent to Trier when a body is found at a winery, covered with fungus. Tobias' liaison on the Trier police force is Vanessa Sommer, who’s introduced to the “weird bollocks”, the wider, magical world during the investigation: river spirits, glamours, vestigia, and palm lights (“Lux”).
Toby and Vanessa have an interesting dynamic, and while he’s a very different person than Peter, Toby’s got his own, quirky charm, along with a very dry sense of humour.
I would love to read more stories of Tobias and Vanessa investigating, and Tobias commenting on the differences between his organization and the Folly.
June 19, 2019
Highly enjoyable.
Some random thoughts: the Germans apparently have a better intelligence department than the British, I am relieved that there are no obvious mistakes with the German, less pop culture references (but understandable since B. Aaronovitch does not live here), there seems to be a continuity error (p. 139 last sentence compared to p. 162 lower half, UK hardcover edition).
I am looking forward to a meeting between Tobias and Peter.
Some random thoughts: the Germans apparently have a better intelligence department than the British, I am relieved that there are no obvious mistakes with the German, less pop culture references (but understandable since B. Aaronovitch does not live here), there seems to be a continuity error (p. 139 last sentence compared to p. 162 lower half, UK hardcover edition).
I am looking forward to a meeting between Tobias and Peter.
July 6, 2023
3.5* (english version below)
Ich hätte wirklich nichts gegen einen Fall, der gemeinsam vom Folly und von der KDA bearbeitet wird.
I really wouldn't mind a case being handled jointly by the Folly and the KDA :)
Ich hätte wirklich nichts gegen einen Fall, der gemeinsam vom Folly und von der KDA bearbeitet wird.
I really wouldn't mind a case being handled jointly by the Folly and the KDA :)
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