Midnight Riot

Rivers of London, Book 1

By: Ben Aaronovitch

Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Probationary constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London's Metropolitan Police. Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit, where the biggest threat he'll face is a paper cut. But Peter's prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder, when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost. Peter's ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.

Now, as a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.

©2011 Ben Aaronvitch (P)2012 Tantor

Great book

This author has wit and knows how to keep your interest. An excellent read by a good narrator.

I didn't like it

I'm not super familiar with British slang, which is part of the reason I didn't like this book. the other reason is the story just wasn't entertaining to me. it was hard to follow and seemed gimmicky at times. people accepted magic too much and it seemed rushed. some people may like this book I however didn't.

All around entertaining

A friend turned me on to this series and I think it might have been thre nicest thing someone has ever done for me. Ben's and Kobna's talents combined make this my favorite audio book ever!

Perfect match of narrator to story

I loved it! I couldn't stop listening and I want more. Thank goodness it's a series. The narrator took this to the next level. He was perfect as the self-deprecating young police constable Peter Grant. Then, he topped it by creating completely different voices for each of the characters. He is without doubt one of the best narrators I've listened to.

So amazing!

The performance is really what sold it for me. The plot? Pretty solid. The world building? Again, decent. But Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s narration? FLAWLESS.

Charming, hilarious and perfect!

I’ve loved audiobooks my whole life, but this is the first I’ve ever encountered where the text is so genuinely enhanced by the narration. Holdbrook-Smith gives Peter Grant a degree of grit, geekery and youthful exuberance that truly adds something above & beyond the words... and the words are already great to start with. This story is rather graphically violent so if that’s not your jam, you may want to skip to the third book in the series where Peter starts to mature a bit more, but don’t skip the series as a whole! The books are absolutely delightful and enough context is given that you can follow later plots without getting lost.

Not as exciting as I'd hoped.

I found the reader dull, story hard to follow. unfortunately, not the book for me.

Original and thoroughly entertaining

This is a great fusion on mystery/police procedural combined with gritty and witty urban fantasy. I loved the protagonist and the supporting cast, all brought vividly to life by gifted actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. There is wonderfully wry and acerbic running commentary from our hero Peter Grant.

interesting story based in London with magic.

an interesting story based on London with magic added. i enjoyed it especially because i spent several years living there in my youth.

light hearted for a story with murder and mayhem. Dark but not depressing.

Very Entertaining

The author is English with all of the wonderful sarcastic English humor.

The story is smart and fresh. If you like The Dresden Files, you will like Midnight Riot. The main character is brilliant and lost at the same time, which is understandable when he stumbles into a world (figuratively, not literally) that only existed in fairy tales.

The setting is London today. The author does a good job in merging magic, Grimm's Fairy Tales, and everyday modern living.

I am looking forward to the rest of the series.