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

Supernatural detective with a sense of humor

A very English book, so I had to accustom myself to the wording, in which the narrator did a great job of delivering all the appropriate punch lines.
It's about a new graduate from his police internship, that finds himself paired with the wizard of the squad, soon to learn that magic really exists. Peter Grant is now the newest apprentice helping to solve a rash of murders leaving it's victims faceless.
In his new line of work he meets some really interesting characters guaranteed to give the reader a chuckle at times, when they're behaving themselves.
Dresden fans will most likely also like this story.

Brilliant, Fun, with an exceptional Narrator . .

This is a very enjoyable and entertaining series . . . very British . . . with an author that has an exceptional ability to insert details and descriptions so smoothly that the imaginary senses are fired up. The conversations are brilliant.

The undercurrent throughout the storyline is one of a light-hearted humorous observation of life. I love it!

It's the narrator that makes this series come alive with an exceptional range of voices and ability to act. This narrator is a 10 out of 10!

This is a professionally turned out series of audiobooks. When I don't notice mispronounced words, or editing gaffes, then all I experience is the story, so either someone did an excellent job of editing, or no one made any mistakes along the way.

Good Story - ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC NARRATOR!

This book (and hopefully the series) is the perfect combination of sharp, smart writing and pitch-EXCELLENT narration. I've listened to a huge amount of audio books over the years and this is one that stands out as one of the best pairings I've heard. Yes- there are spots that could have lagged a bit but they were saved - no, elevated! - by R Holdbrook-Smith's execution. Oh, and did I mention how often I literally burst out laughing? Good job guys. You both now have another follower! I start book 2 tomorrow.

Thank God for Reviewers

What was one of the most memorable moments of Midnight Riot?

There were many. Favorite is introduction to the Folly and exchanges between Peter and Leslie and Nightingale.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hard to say. Many really good scenes that are funny and stand out in their own rights.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me crack up laughing many times.

Any additional comments?

I would have never found this series had it not been for the rave reviews of other listeners. People seemed to love it, so I gave it a go. These books are amazing! They are so funny and smart and interesting. The characters are complex and wickedly smart; you can connect to them easily. I also learned a great deal about the history of London listening to this series. This book, the first in the series, sets up a great deal of what is to come in the following books. Some things that seem hazy here get cleared up as the series moves along. But there is enough going on here to keep one riveted. This is one of the few books that I have actually listened to repeatedly because it is so nuanced and entertaining.
The narrator is outstanding and the writing is too. Highly recommend.

Had high expectations, but was underwhelmed

This sounded so compelling in the reviews, I wanted it to be so much more. I think I wanted the characters to surprise me, or have some humor, or be more likeable or SOMETHING, quirky maybe? The narration was rather rat-a-tat-tat. Just matter of fact. I also felt the lead character was misogynistic, which is tiring. Many female characters had their body parts described by him in cringe-worthy detail. Yuck. I liked it enough to finish, but won't be reading any more from the series.

Fun series!

Any additional comments?

This is a fun urban fantasy or detective of the supernatural series like the Felix Castor books. It uses the premise that the police hold the responsibility for dealing with magic-related matters, which works charmingly. Aaronovitch has a wide range of characters that all feel true to their backgrounds. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith does a great job bringing them all to life and just making you feel like you're pals with the delightful rookie cop protagonist. Fun, fun, fun!

The First ... Definitely Not The Last

When I first started listening to this first Peter Grant book, I was knocked breathless. Sounds hokey I know, but discovering a truly well -written, engaging book that stretches into a series is like knocking back a shot of fine, honest Russian vodka. Peter Grant always leaves you breathless and wanting more. Maybe that's why it is impossible to contact Aaronovitch. His readers would be proverbially battering down his door wanting to know when the next installment was due out. That's how real a character Aaronovitch has made Police Constable Peter Grant, the 21st century London magician's apprentice whose job it is to investigate supernatural misdeeds in and around that great metropolis, under the tutelage of the sole surviving member of the Metropolitan Police's supernatural division, Inspector Thomas Nightingale. I cannot imagine reading a printed version of this series because Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's narration is the spark that brings this magic-filled London of Aaronovitch's to life. Sit back and enjoy this gem that begins a "give me more!" series. And just in time for the next installment. Trust me when I say that when you've finished the series, it will keep calling you back, and when the siren call comes, everything you try to listen to will be utterly boring until you answer the call and have another listen to a Peter Grant book. This is my third go around. I'll be ready when the next one is released in June, 2016.

Wonderful story, amazing performance!

Loved the intricacy of the plot, the realistically-grounded characters, and a view of London that actually looks like modern London. Great writing elevated even further by a knock-out performance by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith! I want to buy everything he's narrated because he really goes above and beyond, not just reciting the story but breathing (and gasping and shouting and singing) life into it.

wonderful dialogue , extraordinary execution,

super lame plot. great observations, great asides, loved characters, non existent plot..one more chance. maybe

Brilliant, witty, and tremendous fun

“I gave the prescribed Metropolitan Police “first greeting”.
“Oi!” I said “What do you think you’re doing?” ― Ben Aaronovitch, Midnight Riot

“’Conflict resolution,’ said Nightingale, ‘Is this what they teach at Hendon these days?’
‘Yes, sir,’ I said. ‘But don’t worry, they also teach us how to beat people with phone books and the ten best ways to plant evidence.’” ― Ben Aaronovitch, Midnight Riot


First, I love British Urban Fantasy. It is often quirky, normally presented in a dry, witty style, and sometimes simply figuring out the language can give it a while other level of subtle humour not found in “American English” writing. I love it, and Ben Aaronovitch doesn’t disappoint with “Midnight Riot”. Of course, listening to the book rather than simply reading it added a whole other level to my enjoyment. The narration of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is everything I could have wanted and more. His delivery has the level of dry wit, spot-on delivery and subliminal snark that brings a ‘good’ book to the level of ‘brilliant’.

Peter Grant is a London ‘copper’ – just off his two year probationary period as a constable, his lack of ability to actually pay attention to what is going on around him has him scheduled for – basically a fancied up secretary. But one cold night on a scene watch under the West Portico of St. Paul’s at Covent Garden, Peter meets an odd little man in an Edwardian smoking jacket: “…don’t ask me why I know what an Edwardian smoking jacket looks like: let’s just say it has something to do with Doctor Who and leave it at that.” That in itself is weird enough. But the fact that he is a ghost is just a tad over the top, even for a Londoner.

Suddenly, Peter finds himself in a world he never knew existed – where ghosts and goulies, goddesses and monsters all exist just below the everyday hustle and bustle of the crowded city streets. In his new position as assistant and student wizard under the tutelage of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale. Thomas Nightingale, London Detective and Wizard. Well, nobody ever said being a London cop is simple, you know. Now, there are all sorts of odd things going on around Peter – and all of his friends, his family, and his coworkers, as well as the whole population of London, are in more danger than he ever could have imagined.

Peter Grant is an unusual character. Half white, half Somali, Peter suffers the same sorts of issues that any black man in a mostly white force suffers. He likes his job, but his fuzzy grasp on concentration causes him issues – issues that his Probationary partner, Leslie May, has to pick up the slack on. And of course, the oddity of his new position causes a strain for him within the department, as does the bureaucracy inherent in a huge, ancient city such as London.

“As soon as we stopped sleeping with our cousins and built walls, temples and a few decent nightclubs, society became too complex for any one person to grasp all at once, and thus bureaucracy was born. A bureaucracy breaks the complexity down into a series of interlocking systems. You don’t need to know how the systems fit together, or even what function your bit of the system has, you just perform your bit and the whole machine creaks on.”

Midnight Riot is amazingly creative. Ben Aaronovitch takes the trouble to weave in the history and stories of London, all the way back to its very beginnings, Londinium, a settlement established on the current site of the City of London around AD 47. The focus of the story interweaves history and mythology, witchcraft and ghosts, and Mother and Father Thames and their children, the many other waterways of Britain.

As Tim from Temecula says in his Audio review, “It’s as British as Chicken Vindaloo or Soccer Violence.” Of course, as a former Brit, Tim should know – ;-)

Idiosyncratic and wickedly fun, the Peter Grant Series is an absolute blast. I can highly recommend it! Especially if you listen to the Audio Version narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. Awesome!