Moon Over Soho

Peter Grant, Book 2

By: Ben Aaronovitch

Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Body and soul. The song. That's what London constable and sorcerer's apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho's 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body - a sure sign that something about the man's death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul - they're also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace - one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard "Lord" Grant - otherwise known as Peter's dear old dad.

©2011 Ben Aaronvitch (P)2012 Tantor

Not quite as good as the first, but still hooked

While I enjoyed this book quite a bit, I didn’t feel it was as strong as the first instalment, especially because of Nightingale’s more subdued role and the very cruel fate that had befallen Lesley, who had endeared herself to me in the first book. I did very much enjoy watching Peters development as a character and a sorcerer’s apprentice, as well as learning more about his family, especially his father. Meanwhile, the narration was excellent, and I am in love with Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s voice. He really brings Peter to life, while he also excels at voicing the female characters without making them sound ridiculous… something that otherwise good male narrators often have trouble pulling off.

Wish I could give the performance 10 stars

The story is entertaining, but what really makes this book, like the one before it, is Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. There's nothing like a perfect match of story and narrator, and this is definitely one of those cases. I don't know how Holdbrook-Smith makes everything seem so effortless, but it's a real pleasure. Combine that with just enough urban fantasy and a lot of humor and clever writing, and you have a winner. I rarely feel compelled to listen to the next book in a series right away, but I'm back to buy #3 immediately after finishing this one.

Couldn't put it down.

This was a perfectly paced tale that pulled me in so I kept listening through cleaning half my house. Finished it in around 30 hours only because I had to sleep and my husband insisted on talking to me. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith did an excellent job reading - his pace matched the writing, his voices were nearly all exactly as I might have pictured them, and he slid from one to another with impressive smoothness. I normally don't like listening to people read things, but I almost think I would prefer to listen to all the rest of the Rivers of London books if he has done them all.

Let the Jazz Police arrest you

I truly enjoyed this book. Our quirky, magical Deputy Constable becomes the Jazz Police in the sequel to Midnight Riot. Peter Grant, self believed ladies man, humorously navigates some rather awkward romantic relationships with magical creatures amongst his regular police work duties. His conclusion, he creates a new rule for himself, don't date anyone with more magic than yourself.

While Peter does seem to get easily sidetracked by the ladies, he has two cases that intersect. One is of Jazz musicians that seem to be dying of an unheard of, until now, magical cause. This takes him and the healing Nightingale into discovering there may be more wizards in London than Nightingale knew of. This is of some surprise since Nightingale thought he was the last. We get the pleasure of exploring Nightingale's past, schooling, his time during World War II, and his recovery from it.

There are some fantastic jazz references in this book, although, Peter does have an unfair advantage since his father is the somewhat famous Lord Grant of the London Jazz scene. In this version with Kobna Holdbrook-Smith as the narrator you even get to hear some snippets of the pieces mentioned. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is a fantastic narrator, a favorite of mine. I recommend listening to it if you have a chance.

I mentioned there is a bit of romance in this book. There is some profanity and some sexually explicit material but it is not the focus of the story nor the bulk of it. If you read the first book, it has more than the last but I wouldn't shelve it under erotic fiction by any stretch of the imagination.

Loved this storyline!

The performance is much improved over the first book so I think he has settled into it. I love the Jazz theme and the story lines travelogue explanations of London as I would never know it.

Decent Follow-up

I continued to enjoy the story. didn't see the end coming until it happened. glad he didn't just kill the big bad guy in one book. the parts where he reads the girl's part are really hard to understand which makes sense given what happened to her In book one.

Soho is fun!

Peter our Brit cop that is still learning about the X-files and his own magic, continues to try to solve crime and keep up with his new crazy world! Narrator is spot on. Story is funny and intense. On to the next one!

So I am hooked...

The first in the series was better in terms of storyline, this book seemed to be a bit unclear which of the competing story lines was the ‘main’ one, and I have to admit I found the ending a bit abrupt. All that said I have listened to this book twice so it is gripping. I have already bought book three and am off to listen to it. I read some negative reviews of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith in regards to the first book but I have to say I thoroughly enjoy his narration.

Moonlight Magic more than Amusing

Book 2 in Peter Grant's career progression is both poignant and funny. The light touch on heavy issues makes them paletteable. I'll be on to book 3 soon.

So glad I found this!

Great job Ben Aaronovitch!! Super fun, fantastical series! I am enjoying every minute! From the great narration (thank you Kobna Holdbrook-Smith!) To the fun story line- a wonderful mash-up of fantasy, mystery and police procedural, all set in London ( which is the icing on my cake)!!!! I've got a lot to catch up on!! Keep them coming!