Whispers Under Ground

Peter Grant, Book 3

By: Ben Aaronovitch

Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

It begins with a dead body at the far end of Baker Street tube station, all that remains of American exchange student James Gallagher - and the victim's wealthy, politically powerful family is understandably eager to get to the bottom of the gruesome murder. The trouble is, the bottom - if it exists at all - is deeper and more unnatural than anyone suspects...except, that is, for London constable and sorcerer's apprentice Peter Grant. With Inspector Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, tied up in the hunt for the rogue magician known as "the Faceless Man", it's up to Peter to plumb the haunted depths of the oldest, largest, and - as of now - deadliest subway system in the world.

At least he won't be alone. No, the FBI has sent over a crack agent to help. She's young, ambitious, beautiful...and a born-again Christian apt to view any magic as the work of the devil. Oh yeah - that's going to go well.

©2012 Ben Aaronvitch (P)2012 Tantor

Just Keeps Getting Better

This third book in the Peter Grant series is the best so far. Peter now has a friend and co-worker in the Folly, Constable Lesley May (former victim of magic and now learning to be a practitioner). While their boss Nightingale is searching for the illegally trained and unlicensed wizards in Britain in order to catch the "Faceless Man," Peter and Lesley encounter ghosts, semi-feys, fairies, elves, goblins, River spirits, a rogue FBI agent from the US, and all the regular (ordinary?) characters.

As usual, the story is told with great panache, wit, and humor, providing many laugh-out-loud moments. Author Ben Aaronovitch displays in these books an almost unbelievable breadth of imagination, and delights me when he comes up with a really fresh twist on the existence and coexistence of magical and non-magical elements in current-day London. His inventiveness and humor sometimes call to mind the very different, but also wildly inventive, humor of Jasper Fforde in the Thursday Next novels.

I am already impatient for the next installment of Peter Grant's adventures. Long may he live to have many, many more.

Book 3. Now we are getting somewhere!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this is a great read and the narrarator does a bang up job!

What other book might you compare Whispers Under Ground to and why?

Kind of Neal Gaiman meets Jim Butcher with a little Harry Potter thrown in for flavor.

Have you listened to any of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narrator performed the other two books in this series and continues to do a great job. I would listen to this guy on any other books gladly.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The impact of the damages on Leslie May was touching. It also shows that sometimes you have to pay a price for the good guys to win.

Any additional comments?

The series has steadily improved so far. I look forward to the next book which is availabble in the UK but not here (BOO!).

Binge listened and not sick of it

Any additional comments?

The Peter Grant collection a paranormal detective series which takes place in central London. This assembly is a fun listen by a sci-fi author with Dr. Who cred. The stories are interesting with sharp wit, dry British humor, and can withstand ridiculous behaviors like binge listening. I have binge listened to the first three books, and I still love this series. If you like collections like The Dresden Files, you will enjoy this selection. Furthermore, the narrations are a perfect match for the writing. Worth the listen. Highly recommend.

Fantastic

I do about 35 audio books a year. Love this series. This is my 3rd book in 4 days.

awesome in all respects

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is so good at doing all the voices that he should really be paid as at least 10 different actors.

Ben Aaronovitch weaves a compellingly bizarre story with wit and the thousands of superfluous details that place the reader firmly in his world.

Peter Grant the next generation Harry Dresden

Peter Grant Magician / detective in training in a new to me paranormal series. It delivers another take on the paranormal. The main character Peter Grant is a just out of the academy policeman who winds up on the paranormal squad after meeting a ghost as a witness to a crime. This is the third book. The series continues to be fascinating. The reader is Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. He does an excellent job. He "is" Peter Grant. Just as James Marsters "is" Harry Dresden.

Outta the park again

Another excellent book by Aaronovitch. The series keeps getting better and better. It's kind of like the X-Files mixed with Hogwarts. I can't wait to read the next one.

Wonderful listen

I love this narrator and the story is great! The story is very immersive and interesting.

Really enjoying these

Fun, love the voices, great stories. Every once in a while I get bogged down in explanations, but honestly, I enjoy learning about police procedures and their hypothetical applications in magical scenarios. My kind of whodunit!

Fantastic

The Rivers of London series is terrific in every way and the narrator is perfect for it. Can’t recommend highly enough.