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

Fun and funny book

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It's funny and brilliant. Although my logical left brain told me every premise in the book is beyond ridiculous, I found myself holding out my hand and thinking "lux!" Just in case, ya know, I might actually feel a small tingle.

Not a deep, thought-provoking story. Just fun and silly and completely captivating.

Original story with excellent narration

I’m looking forward to listening to the next book in the series. The narration was outstanding and brought the story to life.

kobna Holbrooke Smith is talented and cheeky

Holebrooke-Smith brings PC Peter Grant to life. his timing and caidance are perfect. speeding up as the story picks up and the cheeky little asides throughout the book are impossible not to laugh at. I am a big fan of this whole series which focuses much more on the policing than flashy magic tricks. having a narrator with limited power in a magical world is spot on. It brings a touch of realism to an otherwise mystical world.

this is a great buy. well worth it.

A fun first adventure!

I was very pleased with this book and I can’t wait to explore more of the world of Peter Grant. It reminds me a bit of The Dresden Files but set in London. Highly recommend to get your urban fantasy fix.

Multicultural Masterpiece

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had wit, social commentary and fantasy in proper proportion.

A different kind of police procedural

Peter Grant has come to the end of his two years as a probationary constable with the Metropolitan Police Service, and is about to get his permanent assignment. He desperately hopes to avoid the Case Progression Unit, i.e., the unit that does the paper work so real cops don't have to. His chances aren't looking good.

Then on what would likely be one of his last shifts as a constable on the street, he guards the scene of a seemingly inexplicable murder, he meets an unexpected and potentially valuable witness: a ghost.

This brings him to the attention of Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who heads up a unit Peter had no idea existed. Specifically, Nightingale heads of the unit that deals with magic, ghosts, the undead, and the genii loci of the surrounding area. Nightingale decides that Peter's ability to see ghosts and sense magical residue makes him a promising apprentice wizard--the first new apprentice in decades.

After some hesitation, Peter decides to seize this chance to escape assignment to the Case Progression Unit. It's not long before he's chasing the malevolent spirit of a dead frustrated actor, attempting to negotiate a peace between a god and goddess of the Thames who are on the brink of war with each other, and learning how the Metropolitan Police Service in the early 21st century deals with a nest of vampires.

And of course, there's the little matter of his lessons in magic, and discovering the tricky aspects of doing magic in the presence of modern technology you'd like to continue using afterwards.

Peter Grant is a thoroughly likable character, who loves his city and who is proud of his police service without being either sloppy or macho about it. He and the London he lives in also reflect the complexity and diversity of the 21st century city, not the 19th century city.

Recommended.

I bought this book.

Fun, campy story with irresistible narration

What about Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s performance did you like?

Nice spectrum from sexy to snarky

Any additional comments?

Great fun! It ended suddenly and I had to look at the print ending while in the bookstore to make sure my audiobook wasn't messed up. But the second book picked up nicely and was more of the same fun. Can't wait for #3.

A great trip through London, contemporary and hist

Would you listen to Midnight Riot again? Why?

Well, I don't usually relisten to or reread books -- just too many out there! But I certainly enjoyed it and would recommend it to others! Fun mix of police procedural, supernatural mystery, and a good dose of wry British humor (aimed mainly at police procedures, British social norms, and the hard fate of the low man on the totem pole).

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hard not to like the main character best, since we're inside his head and suffering his fate along with him... Plus, I like that he's a black Londoner and comfortable commenting from time to time on the pros and cons of that...

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

Haven't, but this is quite great -- a range of types, eras, and nationalities represented here, and he gives them all realistic and evocative voices/embodiments without its becoming distracting or artificial. It helps remind you where/when you are and what groups you're dealing with (since some are cockney, some of African origin, etc.).

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

No, but there are plenty of gripping scenes.

Any additional comments?

Just a tip to people who are sensitive to mouth noises -- this is full of them. Not just the normal breaths or clicks that some people naturally have (or where breathlessness is appropriate to the scene), but even throat-clearing and swallows that there was no earthly reason not to edit out! Will have to see if the production company did a bit better with later books, but this was pretty striking -- luckily the books is engrossing enough to get one past it.

A great story and an even better narrator!

Kobna Holbrook-Smith seems to born to narrate this book and be Peter Grant. read it!

very enjoyable

fast paced, with likable characters and strong world building. obviously a love letter to London and her history