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

Narrator is amazing!

I liked the book but it is the narrator who brings it alive. I can't recommend this series enough for those who like magic, London and quirky mysteries with a good dose of humor.

Quirky funky smooth adult wizard book

Book 3 and still strong . By now most writers stare to get into a rut but not this guy.
River goddesses and gods, fair people , possessed artists. All to the rhythm of some easygoing jazz
well constructed, consistent characters, unlikely but believable plots.
Keep on rolling man

I want this series to go on forever..

This is not only a terrific and creative series of stories: I can't be sure I'd like the books so much, were they not narrated by Kobna Holbrook-Smith. It's as though the author (Ben Aaronovitch) was channeling the narrator. His fit to the main character/narrator is uncanny. And of course, brilliant.
Brilliant story as well, of course!

Another fun romp from Aaronovitch

First, I have a critique of the Publisher's Summary. Yes, an American FBI agent is involved in this story. Yes, at one point she does protest "blasphemy", but her religious leanings really don't figure in the story.

That over with, Peter, Leslie, and Nightingale become involved in the investigation of the murder of an art student who happens to be the son of a prominent US Senator (hence the involvement of the FBI). As the murder happened in a subway tunnel, Peter and company get to head underground...way underground.

The pacing of the plot is excellent, as usual. The only fly in the ointment of Holdbrook-Smith's otherwise spot-on narration is Agent Reynolds' voice.

If you're a fan of the Dresden Files, you'll love the Peter Grant series.

Great series, amazing narrator

They picked the perfect narrator for this series! I've read all the books, and owned the first audiobook, but had a hankering for a re-read and decided to buy the rest of the series on audio. The voice actor does a brilliant job of bring the characters to life, from giving Leslie just enough of a speech impediment to be true to the character without being unintelligible or insulting, to handling most of the accents and emotions with ease. Very enjoyable listen, for one of my favorite urban fantasies series.

Fantastic!

Found this series 3 days ago and have been doing a book a day since. Incredibly well put together, love the music between chapters and all of the characters. Extra points for the history and architecture!

OUTSTANDING

I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this series. The stories are so amazing and interesting. I think Ben Aaronovitch has done an amazing job with these stories. The performance by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is the absolute best. I am so looking forward to the next in this series.

Fun Series

I'm enjoying this series! I appreciate that the chapters are shorter in this third installment. I wish the US policing system had the ethics Peter Grant purports!

better then #2

I enjoyed book #1. But I was disappointed with book #2. This book brings back the enjoyment of the series. I liked bringing back Leslie. I could understand Nightingale not being in book 2, after all he got shot. But I felt he should've had a bit more prescence in this book. As Nightingale was presented in book #1, I don't think he would have let Grant have so much lack of supervision. I was also annoyed by this. On the one hand Nightingale stresses strict magical form. On the other, Grant states how he's altering those forms. Nightingale just seems to accept it. He seems so apethetic that it's hard to believe he fought in WWII. He had to have done something to earn and keep his police rank. I hope Nightingale is a bit stronger in future books.

Great story with London history add-on

Loved the characters and the murders mystery along with the magic - but what really made this book was the London history