By Ben Aaronovitch.
My name is Peter Grant, and I used to be a probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth.
My story really begins when I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was already dead…
Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in London’s Metropolitan Police. After taking a statement from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost, Peter comes to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.
Suddenly, 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.
A really original story mixing policing with the hunt for what is essentially a serial killer, but with magic and fantasy where the rivers of London have human forms; Thames, Tyburn, Fleet, etc, the Met Police has a ‘magic squad’ and ghosts, vampires plus whatever Molly is (you have to read it).
Loosely based on Mr Punch from Punch and Judy fame there is a lot of humour and mystery to entertain the reader and keep the book moving at a fast pace. It’s also quite accurate in terms of the way it portrays how the police work (I think). I think the author spoken to someone with a lot of insider knowledge, due to the terminology.
Likeable characters and familiar to anyone who knows the area of Covent Garden. A great crime story.
