ian Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 "My name is Peter Grant. Until January I was just another 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 only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Lesley May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was dead, but distrubingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Chief Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England. And that, as they say, is where the story begins." I picked this up at my local library. This book is a great deal of fun, well written in an easy, page-turning style, with a good mix of action and humour. Anything with a wizard in it is obviously going to be compared to HP, but this manages to tackle that problem early on (in fact on the cover), so once that's out the way, you can just enjoy. The themes are more adult than HP, so beware of giving this to younger teens. The story starts as outlined in the sleeve notes I copied above and from then progresses as Peter attempts to simultaneously train as a wizard/police officer, track a murderer and solve a problem between warring river spirits. My only criticism is that the inital chapters where Peter goes from an ordinary PC to being told that not only does magic really exist, but that he is a trainee wizard, go a little too quickly. I would have liked a bit more disbelief to make it more beleivable! But all in all, I would give this 4 out of 5, and will now need to find the second book in the series " Moon over Soho" Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnbirduk Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Wow, why did you stop I wanted to read more, it is a long time since an opening paragraph inspired me that much, it is now going on my wish list. Many thanks for this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted September 6, 2011 Author Share Posted September 6, 2011 I copied that from the inside sleeve notes - there was a little more, but I got tired of copying! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I have read this and the second one and am desperate for the next instalment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 I started this one this week and despite only being 100 pages in, I'm loving it. He has such a straight forward writing style that it's very easy to immerse yourself in the story and I love the dead pan humour running throughout. Echoes of Pratchett and Stroud. I can't wait to snatch my next half hour of reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie P Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Not usually a fan of this type of book but something is drawing me to it, you have sold it to me! Yet another on my growing TBR list! Andie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreader Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I've just finished reading this book and I want to read the next two books in the series as well. The water nymphs and the gods of the river seem unique in the way that they are portrayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanananah Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 I'm getting this and Moon Over Soho for my birthday (next month) and the more I read about them the more I want to read them now! But I suppose I'm just gonna have to wait a few more weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodyNine Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Tis a good book, well written and entertaning. I will read the second installment soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Quite a few people at work have recommended this so might just have to invest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Just picked this up, currently £1.99 for Kindle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I've bought a copy of this, but haven't read it yet. I knew (in passing) the guy the book is dedicated to. It was quite a surpirse to read his name at the beginning of the book whilst standing in Smiths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 I read this a couple of weeks ago, and I really enjoyed it! A proper detective story with a magical and paranormal twist, and it rattles along at a great pace, and it's funny and original in its own way. As always with any sort of mystery, I like to see if I can figure out where the plot is going early on, and I did get the theme of the murder but not the culprit, although I loved how that was revealed as it was very intriguing to read. As always with a first book in a new fantasy series, there has to be some introduction to both the characters and the world the author is creating, but I thought this was done really well, blended throughout the story, and never felt like it was being shoe-horned in. I will definitely be coming back to the series, and have the next two books on my wishlist already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 (edited) I'm clearly in the minority but I wasn't a huge fan of it. It started off great, and I loved the fun style at the start and the quirkiness of it, but after a while it started to irritate me a little. I never actually realised this before, but I think that I don't particularly like humor in fiction. It's the same reason why I didn't like the first in the Jasper Forde series that I tried - which Rivers of London actually reminded me of while I was reading it. I'm not a miserable cow (honest ) and it kind of took me by surprise to realise that that is what I don't like. I don't mind when characters say or do funny things, but it seems that when there is a humorous tone through the whole book that it grates on me. Go figure! Edited November 15, 2012 by bobblybear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I sat in Russell Square Gardens eating my lunch today trying to work out which of the buildings on the south side is the Folly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I used to go to Russell Square Gardens every day when I was in London last year for a week. It was great place to relax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 I've now read all 3 of these books and really enjoyed them. They are not what I would usually read but managed to get hooked! I do hope that there will be more in this series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 ^ Broken Homes is out (in hardback) at the end of June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintmark Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 ^ Broken Homes is out (in hardback) at the end of June. Good news as the first three were really impressive and original imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookie Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I really liked this one and have got the next instalment on my wish list and I'm hoping to have enough money for it soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakey Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I've had this one on my wishlist for a while and managed to get it for my Kindle, the eBook is only £1.99 at the moment from Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rivers-London-Peter-Grant-ebook/dp/B004K1EC1S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1363201781&sr=8-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 (edited) An absolute bargain for anyone who hasn't got them already, but you can currently get the Rivers of London trilogy from The Book People for just £4.99! Edited May 29, 2013 by Raven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Curious about this series, I have the first one in my TBR right now, maybe I will read a couple of pages tonight.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 Curious about this series, I have the first one in my TBR right now, maybe I will read a couple of pages tonight.... I think you really should read the book, it's sounds really great and a lot of people on here seem to have enjoyed it a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted May 30, 2013 Share Posted May 30, 2013 I think they're great and it is the characters and the detailed London background that makes them for me. The fourth book, Broken Homes, is out next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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