Original Publication Year: 2011
Genre(s): Urban Fantasy
Series: Peter Grant #2, Book
1 Review
Awards: None
Format: Audio (from Audible)
Narrated by: Kobna
Holdbrook-Smith
This was a series that I
read last year that convinced me that I actually do enjoy Urban Fantasy. It won me over with its mash-up of
mystery/police procedural/ paranormal elements, its utterly charming characters
and its witty humor. This is the second
book in the series and Peter gets sucked into his Dad’s world when Jazz
musicians around London start dying mysteriously after gigs.
This book has fewer deity
diplomacy issues and focuses on the mystery of the musicians. The solution to this mystery is very unique and
creative. The book also introduces some
really interesting developments that were not resolved and likely will be
recurring issues in future books. We get
a glimpse into the state of British wizardry before World War II either killed
them all or drove them crazy, leaving Nightingale as last man standing. I think this whole storyline has a lot of
potential and it would be cool if it increases Nightingale’s role further.
As per usual the characters are
great. Peter has a great voice and is
this lovely mixture of idealism and honor and cynicism mostly directed at police
bureaucracy and the stupidity of the human race.
“It’s a truism in policing that witnesses and statements are fine, but nothing beats empirical physical evidence. Actually it isn’t a truism because most policemen think the word ‘empirical’ is something to do with Darth Vader, but it damn well should be.”
“If you just warn people, they often simply ignore you. But if you ask them a question, then they have to think about it. And once they start to think about the consequences, they almost always calm down.
Unless they're drunk, of course.
Or stoned.
Or aged between fourteen and twenty-one.
Or Glaswegian.”
“Every male in the world thinks he's an excellent driver. Every copper who's ever had to pick an eyeball out of a puddle knows that most of them are kidding themselves.”
The way Aaronovitch writes the
police and the policing, right down to the cynicism, feels very authentic and makes
me curious if it is based on experience or research and imagination. Nightingale is laid up for most of this book
so is not present as much as I’d like but he and Peter’s relationship as master
and apprentice is developing and even some affection is beginning to show.
“For a terrifying moment I thought he was going to hug me, but fortunately we both remembered we were English just in time. Still, it was a close call.”
Finally, Leslie makes a few short
appearances and she is often in Peter’s mind.
They are dealing with devastating injury she suffered in the first book
and I really like that it is addressed and that Peter remains a good friend to
her. In fact there is a development with
Leslie towards at the very end of the book which also promises some interesting
directions in future books.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is a
terrific narrator and really captures Peter’s voice and handles the humor very well. I definitely recommend the
audio.
FINAL VERDICT: This second book
in the series continues to develop the characters in interesting ways, has a
creative mystery story of its own and introduces some very intriguing through
plot lines. Part of me wants to read the
rest now but the other part doesn’t want to catch up and have no more books to
read. 4 out of 5 Stars.
P.S. I kind of hate the U.S. covers. I just think the silhouette is weird. What do you think?
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