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Rivers of London: Rivers of London, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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My name is Peter Grant, and until January, I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). 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 Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in 50 years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden...and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious, vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.

Read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

Review

Magical, mysterious and mesmerising, Rivers of London will have you spellbound ― Total Sci Fi

What would happen if Harry Potter grew up and joined the Fuzz. A hilarious, keenly imagined caper ― Diana Gabaldon

A consummate story of real policing in a vividly real world intersecting the decidedly unreal to marvellous effect. Filled with detail and imagination, the quality of this achievement stands out, making Aaronovitch a name to watch ― Peter F. Hamilton

An engaging mix of magic and police procedural, this is a great kick off to a very promising series as well as the most satisfying fantasy thriller to hit bookshelves in quite some time. Witty, imaginative and gripping ― SFX

Funny and wildly inventive ― Mail on Sunday

A darkly comic read with characters you can't help but like ― The Sunday Express

Masterfully crafted . . . gives the late, great Terry Pratchett a run for his money ― The Sun

Charming, witty, exciting ― Independent

An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups ― The Times

Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there even more than the real London ― Nick Frost

From the Back Cover

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. Then one night I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was already dead but still disturbingly voluble . . . and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

And that, as they say, is where the story really starts.

There's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious, vengeful spirit that's taking ordinary Londoners and twisting them into something awful.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.

'Fresh and original and a wonderful read. I loved it' Charlaine Harris, Sunday Times Number One bestselling author

'A consummate story of real policing in a vividly real world. Filled with detail and imagination, the quality of this achievement stands out, making Aaronovitch a name to watch' Peter F. Hamilton, Sunday Times bestselling author

www.the-folly.com

www.gollancz.co.uk

About the Author

Ben Aaronovitch was born and raised in London and all his work has reflected his abiding fascination and love for what he modestly likes to refer to as the 'Capital of the World'. He works as a bookseller when he is not writing novels and TV scripts.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 9
    Rivers of London
  2. Listening Length
    10 hours and 37 minutes
  3. Author
    Ben Aaronovitch
  4. Narrator
    Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
  5. Audible release date
    8 April 2011
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Orion Publishing Group Limited
  8. ASIN
    B004VWD4I8
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
Next slide of product details

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Product details

Listening Length 10 hours and 37 minutes
Author Ben Aaronovitch
Narrator Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.co.uk Release Date 08 April 2011
Publisher Orion Publishing Group Limited
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B004VWD4I8
Best Sellers Rank 563 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
4 in Supernatural Thrillers
20 in Police Procedural Mysteries
67 in Contemporary Fantasy (Books)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
21,920 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and affectionate, with great characters. They describe the plot as inventive, quirky, and tongue-in-cheek. They also say the storyline is interesting and tenable. Readers praise the writing style as well-written, elegant, and complex. They find the humor funny and smart. Opinions differ on the content, with some finding it well-researched and sophisticated, while others say it lacks a sense of genuine magic.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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ReadabilityHumorStorylineWriting styleCharactersPlotSettingContent
626 customers mention ‘Readability’580 positive46 negative

Customers find the book really enjoyable, well written, and affectionate. They also say the magic is handled well and the book goes down smoothly.

"...Peter is a likeable and relatable main character, and there are plenty of interesting supporting characters...." Read more

"Absolutely, captivating and page gripping, leaving you wanting to read on and on.Will definitely download the next books in the series." Read more

"...Some parts of this books were just fabulous, the imagery is incredible, the idea of Mr Punch re-enacting his stories is downright creepy, and you..." Read more

"...Based in London rather than Manchester it’s a great read and if you like it there’s a whole series of them 5*" Read more

592 customers mention ‘Humor’569 positive23 negative

Customers find the humor in the book funny, smart, and entertaining. They also say it's quirky, full of pop culture references, and interesting facts. Readers describe the book as a very British story with a twist in the plot.

"Loved it! Witty, beautifully written and very different. So enjoyed the historical facts and felt like I learned loads...." Read more

"...But in a good way. It's a well written, easy to read, humorous book with what sounds like a very authentic description of the police force and..." Read more

"Funny and smart - not an ar3e way, in an entertaining way...." Read more

"...What I liked: the twist in the story when you work out the true main plot of the book. That was a pleasant surprise and a fresh take...." Read more

371 customers mention ‘Storyline’275 positive96 negative

Customers find the plot exciting with plenty of twists and turns. They also appreciate the fantasy elements and the mystery. Readers say it makes a good attempt to incorporate adult themes with a supernatural backdrop. They say the series of grisly murders is well done and vaguely plausible.

"...The plot is suitably exciting with plenty of twists and turns, in the tradition of any great detective story...." Read more

"...DWell rounded characters, great plot, brilliant staging/place setting...." Read more

"...the Harry Potter comparisons, it's nothing like that, but it has elements of magic, and it's fun and witty, and you WILL want to order "Moon Over..." Read more

"...What I didn't like; variable quality in terms of the story and I don't feel the author really followed through...." Read more

296 customers mention ‘Writing style’259 positive37 negative

Customers find the writing style genius, with a turn of phrase, real wit, and lovely dialogue. They also say the characters are well rounded, easily believable, and understated and subtle. Readers also mention that the legend is tasteful and elegant, lending depth to the story. They say the supporting characters are all well drawn and add a great deal to the richness of the story, and that the story is well paced and absorbing.

"Loved it! Witty, beautifully written and very different. So enjoyed the historical facts and felt like I learned loads...." Read more

"...But in a good way. It's a well written, easy to read, humorous book with what sounds like a very authentic description of the police force and..." Read more

"...Some parts of this books were just fabulous, the imagery is incredible, the idea of Mr Punch re-enacting his stories is downright creepy, and you..." Read more

"...And, aside from that caveat, it was an excellent story - clever, well paced and absorbing. I certainly want to read the next one." Read more

217 customers mention ‘Characters’190 positive27 negative

Customers find the characters in the book great.

"...The story was compelling and the characters were so believable" Read more

"...Peter is a likeable and relatable main character, and there are plenty of interesting supporting characters...." Read more

"...DWell rounded characters, great plot, brilliant staging/place setting...." Read more

"...Characterisation is good, too, with Lesley and Peter and Nightingale well crafted. Molly is another interesting one....." Read more

190 customers mention ‘Plot’183 positive7 negative

Customers find the plot clever, unique, and page-turning. They also say it's a modern day urban fantasy with a decent magic system. Customers also mention that the book is an interesting alternative and a real page- turner.

"...It's an original idea and well executed. and a very enjoyable read...." Read more

"Absolutely, captivating and page gripping, leaving you wanting to read on and on.Will definitely download the next books in the series." Read more

"...However, the plot is clever enough, complex enough and gruesome enough to justify the 'mystery' tag, and would probably work pretty well just on..." Read more

"Not read a book in years, glad this is a real page turner!" Read more

72 customers mention ‘Setting’72 positive0 negative

Customers find the book gives a great feeling of place with great descriptions of London. They also appreciate the factual and geographical references.

"...DWell rounded characters, great plot, brilliant staging/place setting...." Read more

"...So, yeah, it's good, it's very London, (you will have Google Map in your head all the way through...) and it's really, really different...." Read more

"...His descriptions of London were highly detailed and I attributed this to assisting readers who are not familiar with the history and cityscape of..." Read more

"...Aaronvitch's descriptions of London are remarkably accurate and give a wonderful feel of place...." Read more

144 customers mention ‘Content’91 positive53 negative

Customers are mixed about the content. Some find the book very well researched, detailed, and comprehensive. They also appreciate the mystery at the heart of the book, which sticks to its internal logic. However, some customers feel the book lacks a sense of genuine magic, and some parts are confusing.

"...to read, humorous book with what sounds like a very authentic description of the police force and police procedures...." Read more

"...Characters disappear from the story and there is so much left unanswered - like the fate of a key character...." Read more

"...is clever and probably, if I knew much about the history, very well researched...." Read more

"...tale and I was absorbed from the start - probably because it mixes police procedural (and we already know my penchant for that genre) with the..." Read more

No complaints
4 out of 5 stars
No complaints
I bought a whole bunch of books. All in okay condition and no complaints. Would buy from again :)
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the beautiful and witty writing and how it is embedded in historical facts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2024
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Loved it! Witty, beautifully written and very different. So enjoyed the historical facts and felt like I learned loads. The story was compelling and the characters were so believable
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BookWorm
4.0 out of 5 stars Great fun wizard-detective novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2019
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Do you like modern day detective thrillers? Do you like fantasy? Ben Aaronovitch has managed to combine the two to great effect in this first in a series. The narrator, Peter Grant, is a probationary police constable guarding a crime scene when he is approached by an unusual witness. Nicholas Wallpenny claims to have seen the murder unfold - the only problem is, he's dead. Before long, Peter finds himself working for the Met's own supernatural crimes unit, run by real life wizard and policeman, Inspector Nightingale. A serial killer is on the loose in London and the magical crime fighting duo are in the case.

If that sounds barmy, then you're correct. But in a good way. It's a well written, easy to read, humorous book with what sounds like a very authentic description of the police force and police procedures. Peter is a likeable and relatable main character, and there are plenty of interesting supporting characters. The plot is suitably exciting with plenty of twists and turns, in the tradition of any great detective story. It balances the 'detective' and 'wizard' elements perfectly. In spirit it feels more like a whodunit than a wizard caper, but that's plenty of magical stuff too.

It's an original idea and well executed. and a very enjoyable read. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series and I'd recommend it to others who like either genre.
One person found this helpful
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*Insert pseudonym here....
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant! A great read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 January 2023
Verified Purchase
Funny and smart - not an ar3e way, in an entertaining way. Most books, I can come and go from as my day dictates, but I actually smuggled this one into work so I could keep reading! :D

Well rounded characters, great plot, brilliant staging/place setting. A lovely example of speculative fictional realism (meaning you don't have to to constantly refer to your 'encyclopaedia magica' or need a handy 3 page pull out of maps, family tree's and excerpts from the monster book of monsters that some speculative fiction requires)

The author has a fantastic skill of imparting his knowledge of London (be it an existing passion or via extensive research, it makes no mind to me) cleverly woven into the prose. Rather than him forcing a metaphorical bookmark into the flow of the story, he let's his protagonist Peter, be the brains of the outfit.
To impart factoids via a story without it turning into an info-dump is a very hard thing to do, so HUZZAH to you Mr Aaronovitch! (Unless of course you're powered by the Illuminati, then boo-hiss for cheating!) ;D <3

I know I'm very late to Ben's party, but the upside for me being it's a long series of 8 books (so far...?) for me to binge! I've already bought books 2 & 3 in anticipation. Can't envisage much work getting done over the next few weeks!

NOTE TO THE PUBLISHING TEAM.
The kindle edition has quite a few typo's that need to be addressed, the most obvious being, someone needs to come to a decision about how to spell Mr Wallpenny and stick to it! (Not that it's a personal trigger or anything, but if you're going to opt for double barrelled - the second surname should be, for now and always CAPITALISED! Gerrrrrrrrrrpantpant) Ok, Rant over! XXX
5 people found this helpful
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skb17
3.0 out of 5 stars A sometimes inventive light read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 April 2015
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I came away with quite mixed feelings about this book.

What I liked: the twist in the story when you work out the true main plot of the book. That was a pleasant surprise and a fresh take. I liked it when the story veered into more sinister territory, which it could do at times. I like that it's in London, in my back yard. Some interesting concepts brought up, such as the 'rivers'. I felt like there was going to be an ensemble feeling going to take hold and at times the humour could even remind me of Buffy, which I loved.

What I didn't like; variable quality in terms of the story and I don't feel the author really followed through. Considering it's called the Rivers of London a large portion is not about the rivers. Characters disappear from the story and there is so much left unanswered - like the fate of a key character. It just felt like he lost interest in some areas and never chose to resolve stuff. (Future books may address this, but I'm reviewing this book not future potential.) The author is keen to demonstrate London knowledge to a fault. I really don't need to know what road every location is by and I really don't need to know that there's an Urban Outfitters opposite.

One bit I'm slightly troubled by is that there is a lot of references to African people as the main character is a son of an African. And some are bordering on stereotypes. Light-hearted stuff about African food, to more pointed comments about African women. (Then the rivers are portrayed as having an almost black magic vibe.) When this comes from a writer's own life or intimate knowledge, it seems a bit more acceptable. I'm not sure where this influence comes from from the writer as he isn't African. I don't feel I'm being fair bringing this up - that's why it's fiction it doesn't have to be real. And in fact I dislike books where authors shoehorn their own lives in so blatantly. But something just rubbed at me wanting to know how the author can make some of these references... what's the source/influence? Is it researched and justified, or did he go with just his perceptions? But then I concede that's going into 'behind the scenes', it's not about the book.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Glad I've seen it. Not sure I'd read the next one.
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Nicky Hackwood
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, captivating read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2024
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Absolutely, captivating and page gripping, leaving you wanting to read on and on.

Will definitely download the next books in the series.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Julio Davila Sanchez
5.0 out of 5 stars Una excelente historia de fantasía urbana
Reviewed in Mexico on 7 August 2023
Verified Purchase
Me interese por este título por ser fan de Harry Dresden y la idea de policías mágicos.
Hay una historia policiaca sólida y un mundo nuevo que descubrir.
Aprecio también las pequeñas referencias a Monthy Python.
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Alice Doyle
5.0 out of 5 stars Start of a long friendship
Reviewed in Spain on 22 July 2024
Verified Purchase
Lent my book to a "friend" and never got it back so I needed to rebuild my "Rivers of London" collection. Also a great excuse to update and re-read them. Still a pleasure to read the second, or third, time around.
delivery was also good and the book arrived on time and in good shape. As promised
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Nadine
4.0 out of 5 stars Leuk
Reviewed in Belgium on 29 March 2024
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Na de vele goede recensies keek ik uit naar mijn kennismaking met dit boek. Zoals altijd is het even wennen aan een nieuwe auteur en een nieuwe verhaallijn. Wat echter tegenviel was de print. Soms ontbreekt er een woord, soms zelfs een paragraaf en wordt een andere 2x afgeprint.
En toch denk ik aan het volgende boek in de serie ...
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Neill Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Magic, English Theatre History, and Mystery
Reviewed in Canada on 20 April 2018
Verified Purchase
Peter Grant was a probationary constable in the London Police force. When a man was decapitated Peter and a friend, Lesley May, were assigned to guard the corpse until officers could become available to investigate. The witness who approached Peter with information was apparently a ghost and when Peter went back the next day to look for the witness he met Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale who was not at all surprised that Peter had met a ghost. The next day Peter was assigned to work with DCI Nightingale and began his training in magic and Latin. These activities led him to the magical underground of London with its ghostly remains of old politicians and actors and the personification of the rivers of London. This is a thoroughly enjoyable primer of magic, history of theatre, and geography. I highly recommend it.
One person found this helpful
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K M Idamari
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Terry Pratchett Fans
Reviewed in India on 10 October 2018
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Peter Grant hopes to be a street cop but an encounter with a ghost, while guarding a crime scene late at night, marks him for a more demanding job. He has to broker peace between the rivers, and catch a malevolent spirit while trying to master basic spells.

The tone and style are the book's biggest plus. It's cynical yet hopeful, and the ton of info on the settings makes this first person narration really rich without being boring. Ben is an author whom I can try to emulate. Would love to as well!

I'm definitely grabbing the next one in the series.
2 people found this helpful
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