The second of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series is just as readable as the first. This time Detective Constable (and apprentice wizard) Peter Grant has to track down an unknown force killing jazz musicians, something that’s all too personal as his father is a (failed) jazz legend. This book also begins to sketch in more detail of the world of magic that Peter has been drawn into, with his mentor’s school being discussed and even visited and more magical practitioners being introduced – as well as someone who it looks is being set up as a Long Term Antagonist. I’m enjoying this drip feed of background information which helps flesh out the world. As well as this, the marvellous descriptions of London keep coming, with locations being lovingly described and a real love of the city emerging from every page.
The book’s plot is engaging and intriguing, with two different cases on the go which slowly start to intermingle. We have new characters introduced (my favourite being Somali Ninja Girl) and cameos by characters from the last one. I certainly enjoyed this book and I look forward to the continued adventures of DC Peter Grant, although I do hope that the series is leading up to an endpoint and won’t continue indefinitely.
