ICYMI: Ben Aaronovitch Interview with Hampshire Libraries


Today we wanted to share with you the interview Ben Aaronovitch did with Hampshire Libraries a couple of weeks ago.

Ben’s latest novel is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, the ninth Rivers of London novel. It’s out now in paperback, published by Gollancz/Orion (UK) and DAW Books (North America).

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale

in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

First 3 Rivers of London Novels Available once again in North America!


We’re very happy to report that the first three novels in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, internationally-bestselling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series are available in print once again in North America! The new editions of RIVERS OF LONDON (formerly MIDNIGHT RIOT), MOON OVER SOHO and WHISPERS UNDERGROUND are published by JABberwocky.

Here’s the synopsis for book one (which uses the 10th anniversary text)…

Restored to its original British title Rivers of London, this Author’s Preferred Edition includes revised text never before seen by US readers and a new introduction by the author.

My name is Peter Grant and until recently I was just another probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right thinking people as the Metropolitan Police and by everyone else as the filth. My only concerns in life were avoiding a transfer to the Case Progression Unit – We do paperwork so other coppers don’t have to – and where to get a hot coffee while on late shift. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was dead, but disturbingly voluble and that brought me to the attention Chief Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in Britain.

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

Now I’m in plain clothes and the first apprentice wizard in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated. Now I’m dealing with nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the River Thames and digging up graves in Covent Garden – and that’s just the routine stuff.

Because 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 fallen to me to bring order out of chaos – or die trying. Which, I don’t mind telling you, would involve a hell of a lot of paperwork.

The fourth and following novels are published in North America by DAW Books; the novellas are published in North America by Subterranean Press. In the UK, all of the books are published by Gollancz/Orion.

Here are just a few of the great reviews these novels have received so far…

‘It is smart, funny and filled with oddness.’ — Terry Brooks on RIVERS OF LONDON

‘[F]resh and original and a wonderful read. I loved it.’ — Charlaine Harris on RIVERS OF LONDON

‘In this fast-paced paranormal police procedural, Aaronovitch introduces Peter Grant, a rookie cop who can see ghosts. This unusual talent saves him from a potential life of office work when Chief Insp. Thomas Nightingale sends him for wizard training. Britain’s police force has long known of the supernatural, and Grant is to assist Nightingale in solving many of London’s magical problems—most notably, the mysterious string of violent attacks that tend to end with the perpetrator’s face falling off. As the brutal epidemic spreads, Grant must race to finish his magic lessons and solve an ages-long dispute between the rivers of Britain. Though the novel sometimes feels just a little too jam-packed with plot points and adventures, it’s witty, fun, and full of vivid characters, and the plot twists will keep even seasoned mystery fans guessing.’ — Publishers Weekly on RIVERS OF LONDON

‘… thoroughly entertaining… An engaging (if occasionally violent) 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.’ — SFX on RIVERS OF LONDON

‘… sweet relief for readers allergic to cliché.’ — Locus on RIVERS OF LONDON

‘Filled with detail and imagination, the quality of this achievement stands out…’ — Peter F. Hamilton on RIVERS OF LONDON

‘The excitement and entertainment hasn’t stopped in the slightest… this book once again blew my mind, and kept me reading well into the late night/early morning. You needn’t pick up RIVERS OF LONDON, Aaronovitch’s first in this series, but you’d regret it by the time you got to the end of MOON OVER SOHO and found out how good it was.’ — Fantasy Book Review

MOON OVER SOHO is a gripping continuation of RIVER OF LONDON’s well executed blend of police-procedural and fantasy with a good splash of horror thrown in. This is urban fantasy done with a loving attention to detail and enlivened by an ever present wit making this series a must-read for anyone who likes their fantasy with a strong edge of realism.’ — SF Book Reviews

‘A fantastic follow-up to MIDNIGHT RIOT. Aaronovitch does a great job of bringing even minor characters to life. One of Grant’s fellow cops, Leslie, plays a minor role throughout the story – but her involvement is an emotional cornerstone that brings a surprisingly bittersweet element into play… MOON OVER SOHO is an excellent addition to the paranormal police genre.’ — Examiner

‘One of the most refreshing things about former Doctor Who writer Aaronvitch’s Rivers of London series of magical procedurals is that they are blessedly free of manufactured rivalries. Instead, Police Constable (and freshly minted wizard) Peter Grant works for a supernatural branch of the London police department that is more interested in solving crimes than creating drama. In Grant’s third outing (after MOON OVER SOHO), he gets called in to help with a magic-linked murder at an Underground station. The victim turns out to be the son of a U.S. senator, with a sketchy, not-quite-human roommate. To solve the murder, Grant and his associates, including disfigured fellow magician Lesley May and trigger-happy FBI agent Kimberley Reynolds, plumb the city’s depths as well as its secret history. This fast, engrossing novel is enjoyable, cheerful, and accessible to new readers.’ — Publishers Weekly on WHISPERS UNDEFGROUND

‘… the Peter Grant novels by Ben Aaronovitch are a great way to feel like you’re actually visiting the city by the Thames… Ben Aaronovitch writes some of the funniest prose in current fantasy. These books are extremely entertaining, mainly because narrator Peter Grant has a hilarious voice and a sly sense of humor… quirkily effective prose and dry humor, making it a pure pleasure to read… I’m usually not a big fan of urban fantasy, but this series is so much fun that I always look forward to the next installment. If you’re looking for a fast-moving, entertaining urban fantasy that’ll make you feel like you’re visiting London vicariously this summer, pick up series opener MIDNIGHT RIOT / RIVERS OF LONDON. And if you’ve already read the first two books, you’ll probably be glad to hear that the newest installment WHISPERS UNDER GROUND is just as good.’ — Tor.com

‘The quality of the writing is superb with an instantly engaging style and subtle humour that makes reading the novel a real joy and almost impossible to resist… The ending is pretty dramatic and very much a seat-of-your-pants cliff hanger that really does leave you wanting more, I can’t wait to read more in the life of Peter Grant.’ 5/5 — SF Book Reviews on WHISPERS UNDERGROUND

‘The prose is witty, the plot clever and the characters incredibly likeable…’ — Time Out on WHISPERS UNDERGROUND

‘The voice is persuasive and funny as all get-out, and the reader is engaged with the narrative from the very first page. Aaronovitch has written a diverse cast of characters who all feel like real people with their own specific motivations. This book is simply wonderful.’ — RT Book Reviews on WHISPERS UNDERGROUND

Estonian Edition of RIVERS OF LONDON Out Now!


Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, internationally-bestselling RIVERS OF LONDON is now available in Estonia! Published by Tänapäev as LONDONI JÕED, it was translated by Sash Veelma. Here’s the synopsis…

Katseajal konstaabel Peter Grant unistab kohast Londoni Metropolitan Police’i mõrvarühmas, kuid ülemus plaanib ta paraku määrata hoopis eeluurimisosakonda, kui suurima ohuna varitseb võimalus paberiga sisse lõigata.

Elu teeb aga ootamatu pöörde, kui otse Kuningliku Ooperi kõrval toimub mõistatuslik mõrv ja Peter kohtub saatuse tahtel olulise tunnistajaga – kes osutub kummituseks. Pentsik juhtum tõmbab talle peainspektor Thomas Nightingale’i tähelepanu. Nightingale juhib Londoni politsei osakonda, mis uurib kuritegusid, mis ei mahu kaine mõistusega selgitatavatesse raamidesse, osakonda, millesse kuni Peteri tulekuni kuulus vaid tema üksi.

Nüüd, kui Londonist tabab kummaline seletamatu vägivalla ja metsikute mõrvade laine, sukeldub Peter maailma, kus surelike seas kõnnivad jõevaimud ja vampiirid, kummitused ning ‒ jah, isegi võlurid!

„Londoni jõed“ avab Inglismaal tänaseks juba kultussarjaks kujunenud lustaka ja kaasahaarava krimilugude sarja, mis viib lugeja peadpööritavale retkel läbi tänapäevase ja ajaloolise Londoni ning suudab üllatada ikka ja jälle, pannes su samal ajal kõva häälega naerma!

The novel is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by JABberwocky, and ever-more widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

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.

The latest novel (#9) in the series is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS (published by Orion in the UK, DAW Books in North America), and the latest novella in the series is WINTER’S GIFTS (published by Orion in the UK, and Subterranean Press in North America).

Croatian Edition of Ben Aaronovitch’s RIVERS OF LONDON Out Now!


There is a new Croatian edition of RIVERS OF LONDON, the first novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s internationally-bestselling Peter Grant/Rivers of London series! Published by Fokus, as RIJEKE LONDONA, it was translated by Igor Rendić. Here’s the synopsis…

Ispod površine sumornog i prometom zagušenog Londona čuči pravi čarobni svijet pun nadnaravnih pojava. Policajac Peter Grant o tome pojma nema. No kad mu se jedne večeri obrati duh, i to kao potencijalni svjedok ubojstva, shvatit će da zločinci doista dolaze u svakom obliku.
Najprije će pomisliti da je skrenuo.

S duhovitim prevratima i nevjerojatnim situacijama, Rijeke Londona vode nas kroz Peterovu preobrazbu iz običnog policajca u detektiva koji se bavi nadnaravnim.

The novel is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by JABberwocky, and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

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.

The latest novel (#9) in the series is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS (published by Orion in the UK, DAW Books in North America), and the latest novella in the series is WINTER’S GIFTS (published by Orion in the UK, and Subterranean Press in North America).

DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE New Paperback Edition Out Now!


AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, the ninth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed and internationally best-selling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, is out now in a new German paperback edition! Published by DTV as DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE, translated by Christine Blum. Here’s the synopsis…

Der neunte Peter-Grant-Roman aus der Bestsellerserie ›Die Flüsse von London‹ — jetzt im Taschenbuch!

Peter Grant, der Londoner Bobby und Zauberlehrling (sowie neuerdings Praktikantinnenausbilder), hat einen neuen Fall. In den Silberkammern in der Chancery Lane hat es einen merkwürdigen Todesfall gegeben. Der Tote weist eine große Wunde im Brustkorb auf – als hätte man ihm das Herz herausgerissen. Die Ermittlungen führen zu einem zweiten Toten. Und dann zunehmend weiter über London hinaus – in völlig unerwartete räumliche, zeitliche und extradimensionale Gefilde. Dabei hat Peter eigentlich schon mehr als genug damit zu tun, sich auf ein ganz bestimmtes freudiges Ereignis vorzubereiten, das allmählich die Züge eines hochmagischen und illustren Großevents annimmt…

The Rivers of London series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by JABberwocky (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas). The series is also available widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis for AMONGST OUR WEAPONS

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

New Paperback Edition of DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE Out in Two Weeks!


AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, the ninth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed and internationally best-selling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, is getting a new German paperback edition in two weeks! Published by DTV as DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE, translated by Christine Blum. Here’s the synopsis…

Der neunte Peter-Grant-Roman aus der Bestsellerserie ›Die Flüsse von London‹ — jetzt im Taschenbuch!

Peter Grant, der Londoner Bobby und Zauberlehrling (sowie neuerdings Praktikantinnenausbilder), hat einen neuen Fall. In den Silberkammern in der Chancery Lane hat es einen merkwürdigen Todesfall gegeben. Der Tote weist eine große Wunde im Brustkorb auf – als hätte man ihm das Herz herausgerissen. Die Ermittlungen führen zu einem zweiten Toten. Und dann zunehmend weiter über London hinaus – in völlig unerwartete räumliche, zeitliche und extradimensionale Gefilde. Dabei hat Peter eigentlich schon mehr als genug damit zu tun, sich auf ein ganz bestimmtes freudiges Ereignis vorzubereiten, das allmählich die Züge eines hochmagischen und illustren Großevents annimmt…

The Rivers of London series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by JABberwocky (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas). The series is also available widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis for AMONGST OUR WEAPONS

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

Ben Aaronovitch Long-listed for a CWA Dagger Award!


We’re very happy to report that Ben Aaronovitch has been long-listed for this year’s CWA Dagger in the Library Award!

The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by an established writer of crime fiction or non-fiction who has long been popular with borrowers from libraries. It also rewards authors who have supported libraries and their users through taking part in library events.

Ben is the author of the internationally-bestselling and acclaimed Rivers of London/Peter Grant series of novels and novellas — published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK; and in North America by JABberwocky (#1-3), DAW Books (#4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas). He is also the co-author of the Rivers of London comic series (published by Titan Comics).

The next book is WINTER’S GIFTS, a novella starring FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds, due to be published by Orion in the UK, on June 8th. Here’s the synopsis…

THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE POND…

When retired FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an ‘X-Ray Sierra India’ incident, the operator doesn’t understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.

That person is FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Leaving Quantico for snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town – and there’s no sign of Henderson.

Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbours report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising – cutting off the town, with no way in or out…

Something terrible is awakening. As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases – a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness – Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today…

WINTER’S GIFTS is already available in Germany, published by DTV as DIE SCHLAFENDEN GEISTER DES LAKE SUPERIOR.

Check Out the Covers for RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #1!


Last week, Titan Comics unveiled the three covers for HERE BE DRAGONS #1! The beginning of the 11th story arc in the Rivers of London comic series, it is written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow.

Issue #1 will arrive in stores on July 12th. Here’s the synopsis…

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And it’s name is… Wyvern!

After a Met Police helicopter on night patrol is attacked by an unidentified aerial phenomena, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, Peter Grant, and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, are called to investigate.

Peter and Nightingale find themselves drawn into a battle between two groups of hunters – one human, and one fae – as they uncover a legacy of events that extend back to the 1960s. To save the skies of the city, Peter must face the enraged beast – but can he end things peacefully… or will he be forced to destroy the last wyvern?

Series artwork is by José María Beroy, who also did Cover A (above). Covers B and C (below) are by David M. Buisan and Vv Glass, respectively.

The comic series is part of the overall Rivers of London canon, so if you prefer to follow stories in chronological order, here’s a handy graphic Titan Comics has created to help you out…

AMONGST OUR WEAPONS Paperback Out Now in North America


The paperback edition of AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, Ben Aaronovitch‘s bestselling and acclaimed ninth Peter Grant / Rivers of London novel, is out today in North America! Published by DAW Books, here’s the synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city.

The London Silver Vaults — for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a paparazzi convention.

Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace — only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light, and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon, because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something — and somebody — that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining — step into the world of the much-loved, bestselling Rivers of London series.

The Rivers of London series is published in North America by JABberwocky (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas). AMONGST OUR WEAPONS and the rest of the Rivers of London books (novels and novellas) are published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion.

AMONGST OUR WEAPONS Wins Listening Books Members’ Choice Award!


We’re very happy to share the news that the audiobook of Ben Aaronovitch‘s latest novel, AMONGST OUR WEAPONS has won the 2022 Listening Books Members’ Choice Award! You can watch the announcement, by Stephen Fry, above.

The ninth novel in the acclaimed, best-selling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, it is narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, who has narrated all novels’ audiobooks in the UK! Published by Orion, here’s the synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up.

Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

Many congratulations to Ben and Kobna!

Ben Aaronovitch London Event Next Week!


Just a quick heads-up today: Ben Aaronovitch will be hosted by Waterstones Trafalgar Square next Tuesday (February 7th) for an event with C. K. McDonnell! This is a ticketed event, so head over to Waterstones’ website to reserve your seat!

Ben’s latest novel is the instantly-bestselling and critically-acclaimed AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, the ninth novel in the Rivers of London/Peter Grant series. Published in the UK by Orion Books, here’s the synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

Four Zeno Clients on the BSFA Long-List!


The British Science Fiction Association published their BSFA Awards longlist last week, and we’re very happy to report that four Zeno clients have work that appear! Read on for details!

Ben Aaronovitch‘s latest Peter Grant/Rivers of London novel, the best-selling and acclaimed AMONGST OUR WEAPONS is on the Best Novel long-list! Published in the UK by Orion Books and in North America by DAW Books, here’s the synopsis…

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

The London Silver Vaults – for well over a century, the largest collection of silver for sale in the world. It has more locks than the Bank of England and more cameras than a celebrity punch-up. Not somewhere you can murder someone and vanish without a trace – only that’s what happened.

The disappearing act, the reports of a blinding flash of light and memory loss amongst the witnesses all make this a case for Detective Constable Peter Grant and the Special Assessment Unit.

Alongside their boss DCI Thomas Nightingale, the SAU find themselves embroiled in a mystery that encompasses London’s tangled history, foreign lands and, most terrifying of all, the North!

And Peter must solve this case soon because back home his partner Beverley is expecting twins any day now. But what he doesn’t know is that he’s about to encounter something – and somebody – that nobody ever expects…

Effortlessly original, endlessly inventive and hugely entertaining – step into the world of the much-loved, Number One bestselling Rivers of London series.

Aliette de Bodard‘s acclaimed new Xuya novel, THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE is on the long-list for Best Novel, and its UK cover by Alyssa Winans is on the long-list for Best Cover. The novel is published by Gollancz in the UK (left) and JABberwocky in North America. Here’s the synopsis…

Xích Si: bot maker, data analyst, mother, scavenger. But those days are over now-her ship has just been captured by the Red Banner pirate fleet, famous for their double-dealing and cruelty. Xích Si expects to be tortured to death-only for the pirates’ enigmatic leader, Rice Fish, to arrive with a different and shocking proposition: an arranged marriage between Xích Si and herself.

Rice Fish: sentient ship, leader of the infamous Red Banner pirate fleet, wife of the Red Scholar. Or at least, she was the latter before her wife died under suspicious circumstances. Now isolated and alone, Rice Fish wants Xích Si’s help to find out who struck against them and why. Marrying Xích Si means Rice Fish can offer Xích Si protection, in exchange for Xích Si’s technical fluency: a business arrangement with nothing more to it.

But as the investigation goes on, Rice Fish and Xích Si find themselves falling for each other. As the interstellar war against piracy intensifies and the five fleets start fighting each other, they will have to make a stand-and to decide what kind of future they have together…

An exciting space opera and a beautiful romance, from an exceptional SF author.

Also, the latest novella in Aliette’s Dragons & Blades series (set in the same world as the acclaimed Dominion of the Fallen series), OF CHARMS, GHOSTS AND GRIEVANCES is on the long-list for Best Short Fiction. It is published by JABberwocky. Here’s the synopsis…

It was supposed to be a holiday, with nothing more challenging than babysitting, navigating familial politics and arguing about the proper way to brew tea.

But when dragon prince Thuan and his ruthless husband Asmodeus find a corpse in a ruined shrine and a hungry ghost who is the only witness to the crime, their holiday goes from restful to high-pressure. Someone is trying to silence the ghost and everyone involved. Asmodeus wants revenge for the murder; Thuan would like everyone, including Asmodeus, to stay alive.

Chased by bloodthirsty paper charms and struggling to protect their family, Thuan and Asmodeus are going to need all the allies they can — and, as the cracks in their relationship widen, they’ll have to face the scariest challenge of all: how to bring together their two vastly different ideas of their future…

A heartwarming standalone book set in a world of dark intrigue.

Lavie Tidhar has three short stories on the long-list in that category, all three of which an be read online:

Finally, Adam Oyebanji‘s debut science fiction novel, BRAKING DAY is nominated in the Best Novel category! Published in the UK by Jo Fletcher Books, here’s the synopsis…

Interstellar Vehicle Archimedes has been hurtling through space for more than five generations, an oasis of heat and light in the middle of absolutely nowhere. But now the ageing starship is preparing to brake, for it is arriving at Destination Star: Tau Ceti, the new home for the space-born descendants of the First Crew.

For trainee engineer Ravinder MacLeod, the world he knows is coming to an end. Once Archimedes succumbs to the gravitational pull of the Destination Star and its (hopefully) habitable planet, there will be no going back – or anywhere else. As Braking Day approaches, Ravi finds himself caught between the rigid requirements of the officer class to which he aspires and his blue-collar, ne’er-do-well family. Unfortunately for Ravi, Boz, his brilliant ex-con cousin, seems determined to make his life difficult – not least by her experiments with forbidden technology.

Then Ravi is assigned to routine maintenance deep in the massive engines of the Archimedes, where, alone and out of contact, he comes face to face with something impossible – mind-breakingly impossible.

Plagued by nightmares and visions and worried that his grip on reality is slipping, Ravi turns to Boz for help. Their search for answers takes them to the jagged place where the ship’s future intersects with its long past. For not everyone is excited to be reaching journey’s end, and the ghosts of the First Crew may not have been fully laid to rest.

Zeno represents Adam Oyebanji in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Ben Aaronovitch’s MOON OVER SOHO Available Now in Slovakia!


There’s a new Slovakian edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s second Rivers of London novel, MOON OVER SOHO! Published by Slovart as MESIAC NAD SOHO, and translated by Oľga Kralovičová, here’s the synopsis…

V pokračovaní čarodejníckej detektívky strážmajster Peter Grant, učeň posledného registrovaného policajného čarodejníka inšpektora Thomasa Nightingala, vyšetruje brutálnu vraždu novinára v klube Groucho. Zároveň ho však zavolajú k mŕtvole amatérskeho džezového hudobníka Cyrusa Wilkinsa, ktorý údajne zomrel na infarkt. Lenže pri jeho tele Peter cíti vestigium – počuje klasickú džezovú skladbu… žeby jeho smrť spôsobilo čosi nadprirodzené? Uf… Peter sa opäť vnára do sveta nekalej mágie a rozširuje svoje čarodejnícke vzdelanie a schopnosti.

The novel is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by JABberwocky, and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Body and Soul. The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body – a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul – they’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace – one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant – otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.

Slovart also publishes the first novel in the series, as RIEKY LONDYNA.

The latest novel in the series, the internationally best-selling and acclaimed AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, is out now, published by Orion in the UK and DAW Books in North America.

MOON OVER SOHO and WHISPERS UNDERGROUND eBooks Available in North America


Just a quick post today to announce that eBook editions of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed second and third Rivers of London/Peter Grant novels are available again in North America! Published by JABberwocky, they are also available print-on-demand.

Here’s the synopsis for MOON OVER SOHO

My name is Peter Grant, and I’m a Police Constable in that mighty army for justice known as the Metropolitan Police (a.k.a. the Filth). I’m also an apprentice wizard, the first in fifty years.

When your dad is an almost famous jazz trumpeter, you know the classics. And that’s why, when Dr Walid called me down to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognized the tune it was playing as the jazz classic ‘Body and Soul.’ Something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint on his corpse as if it were a wax cylinder recording. The former owner of the body, Cyrus Wilkinson, was a part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant who had dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig.

He wasn’t the first, but no one was going to let me exhume corpses just to see if they were playing my tune. So it was back to old-fashioned police legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene, with the lovely Simone – Cyrus’s ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens portrait – as my guide. And it didn’t take me long to realise there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives.

The eBook is available via Kobo, Apple, and Amazon.

Here’s the synopsis for WHISPERS UNDERGROUND

My name is Peter Grant, police officer, apprentice wizard and well dressed man about town. I work for ECD9, otherwise known as the Folly, and to the Murder Investigation Team as ‘oh god not them again.’ But even their governor, the arch sceptic and professional northerner DCI Seawoll, knows that sometimes, when things go bump in the night, they have to call us in.

Which was why I found myself in an underground station at five o’clock, looking at the body of James Gallagher, US citizen and Arts Student. How did he avoid the underground’s ubiquitous CCTV to reach his final destination, and why is the ceramic shard he was stabbed with so strongly magical?

As the case took me into the labyrinth of conduits, tunnels and abandoned bomb shelters that lay beneath the streets I realised that London below might just be as complicated and inhabited as London above.

And worse, James Gallagher’s father is a US senator, so the next thing I know, I’ve got Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds of the FBI “liaising” with the investigation and asking awkward questions. Such as ‘just what are you guys hiding down here’ and ‘how did you conjure that light out thin air?’

The eBook is available via Kobo, Apple, and Amazon.

JABberwocky also publish the first novel in the series, RIVERS OF LONDON (formerly MIDNIGHT RIOT in the US). The novels are published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion, and in Germany by DTV. The latest novel in the series is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, published by DAW Books in North America and Orion in the UK.

RIVERS OF LONDON: DEADLY EVER AFTER Collection Out This Week!


The collected edition of the latest Rivers of London comic arc, DEADLY EVER AFTER, is out this week! Officially published by Titan Comics on November 25th, it is the tenth comic series set in the Rivers of London world. Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and Celeste Bronfman, here’s the synopsis:

Illustrations from a mysterious book of fairy tales drawn in the late 1800s are coming to life in the 21st Century and causing havoc. The illustrations were originally painted by a Victorian artist called Jeter Day who disappeared one night in an enchanted forest when he was spirited away by tree nymphs never to be seen again…

Now, with the enchantment accidentally broken by Olympia and Chelsea, daughters of the river goddess Mama Thames, Jeter, twisted by his time spent with the nymphs, has returned to our world bitter and resentful. It is a world he neither recognises nor likes. All he wants is his life returned to him and woe betide any man who stands in his way.

With Peter and Nightingale busy on another case, it falls to sisters Olympia and Chelsea with the help of the Foxes to stop Jeter and save the day.

Series artwork is by José María Beroy.

Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comic series to date: BODY WORK, NIGHT WITCH, BLACK MOULD, DETECTIVE STORIES, CRY FOX, WATER WEED, ACTION AT A DISTANCE, THE FEY AND THE FURIOUS and MONDAY, MONDAY.

The Rivers of London comics are set in the same world as Ben’s best-selling and critically acclaimed Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels and novellas. The latest book in the series is AMONGST OUR WEAPONS, which is out now in the UK (Orion), North America (DAW Books), and Germany (DTV)!