Tag: Crime

Ben Aaronovitch’s STONE & SKY is Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025

The wait is finally over! STONE & SKY, Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated, tenth Rivers of London novel is out today in the UK! Published by Gollancz/Orion, here’s the synopsis…

‘This isn’t London. The rules are different up here, and so are the allegiances.’

Detective Sergeant Peter Grant takes a much-needed holiday up in Scotland. And he’ll need one when this is over…

If more’s the merrier, then it’s ecstatic as his partner Beverley, their young twins, his mum, dad, his dad’s band and their dodgy manager all tag along. Even his boss, DCI Thomas Nightingale, takes in the coastal airs as he trains Peter’s cousin Abigail in the arcane arts.

And they’ll need them too, because Scotland’s Granite City has more than its fair share of history and mystery, myth… and murder.

When a body is found in a bus stop, fresh from the sea, the case smells fishy from the off.

Something may be stirring beyond the bay – but there’s something far stranger in the sky…

The novel is available in hardcover, eBook, and as an audiobook — the latter read once again by the ever-excellent Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Shvorne Marks! Next week (July 8th), the novel is due to be published by DAW Books in North America, and DTV in Germany.

As a reminder, Ben is also currently on book tour in the UK to celebrate the release of STONE & SKY!

Ben Aaronovitch’s DIE MEERJUNGFRAUEN VON ABERDEEN is out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Monday, June 16th, 2025

STONE & SKY, the highly-anticipated tenth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London series, is due out next month! In addition to the UK and North American edition, DTV will be publishing the novel in Germany! DIE MEERJUNGFRAUEN VON ABERDEEN, translated by Christine Blum, will be available from July 10th. Here’s the synopsis…

Eigentlich wollte Peter nur Urlaub in Schottland machen – besser gesagt: Beverley wollte das. Aber dank eines Schafs mit ungeklärter Todesursache landet wenig später ein Großteil der Londoner Magiepolizei sowie Peters Familie mit erweitertem Anhang (nicht zuletzt Cousine Abigail) im schönen Aberdeenshire. Und spätestens als die Obduktion einer männlichen Leiche sehr ungewöhnliche Ergebnisse liefert, ist es mit dem beschaulichen Badeurlaub an der schottischen Küste vorbei.

»Sei bloß vorsichtig«, sagte ich. »Hier in Schottland kann ich nichts für dich tun. Wenn du Probleme kriegst, bist du auf dich allein gestellt.« Und weil das Universum Ironie über alles liebt, kam in genau diesem Augenblick der Anruf von Abdul.

Es stellt sich heraus: Nicht nur in den Tiefen der See leben unbekannte Wesen, auch am Himmel ist magisch einiges los. Trotzdem hält keineswegs nur der spektakuläre Fall Peter auf Trab – die zweijährigen Zwillinge sind schwerer zu hüten als eine außer Kontrolle geratene Herde Schafe…

STONE & SKY is due to be published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK (July 3rd) and DAW Books in North America (July 8th). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

‘This isn’t London. The rules are different up here, and so are the allegiances.’

Detective Sergeant Peter Grant takes a much-needed holiday up in Scotland. And he’ll need one when this is over…

If more’s the merrier, then it’s ecstatic as his partner Beverley, their young twins, his mum, dad, his dad’s band and their dodgy manager all tag along. Even his boss, DCI Thomas Nightingale, takes in the coastal airs as he trains Peter’s cousin Abigail in the arcane arts.

And they’ll need them too, because Scotland’s Granite City has more than its fair share of history and mystery, myth … and murder.

When a body is found in a bus stop, fresh from the sea, the case smells fishy from the off.

Something may be stirring beyond the bay — but there’s something far stranger in the sky…

Andrew Cartmel’s LIKE A BULLET Out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025

LIKE A BULLET, the third novel in the acclaimed Paperback Sleuth series by Andrew Cartmel, is out in four weeks! Due to be published by Titan Books on July 8th, here’s the synopsis…

When Erik Make Loud, retired rock star and a major World War Two nut, hires Cordelia, the Paperback Sleuth, to track down a series of lurid paperbacks about his favourite global conflict — the “Commando” novels by the blatantly pseudonymous Butch Raider — it seems like a routine job. But Cordelia soon discovers the final novel in the series, the incredibly rare Commando Gold, is all but impossible to track down.

The books’ creator — real name Monty Harrington, once a promising young poet and now a depraved drunk — proves easier to find. Writing pulp war stories didn’t come naturally to Monty. Until he met someone who knew all about such stuff during a pub crawl; a genuine ex-commando who, for the price of a pint or two, was willing to provide Monty with authentic anecdotes.

Too authentic, it turns out…

Because Commando Gold reveals the details of a real-life commando mission.

At the time the mission was top secret.

And all these years later, someone is quite prepared to kill to keep it so.

The first two books in the series — DEATH IN FINE CONDITION and ASHRAM ASSASSIN — are also published by Titan Books, and available in paperback and eBook; the novels are also available as audiobooks, published by W. F. Howes and read by Olivia Dowd. Titan also publishes Andrew’s Vinyl Detective series.

DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON Reihe III Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Monday, June 9th, 2025

A third omnibus edition of Rivers of London novels — collecting books 7-9 by Ben Aaronovitch — is out in Germany in three weeks! DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON Reihe III is due to be published by DTV on June 30th! Translated by Christine Blum, here’s the synopsis…

DIE GLOCKE VON WHITECHAPEL:

Constable und Zauberlehrling Peter Grant steht vor seiner größten Herausforderung: Das Schicksal Londons steht auf dem Spiel. Der gesichtslose Magier, verantwortlich für grauenvolle übernatürliche Verbrechen, ist zwar endlich demaskiert und auf der Flucht. Doch er verfolgt einen perfiden Plan, der ganz London in den Abgrund stürzen könnte. Um den Gesichtslosen zu stoppen, muss Peter all seine magischen Kräfte aufbieten – und einen bösen alten Bekannten kontaktieren: Mr. Punch, den mörderischen Geist des Aufruhrs und der Rebellion.

EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET: 

Peter Grant, unser Londoner Lieblings-Bobby und Zauberlehrling, steht vor völlig neuen privaten Herausforderungen. Welche ihn zu gleichen Teilen mit Panik und Begeisterung erfüllen. Beruflich bekommt er es mit der Serious Cybernetics Corporation zu tun, dem neuesten Projekt des Internet-Genies Terrence Skinner. Und prompt holt die Magie ihn wieder ein. Denn in den Tiefen der SCC ist ein Geheimnis verborgen, eine geheime magische Technologie, die zurückreicht bis weit ins 19. Jahrhundert, das Zeitalter von Ada Lovelace und Charles Babbage. Und die brandgefährlich ist für die Welt.

DIE SILBERKAMMER IN DER CHANCERY LANE: 

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 …

LIES SLEEPING, FALSE VALUE, and AMONGST OUR WEAPONS are published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion, and DAW Books in North America. Here’s the English-language synopsis for LIES SLEEPING…

In London, the past is never dead. It only lies sleeping…

Martin Chorley – aka the Faceless Man – wanted for multiple counts of murder, fraud and crimes against humanity, has been unmasked and is on the run. Peter Grant, Detective Constable and apprentice wizard, now plays a key role in an unprecedented joint operation to bring Chorley to justice.

But even as the unwieldy might of the Metropolitan Police bears down on its foe, Peter uncovers clues that Chorley, far from being finished, is executing the final stages of a long-term plan. A plan that has its roots in London’s two thousand bloody years of history, and could literally bring the city to its knees.

To save his beloved city Peter’s going to need help from his former best friend and colleague – Lesley May – who brutally betrayed him and everything he thought she believed in. And, far worse, he might even have to come to terms with the malevolent supernatural killer and agent of chaos known as Mr Punch…

Ben Aaronovitch’s KSIĘŻYC NAD SOHO Out Now!

Posted on Monday, April 28th, 2025

MOON OVER SOHO by Ben Aaronovitch, the second Rivers of London novel, is now available in a new Polish edition! Published by Zysk i S-Ka, as KSIĘŻYC NAD SOHO. Translated by Agnieszka Kalus, here’s the synopsis…

Kontynuacja przygód funkcjonariusza policji Petera Granta w pełnym magii Londynie

Body and Soul. Melodia.To właśnie zauważa londyński policjant i uczeń czarownika Peter Grant, gdy bada ciało Cyrusa Wilkinsona, saksofonisty jazzowego, który zmarł w pubie na zawał. Z nieboszczykawydobywają się dźwięki solo na saksofonie – klasycznej melodii z lat trzydziestych. Dla Granta oznacza to jedno – przyczyna śmierci wcale nie była naturalna.

Z pomocą swojego przełożonego, detektywa Thomasa Nightingale’a, oraz pięknej miłośniczki jazzu, Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter zaczyna badać przypadki podobnych zgonów w Soho. Jednak dochodzenie szybko staje się także jego prywatną sprawą, bo wiąże się z historią pewnego genialnego muzyka, który zmarnował swój talent – Richarda „Lorda” Granta, czyli ojca Petera.

MOON OVER SOHO is published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK, and JABberwocky in North America. 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.

The next novel in the Rivers of London series is STONE & SKY, due out in July — to be published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK and DAW Books in North America!

Andrew Cartmel’s UNDERSCORE is Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025

UNDERSCORE, the highly-anticipated eighth Vinyl Detective novel by Andrew Cartmel is out today! Published by Titan Books in the UK and North America, here’s the synopsis…

Some of the greatest (and grooviest) music ever committed to vinyl has come out of Italy.

And some of the greatest music to come out of Italy can be found on the soundtracks composed for its lurid, gruesome and some might say nonsensical thrillers known as gialli. The maestros who composed for these include Ennio Morricone, Piero Piccioni, Armand Trovajoli…

… And Loretto Loconsole.

No one disputes that Loconsole was a genius, but was he also a murderer?

The composer’s mistress was killed in 1969 while the pair were on location in Cool Britannia for the shoot of lurid giallo Murder in London – also known as Bikini of Blood and sometimes even The Black Dog Murders (don’t ask). There wasn’t enough evidence to lead to a prosecution, but the stink of scandal never went away. Loconsole’s career never recovered, the mastertapes of his work were destroyed and he died with a dark stain on his legacy.

Now, his granddaughter Chloe has come to England to hire the Vinyl Detective. Not only does she want him to find immaculate vinyl copies of all her grandpa’s soundtracks for a series of reissues she’s putting together to resurrect his musical reputation, but she wants him to clear his name too.

Can the Vinyl Detective and the usual gang – Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha – find out the truth of what happened in Swinging London more than half a century ago? Or might there be someone out there who’d prefer the events of the past to be left well alone, and is prepared to kill to keep their secrets safely in the Sixties?

Titan Books also publishes the first seven novels in the series, in the UK and North America: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, LOW ACTION, ATTACK AND DECAY, and NOISE FLOOR.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘This charming mystery feels as companionable as a leisurely afternoon trawling the vintage shops with a good friend.’ — Kirkus on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… fast-paced, lighthearted adventure… marvelously inventive and endlessly fascinating…’ — Publishers Weekly on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘Author Cartmel has combined the tropes of the several genres into a surprising, refreshing story centered around old-fashioned records… the story delivers multiple chuckles per chapter… Based on this volume, the series will be a hit.’ — New York Journal of Books on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… entertaining second record-spinning mystery… Cartmel treats music and records seriously, plays his strange characters for laughs, and provides a bit of danger and some unexpected twists in this affectionate nod to the vagaries of rock stardom.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘THE RUN-OUT GROOVE does a fantastic job of making its fictional history of music so fascinating and authentic that you’ll forget it isn’t all true… This a follow-up every bit the equal of its highly memorable predecessor, presenting a mystery you’ll be eager to solve and characters whose company you won’t want to leave. Written with infectious charm, the Vinyl Detective has more than proven he’s no one-hit-wonder.’ (9/10) — Alternative Magazine Online on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘Cartmel at his best… an exciting and atmospheric mystery and a good addition to the Vinyl Detective’s casebook.’ — Blue Book Balloon on VICTORY DISC

‘This book was such a blast! It was a great addition to this hilarious series and I’m so impressed at how entertaining these books are.’ — Divine World of Books on VICTORY DISC

‘… an interesting and intriguing history for the series’ latest MacGuffin… the writing is sharp, funny and engaging throughout, and the main characters have never been more likeable… it’s wonderful; it’s a book filled with warmth and good humour – despite a touch of murder – that often feels like reacquainting yourself with old friends… The latest Vinyl Detective novel continues the series’ fine tradition of telling fictional stories that seem entirely plausible. There hasn’t been a dud note in the Vinyl Detective’s oeuvre to date and FLIP BACK is no exception; in fact, it might just be his greatest whodunnit yet.’ 9/10 — Alternative Magazine Online on FLIP BACK

Andrew Cartmel’s KATZENMUSIK is Out Now!

Posted on Friday, March 28th, 2025

KATZENMUSIK, the German-language edition of Andrew Cartmel‘s STRAY CAT BLUES is out today! The 12th graphic novel in the Rivers of London comic series, here’s the synopsis…

Eine Katzenfrau, ein berüchtigter Londoner Gangster und ein auf Chimären spezialisiertes Bordell sind die Zutaten des neuen Falls von Peter Grant und seinem Team paranormaler Ermittler: Eine Werkatze bittet das Folly um Hilfe, um ihre Schwestern aus einem berüchtigten Chimären-Bordell zu befreien, in dem Wesen halb Mensch halb Tier gezwungen werden, sich ihren Freiern hinzugeben. Der berüchtigte Londoner Gangster Monty und seine in finsterer Magier bewanderte Mutter betreiben den illegalen Lustladen und ein Erzfeind von Peter Grant spielt auch eine Rolle…

Ein spannendes Abenteuer aus Ben Aaronovitchs Mystery-Crime-Universum, wieder angereichert mit umfangreichem Bonusmaterial.

The superb artwork is by long-time series artist José María Beroy.

Set in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London universe, STRAY CAT BLUES is published in the UK and North America by Titan Comics. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Old frenemies become allies in the latest Rivers of London adventure when a mysterious cat-woman comes to The Folly looking for help to free her sisters from a notorious chimera brothel run by London gangster Monty and his sinister magically endowed mother, Mrs. Napier. 

Now, Romeo, together with Abigail, Kitty Butchart aka Hoodette, Reynard Fossman, and Gina Penlaw must rescue the three imprisoned women before the Faceless Man can get his hands on them…

Collecting together the critically acclaimed original four-issue mini-series.

With exclusive bonus material, included a script to art comparison, covers gallery and a collection of the backup articles from the four comics.

Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comic series in English, to date. Here’s how Ben and Andrew’s comics fit in with the chronology of Ben’s novels and novellas…

Andrew Cartmel’s UNDERSCORE out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025

In four weeks (April 15th), Titan Books are due to publish UNDERSCORE, the highly-anticipated eighth Vinyl Detective novel by Andrew Cartmel! Here’s the synopsis…

Some of the greatest (and grooviest) music ever committed to vinyl has come out of Italy.

And some of the greatest music to come out of Italy can be found on the soundtracks composed for its lurid, gruesome and some might say nonsensical thrillers known as gialli. The maestros who composed for these include Ennio Morricone, Piero Piccioni, Armand Trovajoli…

… And Loretto Loconsole.

No one disputes that Loconsole was a genius, but was he also a murderer?

The composer’s mistress was killed in 1969 while the pair were on location in Cool Britannia for the shoot of lurid giallo Murder in London – also known as Bikini of Blood and sometimes even The Black Dog Murders (don’t ask). There wasn’t enough evidence to lead to a prosecution, but the stink of scandal never went away. Loconsole’s career never recovered, the mastertapes of his work were destroyed and he died with a dark stain on his legacy.

Now, his granddaughter Chloe has come to England to hire the Vinyl Detective. Not only does she want him to find immaculate vinyl copies of all her grandpa’s soundtracks for a series of reissues she’s putting together to resurrect his musical reputation, but she wants him to clear his name too.

Can the Vinyl Detective and the usual gang – Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha – find out the truth of what happened in Swinging London more than half a century ago? Or might there be someone out there who’d prefer the events of the past to be left well alone, and is prepared to kill to keep their secrets safely in the Sixties?

Titan Books also publishes the first seven novels in the series, in the UK and North America: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, LOW ACTION, ATTACK AND DECAY, and NOISE FLOOR.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘This charming mystery feels as companionable as a leisurely afternoon trawling the vintage shops with a good friend.’ — Kirkus on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… fast-paced, lighthearted adventure… marvelously inventive and endlessly fascinating…’ — Publishers Weekly on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘Author Cartmel has combined the tropes of the several genres into a surprising, refreshing story centered around old-fashioned records… the story delivers multiple chuckles per chapter… Based on this volume, the series will be a hit.’ — New York Journal of Books on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… entertaining second record-spinning mystery… Cartmel treats music and records seriously, plays his strange characters for laughs, and provides a bit of danger and some unexpected twists in this affectionate nod to the vagaries of rock stardom.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘THE RUN-OUT GROOVE does a fantastic job of making its fictional history of music so fascinating and authentic that you’ll forget it isn’t all true… This a follow-up every bit the equal of its highly memorable predecessor, presenting a mystery you’ll be eager to solve and characters whose company you won’t want to leave. Written with infectious charm, the Vinyl Detective has more than proven he’s no one-hit-wonder.’ (9/10) — Alternative Magazine Online on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘Cartmel at his best… an exciting and atmospheric mystery and a good addition to the Vinyl Detective’s casebook.’ — Blue Book Balloon on VICTORY DISC

‘This book was such a blast! It was a great addition to this hilarious series and I’m so impressed at how entertaining these books are.’ — Divine World of Books on VICTORY DISC

‘… an interesting and intriguing history for the series’ latest MacGuffin… the writing is sharp, funny and engaging throughout, and the main characters have never been more likeable… it’s wonderful; it’s a book filled with warmth and good humour – despite a touch of murder – that often feels like reacquainting yourself with old friends… The latest Vinyl Detective novel continues the series’ fine tradition of telling fictional stories that seem entirely plausible. There hasn’t been a dud note in the Vinyl Detective’s oeuvre to date and FLIP BACK is no exception; in fact, it might just be his greatest whodunnit yet.’ 9/10 — Alternative Magazine Online on FLIP BACK

STONE & SKY Narrators Announced!

Posted on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025

In case you missed the news over the weekend, Orion has unveiled the narrators for STONE & SKY, the next Rivers of London novel by Ben Aaronovitch! We’re very happy to report that Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is returning once again, and he’ll be joined by Shvorne Marks!

The novel is due to be published on July 3rd, by Orion/Gollancz. Here’s the synopsis…

‘This isn’t London. The rules are different up here, and so are the allegiances.’

Detective Sergeant Peter Grant takes a much-needed holiday up in Scotland. And he’ll need one when this is over…

If more’s the merrier, then it’s ecstatic as his partner Beverley, their young twins, his mum, dad, his dad’s band and their dodgy manager all tag along. Even his boss, DCI Thomas Nightingale, takes in the coastal airs as he trains Peter’s cousin Abigail in the arcane arts.

And they’ll need them too, because Scotland’s Granite City has more than its fair share of history and mystery, myth … and murder.

When a body is found in a bus stop, fresh from the sea, the case smells fishy from the off.

Something may be stirring beyond the bay – but there’s something far stranger in the sky…

Out this month: NO ONE HEARS THE LAST SHOT by Lavie Tidhar

Posted on Friday, February 14th, 2025

This month, PS Publishing releases a new collection from Lavie Tidhar: NO ONE HEARS THE LAST SHOT! Bringing a number of the author’s acclaimed noir and crime stories into a single volume, here’s the synopsis…

A middle-aged hitwoman goes on the run from the Israeli mob; a boy on a South Pacific island searches for a missing cat and uncovers dark secrets; an ageing bagman has to recover a package across one violent night, no matter the cost; an informer must uncover the heist of a lifetime on the fringes of the Roman Empire, and Sherlock Holmes is faced with a confounding botanical mystery; while a pair of hapless actors are forced into a seedy mystery in Golden Age Hollywood.

Moving from the genteel English countryside to the mean streets of L.A. and from the islands of Vanuatu to the dark alleyways of Tel Aviv, this wide-ranging collection gathers together the best crime and noir stories of master storyteller Lavie Tidhar, including the CWA Dagger Award nominated “Bag Man” and much more besides.

Welcome to a world of gangsters and hired killers, of lost romantics and deadly women, of good times and low lifes. Where it’s always the wrong part of town, and where whatever you do, there are no good choices.

Because when it comes, no one hears the last shot…

The book is available in two editions: a signed hardcover (limited to 200), and a trade paperback.

ICYMI: Ben Aaronovitch’s STONE & SKY, out in July!

Posted on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025

STONE & SKY, Ben Aaronovitch‘s tenth Rivers of London novel now has a cover! Unveiled yesterday by Gollancz/Orion, here’s the synopsis…

‘This isn’t London. The rules are different up here, and so are the allegiances.’

Detective Sergeant Peter Grant takes a much-needed holiday up in Scotland. And he’ll need one when this is over…

If more’s the merrier, then it’s ecstatic as his partner Beverley, their young twins, his mum, dad, his dad’s band and their dodgy manager all tag along. Even his boss, DCI Thomas Nightingale, takes in the coastal airs as he trains Peter’s cousin Abigail in the arcane arts.

And they’ll need them too, because Scotland’s Granite City has more than its fair share of history and mystery, myth… and murder.

When a body is found in a bus stop, fresh from the sea, the case smells fishy from the off.

Something may be stirring beyond the bay – but there’s something far stranger in the sky…

To be published on July 3rd, in the UK, the novel will be available in hardcover, eBook, and as an audiobook — read once again by the ever-excellent Kobna Holdbrook-Smith! The novel is also due to be published in North America, by DAW Books, on July 8th.

ICYMI: Ben Aaronovitch’s RIVERS OF LONDON is on sale in the UK!

Posted on Monday, February 3rd, 2025

As you may have seen, the tenth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London series — STONE & SKY — is due to be published this year. If you’ve never tried this best-selling, widely-acclaimed series, readers in the UK can get the eBook of the first book, RIVERS OF LONDON for just 99p! Available from Kobo and Kindle at this price, it’s published by Gollancz. Here’s the 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.

Here’s just a small selection of the aforementioned acclaim the novel has received…

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

‘Charming, witty, exciting’ — The Independent

‘An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups’ — The Times

‘In this fast-paced paranormal police procedural, Aaronovitch introduces Peter Grant, a rookie cop who can see ghosts… witty, fun, and full of vivid characters, and the plot twists will keep even seasoned mystery fans guessing.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘… 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

‘… sweet relief for readers allergic to cliché.’ — Locus

‘RIVERS OF LONDON is a classic British police procedural blended with a unique twist of urban fantasy in so far as it replaces the expected testosterone with intelligence and the angst with wit… Deep down, amidst the murder and the mayhem, the anarchy and the supernatural, Aaronovitch has written a love letter to the wonder of London, reminding us of the magic that lives there, all the while warning us to keep an eye out for its nasty side.’ — Fantasy Faction

‘Highly recommended… Very nicely done. The books are police procedurals set in a London where magical creatures exist and are known to the police but hidden from the public, with a wisecracking, apprentice magician police officer as the hero. But, of course, the trick in all these things is in the execution, and I found these to have been executed very well… I gave it a try, and I’m glad I did.’ — Washington Post

The entire series has been published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion — nine novels, and a handful of novellas to date, with book 10 out in July. The series has been published widely in translation (see Ben’s page for more details.)

ICYMI: Ben Aaronovitch Interviewed on the FollyCast

Posted on Friday, January 24th, 2025

Today, we wanted to share an interview with Ben Aaronovitch from a little while ago — it was published shortly before the release of THE MASQUERADES OF SPRING. In the interview, Ben and the hosts ‘discuss the origins of the series, cover the novels, novellas and graphic novels and look to the future’.

THE MASQUERADES OF SPRING is out now, published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK, Subterranean Press in North America, and DTV in Germany. Here’s the synopsis…

New York City, New York.

Meet Augustus Berrycloth-Young – fop, flaneur, and Englishman abroad – as he chronicles the Jazz Age from his perch atop the city that never sleeps.

That is, until his old friend Thomas Nightingale arrives, pursuing a rather mysterious affair concerning an old saxophone – which will take Gussie from his warm bed, to the cold shores of Long Island, and down to the jazz clubs where music, magic, and madness haunt the shadows…

The next book in the series is STONE AND SKY, due out in July 2025.

The Vinyl Detective returns in April, in UNDERSCORE!

Posted on Friday, January 10th, 2025

This April, Titan Books are due to publish UNDERSCORE, the highly-anticipated eighth Vinyl Detective novel by Andrew Cartmel! Here’s the synopsis…

Some of the greatest (and grooviest) music ever committed to vinyl has come out of Italy.

And some of the greatest music to come out of Italy can be found on the soundtracks composed for its lurid, gruesome and some might say nonsensical thrillers known as gialli. The maestros who composed for these include Ennio Morricone, Piero Piccioni, Armand Trovajoli…

… And Loretto Loconsole.

No one disputes that Loconsole was a genius, but was he also a murderer?

The composer’s mistress was killed in 1969 while the pair were on location in Cool Britannia for the shoot of lurid giallo Murder in London – also known as Bikini of Blood and sometimes even The Black Dog Murders (don’t ask). There wasn’t enough evidence to lead to a prosecution, but the stink of scandal never went away. Loconsole’s career never recovered, the mastertapes of his work were destroyed and he died with a dark stain on his legacy.

Now, his granddaughter Chloe has come to England to hire the Vinyl Detective. Not only does she want him to find immaculate vinyl copies of all her grandpa’s soundtracks for a series of reissues she’s putting together to resurrect his musical reputation, but she wants him to clear his name too.

Can the Vinyl Detective and the usual gang – Nevada, Tinkler and Agatha – find out the truth of what happened in Swinging London more than half a century ago? Or might there be someone out there who’d prefer the events of the past to be left well alone, and is prepared to kill to keep their secrets safely in the Sixties?

Titan Books also publishes the first seven novels in the series, in the UK and North America: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, LOW ACTION, ATTACK AND DECAY, and NOISE FLOOR.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the series has received so far…

‘This charming mystery feels as companionable as a leisurely afternoon trawling the vintage shops with a good friend.’ — Kirkus on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… fast-paced, lighthearted adventure… marvelously inventive and endlessly fascinating…’ — Publishers Weekly on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘Author Cartmel has combined the tropes of the several genres into a surprising, refreshing story centered around old-fashioned records… the story delivers multiple chuckles per chapter… Based on this volume, the series will be a hit.’ — New York Journal of Books on WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX

‘… entertaining second record-spinning mystery… Cartmel treats music and records seriously, plays his strange characters for laughs, and provides a bit of danger and some unexpected twists in this affectionate nod to the vagaries of rock stardom.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘THE RUN-OUT GROOVE does a fantastic job of making its fictional history of music so fascinating and authentic that you’ll forget it isn’t all true… This a follow-up every bit the equal of its highly memorable predecessor, presenting a mystery you’ll be eager to solve and characters whose company you won’t want to leave. Written with infectious charm, the Vinyl Detective has more than proven he’s no one-hit-wonder.’ (9/10) — Alternative Magazine Online on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘Cartmel at his best… an exciting and atmospheric mystery and a good addition to the Vinyl Detective’s casebook.’ — Blue Book Balloon on VICTORY DISC

‘This book was such a blast! It was a great addition to this hilarious series and I’m so impressed at how entertaining these books are.’ — Divine World of Books on VICTORY DISC

‘… an interesting and intriguing history for the series’ latest MacGuffin… the writing is sharp, funny and engaging throughout, and the main characters have never been more likeable… it’s wonderful; it’s a book filled with warmth and good humour – despite a touch of murder – that often feels like reacquainting yourself with old friends… The latest Vinyl Detective novel continues the series’ fine tradition of telling fictional stories that seem entirely plausible. There hasn’t been a dud note in the Vinyl Detective’s oeuvre to date and FLIP BACK is no exception; in fact, it might just be his greatest whodunnit yet.’ 9/10 — Alternative Magazine Online on FLIP BACK

DER BÖSE ORT Out Now in New Audiobook Edition!

Posted on Monday, December 9th, 2024

German-speaking fans of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London series can now get the fourth novel, BROKEN HOMES, in a new audiobook edition! Read by Dietmar Wunder (who has read the previous novels as well), it’s published by Hörbuch Hamburg, as DER BÖSE ORT. Here’s the synopsis…

Seltsame Dinge geschehen im Skygarden Tower, einem berüchtigten Sozialwohnblock in Südlondon. Dinge, die eine magische Anziehungskraft auf Police Constable und Zauberlehrling Peter Grant ausüben. Zunächst geht es nur um ein gestohlenes altes Buch über Magie, das aus der Weißen Bibliothek zu Weimar stammt. Doch dann weitet sich der Fall rasant aus. Denn der Erbauer des Tower, Erik Stromberg, ein brillanter, wenngleich leicht gestörter Architekt, hatte sich einst in seiner Zeit am Bauhaus offenbar nicht nur mit modernem Design, sondern auch mit Magie befasst. Was erklären könnte, warum der Skygarden Tower einen unablässigen Strom von begabten Künstlern, Politikern, Drogendealern, Serienmördern und Irren hervorgebracht hat. Und warum der unheimliche gesichtslose Magier, den Peter noch in schlechtester Erinnerung hat, ein so eingehendes Interesse daran an den Tag legt…

Dietmar Wunder liest dieses Urban-Fantasy-Abenteuer mit Tempo und jeder Menge Humor.

DER BÖSE ORT is published in paperback and eBook by DTV, and was translated by Christine Blum.

BROKEN HOMES is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by DAW Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

A mutilated body in Crawley. Another killer on the loose. The prime suspect is one Robert Weil – an associate of the twisted magician known as the Faceless Man? Or just a common garden serial killer?

Before PC Peter Grant can get his head round the case, a town planner going under a tube train and a stolen grimoire are adding to his case-load. So far so London.

But then Peter gets word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle, on an housing estate designed by a nutter, built by charlatans and inhabited by the truly desperate. Is there a connection? And if there is, why oh why did it have to be south of the River?

‘A low-income housing tower gone awry, an old enemy with a bone to pick…and a shocker of an ending—BROKEN HOMES is a delight.’ — Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times-bestselling author

‘The prose is witty, the plot clever, and the characters incredibly likeable.’ — Time Out

‘It’s witty, fun, and full of vivid characters, and the plot twists will keep even seasoned mystery fans guessing.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘The perfect blend of CSI and Harry Potter.’ — io9

‘This book is, at its heart, a police procedural with an overlay of urban fantasy elements. 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 Reviews (top pick)

‘The most satisfying fantasy thriller to hit bookshelves in quite some time.’ — SFX Magazine