RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS Out in Two Weeks!


The collected paperback and digital editions of HERE BE DRAGONS is out in two weeks! The eleventh story-arc in Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel‘s Rivers of London comic series, this one is also co-authored by James Swallow. Series artwork, and the cover by José María Beroy.

HERE BE DRAGONS is due to be published by Titan Comics, on December 12th. Here’s the synopsis…

CSI meets Harry Potter in this graphic novel from Ben Aaronovitch – writer of the bestselling Rivers of London supernatural police procedural crime novel series, Andrew Cartmel author of the Vinyl Detective and New York Times best-selling author, James Swallow creator of the Marc Dane series, and writer of five best-selling Warhammer 40,000 novels. After a rash of strange UFO sightings above the capital, a Met Police helicopter night patrol is attacked by what can only be described as a dragon!

Wizard in training Peter Grant and his mentor, Thomas Nightingale, the Met’s only sanctioned wizard, takes to the skies to investigate.

As the mystery deepens, Peter and Thomas find themselves caught between two groups of hunters – one human, one fae – and he uncovers the legacy of events that extend all the way back to the late ‘60s and one of London’s most famous residents – a certain “Experienced” rock star – who made a pact with the Demimonde that was never fulfilled.

To save the skies of the city, Peter will have to face the enraged beast – but can he end things peacefully… Or will he be forced to destroy the last wyvern?

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.

The continuing comic-book adaptation of Ben Aaronovitch’s hugely successful and award-winning 10-book novel series first published in 2011.

An all-new original adventure starring the Peter Grant the wizard-in-training hero of the first Rivers of London Novel, ‘Rivers of London’, also known as Midnight Riot in the US.

The first ten story-arcs in the Rivers of London comic series are also available in print and digital, published by Titan Comics. The comics feature characters created by Ben, and featuring in his internationally-bestselling Rivers of London/Peter Grant series of novels and novellas. To see how the comics and prose books fit together, check out the handy graphic, below…

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).

New Russian Editions of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London!


There are new Russian editions of the first three of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Rivers of London novels, published by Эксмо’s Fanzon imprint!

  1. RIVERS OF LONDONРеки Лондона
  2. MOON OVER SOHOЛуна над Сохо
  3. WHISPERS UNDERGROUNDШепот под землей

All three Russian editions were translated by Трубецкая Елизавета Георгиевна (Trubetskaya Elizaveta Georgievna). Here’s the synopsis for Реки Лондона

Премия Академии НФ, фэнтези и хоррора.

Финалист премии «Дети ночи» и премии Грэма Мастертона.

Меня зовут Питер Грант, и я был на испытательном сроке в должности констебля в этой могущественной армии правосудия, которую законопослушные люди называют лондонской полицией.

Моя история началась, когда я попытался допросить свидетеля преступления, который был уже мертв… Это привлекло внимание инспектора Томаса Найтингейла, последнего мага в Англии.

Теперь я детектив-констебль и ученик колдуна, первый за последние пятьдесят лет.

Мой мир стал намного сложнее: в пригородах устраивают свои гнезда вампиры, боги и боги Темзы враждуют, а в сердце города, который я так люблю, что-то прогнило… Злонамеренный мстительный дух захватывает обычных лондонцев и превращает в марионетки, чтобы разыграть драму насилия и отчаяния. Призрак бунта и мятежа проснулся в городе, а мне придется навести порядок в этом хаосе — или умереть, пытаясь сделать это.

The three novels in the bestselling series are published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by JABberwocky, and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis for RIVERS OF LONDON

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.

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.

Four Zeno Titles Among Waterstones’ Best of 2023!


We’re very happy to report that four titles by Zeno clients have been selected by Waterstones as some of the Best of 2023! Announced late last week, here are the books…

WINTER’S GIFTS by Ben Aaronovitch, the latest novella set in the author’s Rivers of London universe, is a Best Sci-Fi of the year. Published by Orion in the UK (and Subterranean Press in North America), 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…

BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST, the widely-acclaimed new novel from Travis Baldree (and prequel to his best-selling LEGENDS & LATTES), is a Best Romantic Fantasy of the year. Published in the UK by Tor Books (and in North America), here’s the synopsis…

A standalone cosy fantasy about the power of good bookshops, great friends and the unexpected choices along the way from the bestselling author of BookTok sensation Legends & Lattes.

First loves. Second-hand books. Epic adventures.

Viv’s career with the renowned mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned. Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk – so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it. What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a struggling bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted. Even though it may be exactly what she needs. Still, adventure isn’t far away. A suspicious traveller in grey, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Sometimes, right things happen at the wrong time. Sometimes, what we need isn’t what we seek. And sometimes, we find ourselves in the stories we experience together…

Brandon Sanderson has two novels among Waterstones’ selection! YUMI AND THE NIGHTMARE PAINTER, the third of the author’s Secret Projects novels, is a Best Fantasy fo 2023. Published in the UK by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

From Number 1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson – creator of The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn Saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy – comes this gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different cultures must work together to save their worlds from certain disaster.

Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her society – but she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero – a goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone.

Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before it’s too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds they’ve always struggled to protect.

And last, but by no means least — Sanderson’s fourth Skyward novel, DEFIANT is a Best Sci-Fi of 2023! Also published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

The final book in an epic series about a girl who will travel beyond the stars to save the world she loves from destruction.

Spensa made it out of the Nowhere, but what she saw in the space between the stars has changed her forever. She came face to face with the Delvers, and finally got answers to the questions she’s had about her own strange Cytonic gifts.

The Superiority didn’t stop in it’s fight for galactic dominance while she was gone, though. Spensa’s team, Skyward Flight, was able to hold Winzik off, and even collect allies to help with the cause, but it’s only a matter of time until humanity – and the rest of the galaxy – falls.

Defeating them will require all the knowledge Spensa gathered while in the Nowhere. But being Cytonic is more complicated than she ever could have imagined. Now, Spensa must ask herself: how far is she willing to go for victory, if it means losing herself – and her friends – in the process.

The final book in the Skyward series will free humanity, or see it fall forever.

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

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.

RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #4 Out Now!


The fourth (and final) issue in the latest Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS is out now! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow, it’s published by Titan Comics in print and digital versions. Here’s the brief synopsis…

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 in to investigate.

Series artwork is by José María Beroy, and the cover for this issue are by Vv Glass.

HERE BE DRAGONS is the eleventh Rivers of London comic series — all of which are published by Titan Comics. The comics fit into the larger chronology and story of Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London fiction series. The first 10 series are now available in collected editions, as well as single issues. If you’d like to know how the comics, novels, and novellas all fit together chronologically, check out this handy graphic from Titan Comics…

Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS UK Paperback Edition Out Tomorrow!


The UK paperback edition of Alice Bell‘s acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out tomorrow! Published by Corvus Books, here’s the synopsis…

Claire and Sophie aren’t your typical murder investigators . . .

When 30-something freelance medium Claire Hendricks is invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of seventeen.

On arrival at The Cloisters it quickly becomes clear that this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire learns someone has recently met an untimely end at the house.

Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage radical Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer – before the murderer finds them… in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.

The novel is also out now in North America, published by Vintage Books.

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

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

New RIVERS OF LONDON Graphic Novel Boxset Out Tomorrow!


Tomorrow, Titan Comics are due to release a third Rivers of London graphic novel boxset, including the seventh, eighth, and ninth books! Written by Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel, and based on Ben’s series of novels and novellas in the same world, here’s the synopsis…

A stunning box set edition of the bestselling graphic novels in the Rivers of London series, starring Ben Aaronovitch’s laconic trainee wizard and budding detective, Peter Grant.

Vol 7: ACTION AT A DISTANCE — Thomas Nightingale is a man of immense power, one of the most highly revered magicians in Europe, but with a guarded past. Hidden within the archives of London Metropolitan Police’s Special Assessment Unit, Detective Constable Peter Grant is about to uncover a brief glimpse into his mentor’s history.

Vol 8: THE FEY AND THE FURIOUS — When a Mitsubishi Eclipse washes up on the shores of the Netherlands,
officers are surprised to find some unusual cargo in its boot. Fortunately, unusual cargo just so happens to be wizarding-cop Peter Grant’s speciality. Infiltrating illegal street races, Peter hopes to find the supplier, but instead quickly finds himself speeding into a whole new world of trouble, where old enemies await.

Vol 9: MONDAY, MONDAY — What starts as a routine undercover operation to break up an organised teenage pickpocket gang turns into something far more dangerous when the Metropolitan police are confronted by a Swedish werewolf who’ll stop at nothing to avoid capture. Now it’s up to full-time cop and part-time wizard Peter Grant and his cohort of chums to hunt the deadly lycanthrope and bring him to heel!

Series artwork is by Brian Williamson (Vol.7), Stefani Renne (Vol.7), Lee Sullivan (Vol.8), and José María Beroy (Vol.9).

The latest story-arc in the Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS, is currently ongoing — it is co-authored by Ben, Andrew, and James Swallow.

Alice Bell Will be a Guest at Murder One Festival!


Alice Bell‘s acclaimed debut novel, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out now in the UK (Corvus) and North America (Vintage). Next month, the author will be a guest at Ireland’s Murder One Festival. Specifically, Bell will be participating on the New Blood panel, on Saturday October 7th. It is a ticket event, so you’ll have to book if you want to attend — you can do that, here.

The UK paperback edition edition of GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is due to be published by Corvus, on October 5th. Here’s the synopsis…

Claire and Sophie aren’t your typical murder investigators…

When 30-something freelance medium Claire Hendricks is invited to an old university friend’s country pile to provide entertainment for a family party, her best friend Sophie tags along. In fact, Sophie rarely leaves Claire’s side, because she’s been haunting her ever since she was murdered at the age of seventeen.

On arrival at The Cloisters it quickly becomes clear that this family is hiding more than just the good china, as Claire learns someone has recently met an untimely end at the house.

Teaming up with the least unbearable members of the Wellington-Forge family – depressive ex-cop Basher and teenage radical Alex – Claire and Sophie determine to figure out not just whodunnit, but who they killed, why and when.

Together they must race against incompetence to find the murderer – before the murderer finds them… in this funny, modern, media-literate mystery for the My Favourite Murder generation.

Here’s just a little bit of that aforementioned critical acclaim…

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS Out Now in North America!


Alice Bell‘s critically-acclaimed debut mystery, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is out now in North America! Published by Vintage on September 5th, here’s the synopsis…

A fast-paced and hilarious debut crime novel, in which a burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts and team-up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member(s) of a posh English family are guilty of murder.

Almost-authentic medium Claire and her best friend, Sophie, agree to take on a seemingly simple job at a crumbling old manor in the English countryside: performing a seance for the family matriarch’s 80th birthday. The pair have been friends since before Sophie went missing when they were seventeen. Everyone else is convinced Sophie simply ran away, but Claire knows the truth. Claire knows Sophie was murdered because Sophie has been haunting her ever since.

Despite this traumatic past, Claire and Sophie are still unprepared for what they encounter when they arrive at the manor: a ghost, tragic and unrecognizable, and clearly the spirit of someone killed in a rage at the previous year’s party. Given her obsession with crime shows—not to mention Sophie’s ability to walk through walls—Claire decides they’re the best people to solve the case. And with the help of the only obviously not-guilty members of their host family—sexy ex-policeman Sebastian and far-too-cool non-binary teen Alex—they launch an investigation into which of last year’s guests never escaped the manor’s grounds.

What follows is somewhat irregular detective work involving stealing a priest’s cassock, getting too drunk to remember to question your suspect, and of course, Chekhov’s sparkly purple dildo. As Claire desperately tries to keep a lid on the shameful secret that would definitely alienate her new friends, the gang must race against their own incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them.

The UK edition of the novel is published by Corvus, and out now!

Here are just some of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

North American Edition of WINTER’S GIFTS Available for Pre-Order!


The North American edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s best-selling and acclaimed latest Rivers of London novella, WINTER’S GIFTS is now available for pre-order! Due to be published in December by Subterranean Press, in two limited editions, illustrated editions, here’s the synopsis…

With this long new novella, bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch has crafted yet another wickedly funny and surprisingly affecting chapter in his beloved Rivers of London series. 

WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY OVER HERE

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 neighbors 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 and the other Rivers of London novels and novellas are published in the UK by Gollancz/Orion. Subterranean Press has published special editions of all of Ben’s novellas in the series. The novels are published in North America by JABberwocky (1-3) and DAW Books.

Rivers of London: HERE BE DRAGONS #2 Out Now!


The second issue in the latest Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS is out today! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel and James Swallow, it’s published by Titan Comics. Here’s the synopsis…

A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And its name… 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 in to investigate.

Series artwork is by José María Beroy; covers by Veronica Fish (above) and Patricio Clarey (below).

HERE BE DRAGONS is the eleventh Rivers of London comic series — all ten previous series are available now in collected editions (print and digital), published by Titan Comics.

North American edition of Alice Bell’s GRAVE EXPECTATIONS Out in Three Weeks!


The North American edition of Alice Bell‘s critically-acclaimed debut mystery, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS is due out in three weeks! To be published by Vintage on September 5th, here’s the synopsis…

A fast-paced and hilarious debut crime novel, in which a burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts and team-up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member(s) of a posh English family are guilty of murder.

Almost-authentic medium Claire and her best friend, Sophie, agree to take on a seemingly simple job at a crumbling old manor in the English countryside: performing a seance for the family matriarch’s 80th birthday. The pair have been friends since before Sophie went missing when they were seventeen. Everyone else is convinced Sophie simply ran away, but Claire knows the truth. Claire knows Sophie was murdered because Sophie has been haunting her ever since.

Despite this traumatic past, Claire and Sophie are still unprepared for what they encounter when they arrive at the manor: a ghost, tragic and unrecognizable, and clearly the spirit of someone killed in a rage at the previous year’s party. Given her obsession with crime shows—not to mention Sophie’s ability to walk through walls—Claire decides they’re the best people to solve the case. And with the help of the only obviously not-guilty members of their host family—sexy ex-policeman Sebastian and far-too-cool non-binary teen Alex—they launch an investigation into which of last year’s guests never escaped the manor’s grounds.

What follows is somewhat irregular detective work involving stealing a priest’s cassock, getting too drunk to remember to question your suspect, and of course, Chekhov’s sparkly purple dildo. As Claire desperately tries to keep a lid on the shameful secret that would definitely alienate her new friends, the gang must race against their own incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them.

The UK edition of the novel is published by Corvus, and out now!

Here are just some of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘Read this fabulous book — you will not regret it!’ — Ben Aaronovitch

‘Fast, funny and furious, this book has bags of humour, bags of heart and a proper murder mystery at its core’ — Janice Hallett

‘A delicious mashup of grisly murder, country house and semi-helpful ghosts – imagine a really cockeyed game of Cluedo heavily seasoned with whimsy … it’s a lot of fun’ — Stuart MacBride

‘Knives Out vibes with added ghosts. Fresh, funny and hugely enjoyable.’ — Catherine Ryan Howard

‘A great read, with great characters, lots of humour, some misty-eyed moments and lots of swearing. Utterly delightful – like the BBC show Ghosts mixed with Cluedo’ — Simon Toyne

‘This book positively lit up my weekends with its cosy, affectionate, funny, awkward brand of ghostly crime-solving. Perfect for fans of BBC’s Ghosts, Alice Bell has a keen eye for characterisation and the ridiculous, creating a story that will both send chills down your spine and wrap you up in a hug.’ — Ally Wilkes

‘Witty, addictive, and breathes some much needed (undead) life into the cosy crime murder mystery genre’ — Adam Simcox

‘Bell shines in her sharp, funny debut, a supernatural whodunit centered on medium-for-hire Claire Hendricks… The adroit plotting, which cannily plays with mystery tropes, is amply leavened with humor.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘As murder mysteries go, this one is certainly unique… A fun and surprising character-driven whodunnit.’ — Heat (UK)

‘Alice Bell weaves a fun, gripping murder mystery with a supernatural spin.’ — Woman’s Own (UK)

‘[T]he lightly acerbic style is a delight and the interaction between inept-but-dogged millennial Claire and eternal teenager Sophie – whose death remains a mystery – offers plenty of spooky fun. More, please.’ — Guardian

RIVERS OF LONDON: HERE BE DRAGONS #2 & #3 Covers!


The second and third issues in the new Rivers of London comic series, HERE BE DRAGONS, are due to be published by Titan Comics on August 23rd and September 6th, respectively. We thought we’d take the opportunity to share with you the covers! Above are the two variants for issue 2, and below are the covers for issue 3.

Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow, series artwork is by José María Beroy. Here’s the synopsis…

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

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

Issue #2 covers are by Veronica Fish and Patricio Clarey; Issue #3 covers are by Abigail Harding and Gyula Nemeth.

Ben’s latest book is WINTER’S GIFTS, a novel set in the Rivers of London universe — published by Gollancz in the UK (out now) and Subterranean Press in North America (forthcoming). Andrew’s latest book is DEATH IN FINE CONDITION, the first novel in his new Paperback Sleuth series — out now, published by Titan Books in the UK and North America.