J'ai Lu - Zeno Agency Ltd.

Two more, new French jackets for Peter Grant…

Posted on Thursday, June 28th, 2018

J’ai Lu recently re-jacketed the French editions of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant series. We shared the first three new covers a little while ago, and today we have the new covers for BROKEN HOMES (above) and FOXGLOVE SUMMER. Published in France as LE RÊVE DE L’ARCHITECTE and LES DISPARUES DE RUSHPOOL, respectively. Here’s the synopsis for the former…

La découverte d’un corps mutilé dans la banlieue de Londres fait monter d’un cran la paranoïa ambiante, d’autant que la méthode rappelle furieusement celle de l’Homme sans visage, ce magicien fou déjà connu des services de police. Enfin, pas de tous les services, juste de celui des affaires surnaturelles, dont le représentant le plus actif, l’agent Peter Grant, est aussi le dernier apprenti sorcier de Londres. À peine débutée, son enquête va s’enrichir de nouveaux éléments à première vue sans rapport avec le crime, mais qui tous mènent au quartier d’Elephant and Castle ; plus précisément à un ensemble d’immeubles conçu par un architecte dérangé et habité par tout ce que la capitale britannique compte de désespérés…

The Peter Grant series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in the US by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-7). Here’s the English-language synopsis for BROKEN HOMES…

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?

The highly-anticipated seventh novel in the series, LIES SLEEPING, is due out in the UK and US in November 2018.

Here are the new UK covers…

PEUR SUR LA LIGNE out on Wednesday!

Posted on Monday, June 4th, 2018

This Wednesday, J’ai Lu are due to published Ben Aaronovitch‘s first Peter Grant novella, THE FURTHEST STATION. Published in French as PEUR SUR LA LIGNE, here’s the synopsis…

Comme tous les matins, vous prenez votre métro ou votre train de banlieue pour gagner le centre-ville de Londres où vous attend une rude journée de travail. L’attente, les bousculades, la morosité des autres voyageurs sont votre lot quotidien. Même l’occasionnel illuminé qui braille et gesticule ne vous émeut plus. Mais là, c’est différent : qui sont ces étranges personnages vêtus de façon anachronique qui, tous, essaient de vous communiquer un message urgent? Le plus curieux, c’est que vous oubliez presque aussitôt leur existence… Hum, de quoi parle-t-on déjà?

Aucun doute, cela relève du domaine de compétence de l’agent Peter Grant, pour l’occasion accompagné d’une stagiaire encombrante et d’un chien détecteur de fantômes à la fiabilité toute relative…

The novella, which is set between FOXGLOVE SUMMER and THE HANGING TREE (books five and six), is published in the UK by Gollancz, the US by Subterranean Press, and is also available in Germany (DTV). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

There’s something going bump on the Metropolitan line and Sergeant Jaget Kumar knows exactly who to call.

It’s PC Peter Grant’s speciality…

Only it’s more than going ‘bump’. Traumatised travellers have been reporting strange encounters on their morning commute, with strangely dressed people trying to deliver an urgent message. Stranger still, despite calling the police themselves, within a few minutes the commuters have already forgotten the encounter — making the follow up interviews rather difficult.

So with a little help from Abigail and Toby the ghost hunting dog, Peter and Jaget are heading out on a ghost hunting expedition.

Because finding the ghost and deciphering their urgent message might just be a matter of life and death.

The Peter Grant series is published in the UK by Gollancz, France by J’ai Lu, the US by Del Rey and DAW Books, and in Germany by DTV. It has also been published widely in other territories. Here are the UK covers, in chronological order…

Ben Aaronovitch’s HANGING TREE out now in France!

Posted on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018

The wait is finally over for French fans of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant series! The sixth novel in the series, THE HANGING TREE, is out now! Published by J’ai Lu as L’ARBRE DES PENDUS, here’s the synopsis…

A l’emplacement actuel de Marble Arch, à Londres, se dressait jadis la tristement célèbre potence de Tyburn, surnommée l’arbre des pendus, où l’on exécutait les criminels les plus notoires du royaume. William Wallace ou Olivier Cromwell y auraient connu une fin funeste. Mais aujourd’hui, les riches demeures d’Oxford Street et de Mayfair, situées là où les condamnés faisaient leurs derniers pas, sont le théâtre d’événements pour le moins étranges. Peter Grant, agent de la Police Métropolitaine de Londres et dernier apprenti sorcier du royaume, mène une nouvelle fois l’enquête…

The series is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in the US by Del Rey (#1-3) and DAW Books (#4-6). Here’s the English-language synopsis for THE HANGING TREE…

PC Peter Grant is back in London and facing the terrifying legacy of London’s hangings.

Suspicious deaths are not usually the concern of PC Peter Grant or the Folly, even when they happen at an exclusive party in one of the most expensive apartment blocks in London. But Lady Ty’s daughter was there, and Peter owes Lady Ty a favour.

Plunged into the alien world of the super-rich, where the basements are bigger than the house and dangerous, arcane items are bought and sold on the open market, a sensible young copper would keep his head down and his nose clean. But this is Peter Grant we’re talking about.

He’s been given an unparalleled opportunity to alienate old friends and create new enemies at the point where the world of magic and that of privilege intersect. Assuming he survives the week…

In addition, J’ai Lu has re-released the first three novels with new covers, to match the English-language covers’ style…

Peter Grant dons new jackets in time for the French THE HANGING TREE…

Posted on Friday, December 22nd, 2017

Next year, J’ai Lu are due to publish the sixth book in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant series, THE HANGING TREE. Out in January as L’ARBRE DES PENDUS, there’s no French synopsis just yet. The novel is published in the UK by Gollancz, in the US by DAW Books, and in Germany by DTV. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

PC Peter Grant is back in London and facing up to the terrifying legacy of London’s hangings.

Suspicious deaths are not usually the concern of PC Peter Grant or the Folly, even when they happen at an exclusive party in one of the most expensive apartment blocks in London. But Lady Ty’s daughter was there, and Peter owes Lady Ty a favour.

Plunged into the alien world of the super-rich, where the basements are bigger than the house and dangerous, arcane items are bought and sold on the open market, a sensible young copper would keep his head down and his nose clean. But this is Peter Grant we’re talking about.

He’s been given an unparalleled opportunity to alienate old friends and create new enemies at the point where the world of magic and that of privilege intersect. Assuming he survives the week…

J’ai Lu have also published the first five novels in the series, and are due to re-jacket them to coincide with the release of L’ARBRE DES PENDUS. Here are the new covers for the first three…

FOXGLOVE SUMMER Out Now in France

Posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2015

Ben Aaronovitch‘s fifth Peter Grant novel, FOXGLOVE SUMMER, is out now in France! Published by J’ai Lu as LES DISPARUES DE RUSHPOOL, here’s a (rather succinct) French synopsis…

Peter Grant et Beverley Brook enquêtent sur une affaire de disparition d’enfants que la police du Herefordshire ne parvient pas à résoudre.

The novel (whole series, actually) is published in the UK by Gollancz — paperback edition is due out on July 7th, 2015; it is published in the US by DAW Books. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

In the fifth of his bestselling series Ben Aaronovitch takes Peter Grant out of whatever comfort zone he might have found and takes him out of London – to a small village in Herefordshire where the local police are reluctant to admit that there might be a supernatural element to the disappearance of some local children. But while you can take the London copper out of London you can’t take the London out of the copper.

Travelling west with Beverley Brook, Peter soon finds himself caught up in a deep mystery and having to tackle local cops and local gods. And what’s more all the shops are closed by 4pm …

We will have more news about the sixth novel in the series, THE HANGING TREE, hopefully soon. Here are the other French covers…

Upcoming Ben Aaronovitch Event! (Bristol)

Posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2014

This Friday, May 16th, best-selling author Ben Aaronovitch will be taking part in an event hosted by Waterstone’s Bristol.

Murder Most Magical features three of the biggest names in crime/fantasy: alongside Ben, Paul Cornell and Jasper Fforde will be in conversation courtesy of BristolCon. The event is ticketed – tickets are just £3, and are available from the shop.

Ben is, of course, the author of the Sunday Times Bestselling Peter Grant series, published in the UK by Gollancz. The series currently comprises RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND and BROKEN HOMES, with more novels planned. The series has also been published in the US (by Del Rey and DAW Books), Germany (DTV), France (J’ai Lu), and a number of other territories (more details, here). The next novel in the series, tentatively titled FOXGLOVE SUMMER, is due out later this year – watch this space for more information as-and-when we have it!

BROKEN HOMES now in Paperback! (UK)

Posted on Thursday, May 8th, 2014

BROKEN HOMES, the fourth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s critically-acclaimed and Sunday Times bestselling Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, is now available in mass market paperback! The first four books in the series – RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDER GROUND, and BROKEN HOMES – have all been published in the UK by Gollancz. Gollancz will also be publishing the next in the series, FOXGLOVE SUMMER, which is due to be released in just a couple months (July 2014). Here’s the synopsis, in case you’ve managed to miss all the attention the series has rightfully been receiving…

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 or 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?

Full of warmth, sly humour and a rich cornucopia of things you never knew about London, Aaronovitch’s series has swiftly added Grant’s magical London to Rebus’ Edinburgh and Morse’s Oxford as a destination of choice for those who love their crime with something a little extra.

BROKEN HOMES is published by DAW Books in the US, J’ai Lu in France, and DTV in Germany.

US Publication Day – BROKEN HOMES by Ben Aaronovitch

Posted on Tuesday, February 4th, 2014

The wait is finally over! Peter Grant fans States-side can now pick up the fourth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s hugely successful and beloved Rivers of London/Peter Grant series! BROKEN HOMES is published in the US today by DAW Books. The novel was released in the UK by Gollancz in July 2013.

Just in case you missed it, here is the synopsis for the novel…

A unique blend of police procedural, loving detail about the greatest character of all, London, and a dash of the supernatural.

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 or 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?

Full of warmth, sly humour and a rich cornucopia of things you never knew about London, Aaronovitch’s series has swiftly added Grant’s magical London to Rebus’ Edinburgh and Morse’s Oxford as a destination of choice for those who love their crime with something a little extra.

Here’s some of what others have said in praise of BROKEN HOMES…

‘PC Peter Grant and his co-worker Lesley, two of the few policemen in London who can practice magic, are still working under Nightingale, who must be the oldest police officer in England . . . not that he looks it. 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

‘Aaronovitch has involved his squad with the theatres of Covent Garden, the clubs of Soho and the Underground; now, he takes us south of the River. Here, it’s all about architecture. Those who are sceptical about the massive Modernist housing estates of the Fifties and Sixties as liveable environments will be made to think again – what if some of those architects had entirely other agendas? As always, Aaronovitch is intellectually witty and often delightful in his sparky dialogue. He knows that his characters have to be put in serious jeopardy: this book includes a particularly devastating twist whose emotional logic is overwhelming. Aaronovitch is never less than entertaining, and here he proves he can break our hearts as well.’ — The Independent (Roz Kaveney)

‘BROKEN HOMES,continues in the same rich vein of his brilliant supernatural crime series. Writing about his native London, Aaronovitch has crafted a novel that renders the city in a very different light.’ — BSFA

‘… opens with Aaronovitch’s trademark rapidity and subversive joy with the acronyms and minutiae of modern policing… an enormously fun, fast-paced, witty novel…’ — Tor.com

BROKEN HOMES is also due to be published by J’ai Lu in France and DTV in Germany. Here are the three covers, side-by-side…

Two International Cover Reveals for Ben Aaronovitch’s BROKEN HOMES!

Posted on Monday, December 16th, 2013

We’re delighted to be able to share with you two great new covers for Ben Aaronovitch‘s BROKEN HOMES. The fourth in Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London urban fantasy series, BROKEN HOMES now has covers for the French and German editions!

Published already by Gollancz in the UK, BROKEN HOMES is due to be published by DAW in the US (Feb.2014), J’ai Lu in France (Feb.2014) and DTV in Germany (May 2014). Here’s the synopsis…

A unique blend of police procedural, loving detail about the greatest character of all, London, and a dash of the supernatural.

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 or 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?

Full of warmth, sly humour and a rich cornucopia of things you never knew about London, Aaronovitch’s series has swiftly added Grant’s magical London to Rebus’ Edinburgh and Morse’s Oxford as a destination of choice for those who love their crime with something a little extra.