Mystery - Zeno Agency Ltd.

William Gibson’s SPOOK COUNTRY Out Now in Audio CD Editions!

Posted on Monday, November 1st, 2021

Earlier today, we shared the news that the CD/MP3-CD edition of William Gibson‘s THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE is out today. Well, today W. F. Howes also publishes Gibson’s SPOOK COUNTRY in CD/MP3-CD formats! The second novel in the acclaimed Blue Ant series, it follows PATTERN RECOGNITION (which is also out now). Both novels in the series are narrated by Bronwen Price, and here’s the synopsis…

Spook Country — a gripping spy thriller by William Gibson, best-selling author of Neuromancer.

In New York, a young Cuban called Tito is passing iPods to a mysterious old man. Such activities do not go unnoticed, however, in these early days of the War on Terror, and across the city, an ex-military man named Brown is tracking Tito’s movements. Meanwhile in LA, journalist Hollis Henry is on the trail of Bobby Chombo, who appears to know too much about military systems for his own good. With Bobby missing and the trail cold, Hollis digs deeper and is drawn into the final moves of a chilling game played out by men with old scores to settle…

W. F. Howes has also published the UK audiobook editions of NEUROMANCER, the aforementioned PATTERN RECOGNITION, DISTRUST THAT PARTICULAR FLAVOR (a non-fiction collection), and THE DIFFERENCE ENGINE (co-authored by Bruce Sterling).

A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER: Perfect for Halloween!

Posted on Friday, October 29th, 2021

The spooky season is upon us! With Halloween on Sunday, we thought it would be a great opportunity to remind you all that Roger Zelazny‘s acclaimed A NIGHT IN THE LONESOME OCTOBER could serve as a perfect read for this weekend! Published in the UK by Farrago Books, and widely in translation, here’s the English-language synopsis…

All is not what it seems.

In the murky London gloom, a knife-wielding gentleman named Jack prowls the midnight streets with his faithful watchdog Snuff – gathering together the grisly ingredients they will need for an upcoming ancient and unearthly rite. For soon after the death of the moon, black magic will summon the Elder Gods back into the world. And all manner of Players, both human and undead, are preparing to participate.

Some have come to open the gates. Some have come to slam them shut. And now the dread night approaches – so let the Game begin.

Here is a selection of the various other editions the novel is available in…

‘One of Zelazny’s most delightful books: Jack the Ripper’s dog Snuff narrates a mad game of teams to cause or prevent armageddon.’ — Neil Gaiman

‘The last great novel by one of the giants of the genre.’ — George R.R. Martin

‘A madcap blend of horror tropes and fantasy… There aren’t many authors who would set out to write a novel in which the Wolfman and Jack the Ripper were the two heroes… And I’m not sure anyone else could have made it work.’ — Science Fiction Chronicle

‘Sparkling, witty, delightful. Zelazny’s best for ages, perhaps his best ever.’ — Kirkus

‘A cheerful, witty, well-crafted fantasy… Its deft, understated good humor and spare, poetic prose reaffirm Zelazny as one of fantasy’s most skilled practitioners.’ — Publishers Weekly

Coming Soon: BURN DOWN, RISE UP by Vincent Tirado!

Posted on Thursday, October 28th, 2021

We’re very happy to be able to share with you the cover for Vincent Tirado‘s upcoming debut novel, BURN DOWN, RISE UP! Due to be published by Sourcebooks Fire in North America and in the UK, in May 2022, here’s the synopsis…

Mysterious disappearances. An urban legend rumored to be responsible. And one group of friends determined to save their city at any cost. Stranger Things meets Jordan Peele in this utterly original debut from an incredible new voice.

For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize’s cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention — especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances.

Raquel and Charlize team up to investigate, but they soon discover that everything is tied to a terrifying urban legend called the Echo Game. The game is rumored to trap people in a sinister world underneath the city, and the rules are based on a particularly dark chapter in New York’s past. And if the friends want to save their home and everyone they love, they will have to play the game and destroy the evil at its heart — or die trying.

If you’re reading this and you’re a book reviewer, you can click on the publisher link (above) to request a review copy! (Feel free to tag us in your reviews on Twitter, with @zenoagency.)

THE OCTOBER MAN in UK Audible Promotion

Posted on Sunday, October 24th, 2021

Just a quick post to let you all know that the UK audiobook edition of THE OCTOBER MAN is included in the latest Audible 2-for-1 promotion! Ben Aaronovitch‘s first Rivers of London novella set outside of the UK, it stars Tobias Winter. Published by Orion Audio, here’s the synopsis…

A brand-new stand-alone novella in the Rivers of London series!

Tobias Winter has been assigned to the Abteilung KDA — the Department for Complex and Unspecific Matters.

Despite the intriguing department name, as Winter explains, dealing with the strange and the supernatural is ‘actually 90 percent paperwork’. But this is a story about the other 10 percent of the job: the life-threatening danger part.

This is a tale about the Queen of the Harvest, the October Man, and the little-known time the vineyard around Trier started to eat people…

Winter may be P. C. Peter Grant’s German counterpart, but surviving this investigation is entirely down to him…

The promotion runs from today until October 30th.

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

‘In this enjoyable spin-off from the Rivers of London urban fantasy series, Aaronovitch successfully transfers his blend of the supernatural and humor from England to the Continent as he introduces Tobias Winter, a German police officer who practices magic… Supernatural mystery fans who enjoy more whimsical takes on the paranormal will hope for more of Winter and Sommer.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Aaronovitch expands the universe of his Rivers of London series (Broken Homes, 2014) to include new characters operating in different countries with ties to supernatural crimes and detective work. THE OCTOBER MAN introduces Tobias Winter, a sanctioned magic practitioner who investigates the supernatural angles of crimes for the Abteilung KDA (which fans will recognize as the German extension of the British Folly)… Aaronovitch delivers yet another classic detective novel rich with the magical world building accomplished in his previous work.’ — Booklist

‘Winter’s stolidness is a feature rather than a bug. While there are moments of adventure and daring, the story of this crime is both a satisfying whodunit and a primer on how magic works in Deutschland. THE OCTOBER MAN would be an interesting place to enter the Rivers of London world. Rather than fae, a new reader would anticipate werewolves, perhaps — and still greatly enjoy Aaronovitch’s work. Those who know the Folly will appreciate this outsider’s view of Grant and Nightingale, as well as learn a bit about how the latter spent the war, while still greatly enjoying Aaronovitch’s work, even if it is set someplace new.’ — Locus (Adrienne Martini)

‘Sommer and Winter are an interesting team, the latter especially being a fascinating take of the “ordinary copper” style trope that these books do so well… THE OCTOBER MAN is a must for any fan of the series so far and, unusually, a good introduction to the series. It only marginally connects to the big plot of the main books, but does introduce all the core ideas and distinctive style. More please, and soon.’ — Starburst

‘There is a joyous familiarity to Aaronovitch’s writing, meaning that fans of the series will delight in seeing how unexplainable events are dealt with in the Rhineland, without ever feeling like they left Grant or London behind… Aaronovitch continues to develop his well-crafted magical alternate/fantasy history backdrop with his usual level of attention to detail. Familiar geographical and historical touchstones are cleverly rolled away, leaving you with a non-fiction reading list that will keep you curious long after you’ve closed the last page… The characters are at once likeable and engaging… an enjoyable jaunt to the Continent that leaves you hoping that the Rivers Of London series will be packing its bags to take us on another outing to a new destination around the globe soon.’ — SciFi Now

All of Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas are published in the UK by Gollancz (and Orion Audio).

New Slovak Edition of RIVERS OF LONDON!

Posted on Friday, October 8th, 2021

Ten years after it was first published, Ben Aaronovitch‘s RIVERS OF LONDON continues its global conquest! A new Slovak edition of the novel is now available, published by Slovart as RIEKY LONDYNA. The first novel in the author’s Peter Grant series, here’s the synopsis…

Jedna z najúspešnejších mestských fantasy za posledných desať rokov! Keď sa Peter Grant zamestnal u londýnskych strážcov zákona, netušil, že na britskej polícií existuje akési zvláštne oddelenie mágie a nadprirodzených javov. Po nečakanom stretnutí s duchom sa však stane prvým učňom inšpektora Nightingala, jediného predstaviteľa tohto zvláštneho útvaru. A ešte ako zelenáč musí nielenže riešiť dva zdanlivo nesúvisiace zločiny a zistiť, čo robí z obyčajných ľudí krutých zabijakov, ale okrem toho aj sprostredkovať mier medzi dvoma bohmi rieky Temže, ktorí sú na vojnovej nohe.

RIVERS OF LONDON is published in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by Del Rey (as MIDNIGHT RIOT), and widely in translation. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit – we do paperwork so real coppers don’t have to – and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluble, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Now I’m a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden … and there’s something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it’s falling to me to bring order out of chaos – or die trying.

The series has grown to include eight novels, three novellas, a short story collection, and nine comic series (to date).

MONDAY, MONDAY #4 is Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, October 6th, 2021

A werewolf is on the loose in London and will stop at nothing to avoid capture!

The fourth issue in Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel‘s latest Rivers of London comics series, MONDAY, MONDAY is out today! Available with three covers — by Abigail Jill Harding (above), Vv Glass, and David Buisian (below) — it is published by Titan Comics.

Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comics to date.

The Rivers of London comics are set in the same world as Ben’s internationally-bestselling, acclaimed Peter Grant / Rivers of London series of novels and novellas — published in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); it is also published widely in translation.

New Spanish Paperback Editions of MOON OVER SOHO & THE HANDING TREE Out Next Month!

Posted on Friday, October 1st, 2021

Next month, Oz Editorial are due to publish new, paperback editions of MOON OVER SOHO and THE HANDING TREE! The second and sixth novels in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, they are published in Spanish as LA LUNA SOBRE EL SOHO and EL ARBOL DEL AHORCADO. Here’s the synopsis for the former…

Vuelve Peter Grant, el detective más mágico de Scotland Yard.

Cyrus Wilkins, bajista de jazz por las noches y contable de día, sufre un ataque al corazón durante una actuación en el Club 606 del Soho. Cuando el detective de Scotland Yard y aprendiz de mago Peter Grant examina su cadáver, no puede evitar fijarse en la canción que emerge del cuerpo de la víctima… un claro indicio de que una fuerza sobrenatural acabó con su vida. Con la ayuda de su padre, el famoso trompetista Lord Grant; el inspector Nightingale, el último mago de Inglaterra; y la hermosa y misteriosa aficionada al jazz Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter tratará de acabar con una magia muy poderosa que amenaza la vida en el célebre y pintoresco barrio del Soho.

Oz Editorial has published the first six novels in the series in Spain.

The Rivers of London novels and novellas are published in the UK by Gollancz; the books are published in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas).

Here’s the English-language synopsis for MOON OVER SOHO…

I was my dad’s vinyl-wallah: I changed his records while he lounged around drinking tea, and that’s how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And it’s why, when Dr Walid called me to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognised the tune it was playing. Something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint like a wax cylinder recording. Cyrus Wilkinson, part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant, had apparently dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig in a Soho jazz club. He wasn’t the first.

No one was going to let me exhume corpses to see if they were playing my tune, so it was back to old-fashioned legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene. I didn’t trust the lovely Simone, Cyrus’ ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens’ portrait, but I needed her help: there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives.

And as I hunted them, my investigation got tangled up in another story: a brilliant trumpet player, Richard ‘Lord’ Grant – my father – who managed to destroy his own career, twice. That’s the thing about policing: most of the time you’re doing it to maintain public order. Occasionally you’re doing it for justice. And maybe once in a career, you’re doing it for revenge.

The series has also been published widely in translation, and has been an international best-seller.

Simon R. Green’s BURIED MEMORIES Out Next Week in North America!

Posted on Tuesday, September 28th, 2021

North American fans of Simon R. Green‘s Ishmael Jones series: the tenth novel, BURIED MEMORIES is out next week in hardcover! To be published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Returning to the small town where he crash-landed in 1963, Ishmael Jones is in search of answers. But his investigation is de-railed by a brutal murder.

“I think something very bad and very dangerous has come to your little town, Inspector…”

As long-buried memories from his hidden past begin to resurface, Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny feel compelled to return to the small country town where Ishmael crash-landed in 1963; the place where his memories began.

Norton Hedley is no ordinary town. Apparitions, sudden disappearances, sightings of unusual beasts: for centuries, the place has been plagued by a series of inexplicable events. Ishmael’s first task is to track down local author Vincent Smith, the one man he believes may have some answers.

Ishmael and Penny aren’t the only ones seeking the mysterious Mr Smith. When their search unearths a newly-dead body in the local mortuary — a body that’s definitely not supposed to be there — Ishmael becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. His only hope of discovering the truth about his origins lies in exposing a ruthless killer.

BURIED MEMORIES is already available in the UK in hardcover; and is also available as an eBook, in both the UK and North America.

Severn House has published all of the Ishmael Jones novels to date, in the UK and North America.

Earlier this year, they also published Green’s first Gideon Sable novel, THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL.

Here are just a few of the great reviews the Ishmael Jones Mysteries have received so far…

‘[A] brisk, breezy first in a new mystery series […] With convincing supernatural twists [and] witty chapter titles […] readers will be anxious for a sequel.’ — Publishers Weekly on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Genre-blending author Green introduces another wisecracking protagonist, Ishmael Jones […] Fans of the British TV series Torchwood will enjoy the irreverent, otherworldly protagonist.’ — Booklist on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘A new book from Green is always a treat for SF and urban fantasy fans, because they know that in his fictional worlds things are never quite what they seem until it’s too late. His first foray into more traditional crime fiction (albeit with an otherworldy flavor) will delight mystery readers, especially those who relish a bit of genre blending.’ — Library Journal on THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD

‘Not to be taken too seriously, this meld of SF and traditional hard-boiled spy fiction hints at plenty of further adventures.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘This sequel to the wonderful THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROAD takes the basic structure of a traditional English country house mystery and mixes it with a bit of supernatural horror and suspense. Richard Kadrey and E.E. Knight fans will particularly relish Green’s genre-blending novel.’ — Library Journal on DEAD MAN WALKING

‘Ishmael is a wonderful character, an extraterrestrial living among humans, and the series (this is the third installment) is a clever mixture of thriller and SF-horror genres. Green is best known for the Deathstalker space operas, but give this one a few more installments to develop, and it could well become Green’s masterwork.’ — Booklist, Starred Review on VERY IMPORTANT CORPSES

‘Entertaining […] Green once again smoothly blends science fiction with classic detection.’ — Publishers Weekly on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Lovers of high-quality fantasy and science fiction should make it a point to seek this guy out, if they haven’t already.’ — Booklist on DEATH SHALL COME

‘This fourth series adventure (after Very Important Corpses) is fast-paced, entertaining, and genre-bending.’ — Library Journal on DEATH SHALL COME

‘Green follows up INTO THE THINNEST OF AIR with this latest blend of SF, mystery, and horror that features the author’s trademark black humor and ratchets up the suspense with a compelling story line reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.’ — Library Journal on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘When some researchers discover what appears to be a black hole that has suddenly manifested itself in Somerset, of all places, secret agent Ishmael Jones is on the case. […] Jones is a very interesting character, a man (?) of many layers, and readers who have been following his adventures will find much to enjoy in this latest escapade. Readers who have not yet made Jones’ acquaintance need to get with the program now.’ — Booklist on MURDER IN THE DARK

‘Fans of the series will be delighted to reconnect with the quick-witted detective and to learn a little bit more about his early days on the planet.’ — Booklist on TILL SUDDEN DEATH DO US PART

‘Fun, fast-paced, light fare that passes almost as quickly as that fatal train ride.’ — Kirkus on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘Energetically written, with larger-than-life characters, stories that gleefully push the boundaries of plausibility, and plenty of neck-wrenching plot twists […] SF/fantasy fans who haven’t yet discovered the Jones novels are in for a real treat.’ — Booklist on NIGHT TRAIN TO MURDER

‘A fast, fun supernatural thriller that never takes itself too seriously.’ — Kirkus on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

‘This thoroughly entertaining adventure works equally well with series followers and with newbies to the world of Ishmael Jones.’ — Booklist on THE HOUSE ON WIDOWS HILL

Zeno represents Simon R. Green in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Lavie Tidhar’s JUDGE DEE AND THE POISONER OF MONTMARTRE is Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021

There’s a new Judge Dee short story! Lavie Tidhar‘s JUDGE DEE AND THE POISONER OF MONTMARTRE is out now! Published on Tor.com and as an eBook, here’s the synopsis…

Judge Dee returns to solve a new case involving a Parisian party gone wrong. But this time? Everyone in attendance is a suspect, including the judge himself.

This is the third short story in the series, following JUDGE DEE AND THE LIMITS OF THE LAW and JUDGE DEE AND THE THREE DEATHS OF COUNT WERDENFELS (also published by Tor.com and as eBooks).

Check Out the Covers for MONDAY, MONDAY #4!

Posted on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

Today, we have the three covers for Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel‘s MONDAY, MONDAY #4! The three covers are by Abigail Jill Harding (above), Vv Glass, and David Buisian (below). Due to be published by Titan Comics on October 6th, here’s the synopsis for this issue:

A werewolf is on the loose in London and will stop at nothing to avoid capture!

Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comics to date.

The Rivers of London comics are set in the same world as Ben’s internationally-bestselling, acclaimed Peter Grant / Rivers of London series of novels and novellas — published in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); it is also published widely in translation.

WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER Out Now in UK Paperback!

Posted on Thursday, September 16th, 2021

The paperback edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed novella WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER is out now in the UK! Published by Gollancz, it is set in the author’s best-selling Rivers of London world, and is the first to star Abigail Kamara. Here’s the synopsis…

Ghost hunter, fox whisperer, troublemaker.

It is the summer of 2013 and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake.

While her cousin, police constable and apprentice wizard Peter Grant, is off in the sticks chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home – unharmed but vague about where they’ve been.

Aided only by her new friend Simon, her knowledge that magic is real, and a posse of talking foxes that think they’re spies, Abigail must venture into the wilds of Hampstead to discover who is luring the teenagers and more importantly – why?

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

‘Aaronovitch’s trademark humor is the highlight of his ninth Rivers of London urban fantasy (after FALSE VALUE). Here, he focuses on London teenager Abigail Kamara, a supporting character in previous books who’s occasionally assisted apprentice wizard Peter Grant, a member of a supernatural branch of the Metropolitan Police… Kamara is an endearing protagonist who is more than capable of carrying future books. Series fans are sure to enjoy this.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER focuses of Abigail Kamara, Peter’s precocious teenage cousin who has caught the scent of magic and wants to know more, despite all the dangers. Abigail is intelligent, curious and very much the trouble-maker… Aaronovitch quickly finds a voice for Abigail; she’s smart and nerdy, brave and wise enough to stay alive, but really not very cautious. One of the novella’s gags come in form of various footnotes explaining her youthful turn of phrase, which is actually quite handy for the older reader. Oh, and it has the most charming map of Hampstead Heath we’ve seen in a long while, and it’s almost worth it just for that. This is a nice change of style and pace for fans of the series and a great introduction for those looking for a fun fantasy read.’ — Starburst (5* Review!)

‘Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London universe keeps sending new rivulets in unexpected directions… Abigail is smart and curious, a wonderful combination but one that also puts her in peril… Not only does Aaronovitch’s writing bring Abigail fully to life, it also builds a story that is worthy of her and delivers potent insights about being a teenage girl, which is doubly remarkable because it’s not a perspective you often see outside YA fiction…’ — Locus

‘I doubt I really need to recommend WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER to people who have read other parts of the series, but for those that have not, it is a great place to start, with an entertaining mix of humour, suspense, and a perfectly crafted world.’ — Independent

‘Tremendous fun from start to finish’ — Grimdark Magazine

‘A total joy to read – there are moments of darkness, especially in Abigail’s backstory, but it had me laughing out loud throughout’ — Track of Words

Quick Reminder: DIE FÜCHSE VON HAMPSTEAD HEATH is Out Next Week!

Posted on Thursday, September 9th, 2021

Just a quick reminder that Ben Aaronovitch‘s WHAT ABIGAIL DID LAST SUMMER is out next week in Germany (September 17th)! Published by DTV as DIE FÜCHSE VON HAMPSTEAD HEATH, here’s the synopsis…

Eine magisch begabte Cousine

Es ist Ferienzeit in London und Abigail, Peter Grants lästige Cousine, kann mehr oder weniger tun und lassen, was sie will. Was bei allen, die sie kennen, eigentlich die Alarmglocken schrillen lassen sollte. Doch Peter ist irgendwo auf dem Land auf Einhornjagd, sodass niemand Abigail davon abhält, magischen Unfug zu treiben – und einem Geheimnis auf die Spur zu kommen: In der Gegend von Hampstead Heath verschwinden immer wieder Teenager. Nach kurzer Zeit tauchen sie wieder auf, unverletzt, aber ohne eine Erinnerung, wo sie waren. Wer hat sie fortgelockt – und warum? Unterstützt von einer Bande sprechender (und ziemlich eingebildeter) Füchse stürzt sich Abigail ins magische Abenteuer.

DTV has published all of Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas in Germany. (The comic series is published in Germany by Panini.)

The novella, the first to star Abigail Kamara, is set in the Rivers of London world. It’s published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Subterranean Press. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Ghost hunter, fox whisperer, troublemaker.

It is the summer of 2013 and Abigail Kamara has been left to her own devices. This might, by those who know her, be considered a mistake.

While her cousin, police constable and apprentice wizard Peter Grant, is off in the sticks chasing unicorns, Abigail is chasing her own mystery. Teenagers around Hampstead Heath have been going missing but before the police can get fully engaged, the teens return home – unharmed but vague about where they’ve been.

Aided only by her new friend Simon, her knowledge that magic is real, and a posse of talking foxes that think they’re spies, Abigail must venture into the wilds of Hampstead to discover who is luring the teenagers and more importantly – why?

‘Aaronovitch’s trademark humor is the highlight of his ninth Rivers of London urban fantasy (after FALSE VALUE). Here, he focuses on London teenager Abigail Kamara, a supporting character in previous books who’s occasionally assisted apprentice wizard Peter Grant, a member of a supernatural branch of the Metropolitan Police… Kamara is an endearing protagonist who is more than capable of carrying future books. Series fans are sure to enjoy this.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER focuses of Abigail Kamara, Peter’s precocious teenage cousin who has caught the scent of magic and wants to know more, despite all the dangers. Abigail is intelligent, curious and very much the trouble-maker… Aaronovitch quickly finds a voice for Abigail; she’s smart and nerdy, brave and wise enough to stay alive, but really not very cautious. One of the novella’s gags come in form of various footnotes explaining her youthful turn of phrase, which is actually quite handy for the older reader. Oh, and it has the most charming map of Hampstead Heath we’ve seen in a long while, and it’s almost worth it just for that. This is a nice change of style and pace for fans of the series and a great introduction for those looking for a fun fantasy read.’ — Starburst (5* Review!)

‘Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London universe keeps sending new rivulets in unexpected directions… Abigail is smart and curious, a wonderful combination but one that also puts her in peril… Not only does Aaronovitch’s writing bring Abigail fully to life, it also builds a story that is worthy of her and delivers potent insights about being a teenage girl, which is doubly remarkable because it’s not a perspective you often see outside YA fiction…’ — Locus

‘I doubt I really need to recommend WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER to people who have read other parts of the series, but for those that have not, it is a great place to start, with an entertaining mix of humour, suspense, and a perfectly crafted world.’ — Indiependent

THE CANDY MAFIA Paperback Out Now!

Posted on Wednesday, September 8th, 2021

A new paperback edition of Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed THE CANDY MAFIA is out now in North America! Published by Peachtree, here’s the synopsis…

Twelve-year-old private detective Nelle is swept up in a world of candy smuggling in this humorous middle grade mystery from World Fantasy Award-winner Lavie Tidhar!

Nelle Faulkner is a preteen private detective who solves cases from her mother’s garden shed. She also lives in a city where the mayor has prohibited candy and kid-led candy gangs are thriving.

So when notorious candy gangster Eddie de Menthe asks for her help finding a missing teddy bear, Nelle Faulkner is on the case. But when the teddy turns up, Eddie himself goes missing, and Nelle and her friends quickly find themselves swept up in a shady underworld of sweets smugglers, back alley deals, and storefront firebombs.

If Nelle has any hope of tracking down her missing client, she’ll first have to unmask the true faces behind the smuggling ring. Can she and her friends find a way to take the cake? Or will they come to a sticky end?

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Bugsy Malone in this entertaining, action-packed mystery from World Fantasy Award-winning author Lavie Tidhar. With moody illustrations by Daniel Duncan, readers will be instantly pulled into the fun.

The novel is also available in the UK, published by Scholastic, and in a growing number of international editions as well.

If you’re interested in more CANDY-related content, Lavie has also made a mobile game, which you can find here!

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

‘It won’t take a detective to spot Willie Wonka, as well as Sam Spade, hidden in the tongue-in-cheek caper’s literary DNA.’ ― Booklist, Starred Review

‘In his first book for younger readers, he creates perhaps his most chilling vision yet: a city where sweets are forbidden under a prohibition act… The tone is as hard-boiled as a cough drop. The jokes sizzle like Space Dust. CANDY is a treat, the kind of confection Roald Dahl and Raymond Chandler might have come up with after an all-night bonbon bender.’ — Financial Times

‘Noir tropes loom large in Tidhar’s fast-paced story, with a gutsy gumshoe, a hardboiled narrative voice (“I needed a job even worse than I needed a caramel fudge”), and enough action to keep young readers on their toes.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Due to the wonderfully fluent writing style, the pleasantly short chapters and the rousing plot, I devoured the book in record time. For girls and boys from the age of 10, who like to read exciting, funny, imaginative detective stories, “Secret Agent Candy” is just perfect. I really hope that this is a start of a series and we will soon be able to solve their second, tricky case together with Nelle… Exciting, funny, bizarre and just awesome!’ — Die Bücherwelt von CorniHolmes (Germany)

RIVERS OF LONDON: MONDAY, MONDAY #3 out now!

Posted on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

The third issue in Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel‘s RIVERS OF LONDON: MONDAY, MONDAY is out today! Published by Titan Comics, and with artwork by José Maria Beroy, the issue is available with three different covers. Here’s the synopsis…

A werewolf is on the loose in London and will stop at nothing to avoid capture!

An unmissable new era in the life of detective wizard, Peter Grant!

MONDAY, MONDAY is the ninth Rivers of London comic story-arc, all of which are published by Titan Comics in the UK and North America.

The comics are set in the same world as Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London novels and novellas. Want to know how they all fit together, to get the true, complete series story? Check out this handy guide…

Simon R. Green’s BURIED MEMORIES Out Tomorrow in eBook!

Posted on Tuesday, August 31st, 2021

The eBook edition of Simon R. Green‘s tenth Ishmael Jones novel, BURIED MEMORIES, is out tomorrow in the UK and North America! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

Returning to the small town where he crash-landed in 1963, Ishmael Jones is in search of answers. But his investigation is de-railed by a brutal murder.

“I think something very bad and very dangerous has come to your little town, Inspector…”

As long-buried memories from his hidden past begin to resurface, Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny feel compelled to return to the small country town where Ishmael crash-landed in 1963; the place where his memories began.

Norton Hedley is no ordinary town. Apparitions, sudden disappearances, sightings of unusual beasts: for centuries, the place has been plagued by a series of inexplicable events. Ishmael’s first task is to track down local author Vincent Smith, the one man he believes may have some answers.

Ishmael and Penny aren’t the only ones seeking the mysterious Mr Smith. When their search unearths a newly-dead body in the local mortuary — a body that’s definitely not supposed to be there — Ishmael becomes the prime suspect in the ensuing murder investigation. His only hope of discovering the truth about his origins lies in exposing a ruthless killer.

BURIED MEMORIES is also available now in the UK, in hardcover; the North American hardcover edition is due to be published on October 5th.