Tag: Mystery

Paperback Edition of Simon R. Green’s NOT OF THIS WORLD Out Tomorrow in the UK!

Posted on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024

The paperback edition of NOT OF THIS WORLD, the fourth novel in Simon R. Green‘s Gideon Sable series, is out tomorrow in the UK! Published by Severn House, here’s the synopsis…

This might be his biggest coup yet! Legendary master thief Gideon Sable is on the hunt for the ghost of an alien-possessed man in this fast-paced supernatural heist thriller.

The Preserve in Bath – the British Area 51 – is the secret government dumping ground for all things supernatural and out of space. It is one of the most heavily-guarded places in the world. However, it’s not what protects it that makes it so dangerous but the things that are inside . . .

Gideon Sable – master thief, con artist and self-proclaimed vigilante – faces a challenge he can’t refuse. His client, the former Head of the British Rocketry Group, Professor Neil Sharpe, wants him to break into the Preserve. Once inside, Gideon and his crew of supernatural misfits can get any mystical artefact they desire out of the Preserve’s collection. The catch? To reach it, they must go through the treacherous Box Tunnel complex and not only face trained guards and booby traps but steal something that can’t normally be stolen – a ghost!

Sharpe’s obscure motive leaves Gideon uncertain and suspicious. The only thing he knows for sure is that he can steal anything with just the right amount of preparation – but will he be prepared enough to face whatever the Preserve holds, or will he find himself a permanent part of the government’s collection?

The paperback edition will also be published in North America, on May 28th. The first three novels in the series are also published by Severn House in the UK and North America: THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL, A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE, and WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG. ‘A blast for urban-fantasy readers looking for a broken fourth wall riddled with dry-witted commentary, evil getting its just deserts, and the good walking away to fight the good fight.’ — Library Journal on NOT OF THIS WORLD ‘Master thief and con man Gideon Sable has a plan. He intends to breach the private vault of Fredric Hammer, noted bad guy, and rob him blind. To do that, he needs to assemble a crack team of professionals. But this is no ordinary team, because this is no ordinary London. This is an alternate London, wherein ghosts and demons and people with special gifts coexist with regular human folk. And Gideon’s team consists of former girlfriend Annie Anybody, whose gift is luck; a fellow known as the Damned (because he’s, you know, damned); the Ghost, who retains the memory of what it is to be a man; and the Wild Card, who sees all the truths in the world. Each of them has a score to settle with Hammer, and each of them is willing to risk plenty to get revenge. This novel by the author of the terrific Ishmael Jones series is a treat for anyone who relishes the blending of alternate-world fantasy, urban fantasy, and the caper novel. Exciting, witty, and stuffed full of fun.’ — Booklist on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL ‘[Green] gives an urban fantasy twist to Oceans 11.’ — Publisher’s Weekly on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL ‘This book is pure fun.’ — Grimdark Magazine on THE BEST THING YOU CAN STEAL ‘It’s a wonderfully imagined setting, which will be no surprise for those familiar with Green’s oeuvre. The Sable novels make perfect fare for fans of urban fantasy, thrillers, or caper novels (or, especially, blends of all three).’ — Booklist on A MATTER OF DEATH AND LIFE ‘[F]eatures a crew of criminals with hearts of gold and one of the snarkiest antiheroes to ever front an urban fantasy series, turning the murder and mayhem up to 11 while telling a story where disaster is always just on the other side of the door.’ — Library Journal on WHAT SONG THE SIRENS SANG Zeno represents Simon R. Green on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

Coming Soon: STRAY CAT BLUES, the next RIVERS OF LONDON Comic Series!

Posted on Thursday, March 21st, 2024

On May 29th, Titan Comics are due to publish STRAY CAT BLUES #1, the first issue in the latest (twelfth!) Rivers of London comic series! Set in the world of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed and internationally-bestselling series, it was scripted by Andrew Cartmel, with artwork by José María Beroy. Here’s the 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…

The issue will be available with two variant covers — by Abigail Harding (above) and Beroy (below).

Titan Comics has published all of the Rivers of London comics to date, available now in collected editions (print and digital). Ben’s novels are published by Gollancz/Orion in the UK; JABberwocky (1-3), DAW (#4-), and Subterranean Press (novellas) in North America; the series has also been widely published in translation.

Andrew Cartmel’s NOISE FLOOR is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024

NOISE FLOOR by Andrew Cartmel is out today in the UK! Published by Titan Books, it is the seventh novel in the acclaimed Vinyl Detective crime/mystery series. Here’s the synopsis…

The Vinyl Detective enters the fraught and frenzied realm of electronic dance music.

Lambert Ramkin aka Imperium Dart, techno trickster and ambient music wizard of the 1990s, has gone walkabout, disappearing from his palatial home in Kent. This isn’t the first time he’s pulled a vanishing act, but he’s never been gone so long before and his wife — wives, actually; it’s complicated — are worried and hire the Vinyl Detective to find the old rascal.

But does Lambert, a man known for his love of outlandish and elaborate pranks, really want to be found? And are the increasingly strange scenarios that the Vinyl Detective and his friends keep finding themselves in due to his trickery or something far more sinister?

Titan will publish the novel in North America, too, on April 9th.

All of the Vinyl Detective novels to date have been published by Titan Books, in the UK and North America: WRITTEN IN DEAD WAX, THE RUN-OUT GROOVE, VICTORY DISC, FLIP BACK, LOW ACTION, and ATTACK AND DECAY.

Here are just a few of the many 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

‘Polished, fast-paced and a ton of fun, this is a fantastic read that is easy to get lost in… more polished… keeps the story rolling forward at an incredible speed – and also makes it very hard to put down… Cartmel has created an intoxicating mix of adventure, humour and mystery to lose yourself in… a truly engaging and enjoyable read. THE RUN-OUT GROOVE surpasses even the opening novel in the series for polish and fun.’ — The Crime Review

‘Part of the fun of the series is the obsessiveness of record collectors, the contradictions between the mundane places in which they hunt their treasures — charity shops, church bazaars — and the sophisticated sound systems they have set up to play what they find… the Vinyl Detective is proving to be a very amenable companion to have on a treasure hunt. This is one vinyl nerd you won’t mind spending time with.’ — Kirkus on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘… 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

‘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

‘… an assured, highly readable and fun story that builds on Cartmel’s well-realised characters… I hope this series will run and run.’ — Blue Book Ballon on LOW ACTION

‘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

DEATH IN FINE CONDITION, the first novel in Andrew’s other crime/mystery series, the Paperback Sleuth, is also published by Titan Books (out now). The second book — ASHRAM ASSASSIN — is due out later this year.

German Edition of MAROR Out in Four Weeks!

Posted on Monday, March 18th, 2024

Lavie Tidhar‘s acclaimed novel MAROR is due out in a new German edition in four weeks! To be published by Suhrkamp, on April 15th, it was translated by Conny Lösch. Here’s the synopsis…

Israel, 1974-2008. Zwei Polizisten führen uns durch fast vier Jahrzehnte israelischer Geschichte. Cohen, der Strippenzieher im Hintergrund, und Avi Sagi, der den korrumpierenden Versuchungen seines Jobs nicht widerstehen kann. Diese Geschichte ist die dunkle Geschichte Israels. Der Patriot Cohen kennt nur eine Aufgabe – seinen Staat zu beschützen, auch wenn er dafür die bittersten Realitäten akzeptieren muss und gnadenlos danach handelt. Cohen und Sagi haben es mit jüdischen, arabischen und türkischen Gangstern, mit der CIA und dem KGB, mit den Contras und den Kartellen, mit militanten Orthodoxen und anderen Playern mehr zu tun. Cohen versucht, »die Dinge in der Balance zu halten«, und kennt dabei keine Grenzen.

Tidhar entwirft ein gewaltiges, kaleidoskopisches Panorama aus politischen Skandalen, Korruption, Mord und Verbrechen auf staatlicher und privater Ebene, das sich auch auf die weltweiten Aktivitäten Israels bezieht. Ein Epos, das zu Recht mit Balzac und Dickens verglichen wurde. Ein Epos auch über Moral und Realpolitik, eine Art Chronique scandaleuse Israels und ein grimmiges, schwarz-humoriges Plädoyer für dessen Existenzrecht. Maroreben, wie die bitteren Kräuter auf dem Sederteller: »Mit bitteren Kräutern sollen sie es essen.« (Exodus, 12:8)

MAROR is the first novel in Tidhar’s Matter of Israel series, and is published in the UK by Head of Zeus/Apollo. The second novel, ADAMA, is also out now.

Here’s MAROR‘s English-language synopsis…

How do you build a nation?

It takes statesmen and soldiers, farmers and factory workers, of course. But it also takes thieves, prostitutes and policemen.

Nation-building demands sacrifice. And one man knows exactly where those bodies are buried: Cohen, a man who loves his country. A reasonable man for unreasonable times.

A car bomb in the back streets of Tel Aviv. A diamond robbery in Haifa. Civil war in Lebanon. Rebel fighters in the Colombian jungle. A double murder in Los Angeles.

How do they all connect? Only Cohen knows.

Maror is the story of a war for a country’s soul – a dazzling spread of narrative gunshots across four decades and three continents.

It is a true story. All of these things happened.

The novel, which was a Guardian and Economist Best Book of 2022, has received an incredible amount of praise since it was published. Here’s just a small selection…

‘Some write in ink, others in song, Tidhar writes in fire… MAROR is a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, immense in its sympathies, alarming in its irreverences and altogether exhilarating.’ — Junot Díaz

‘One of the boldest, most visionary writers I’ve ever read creates both a vivid political exploration and a riveting crime epic. It’s like the Jewish Godfather!’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

‘A masterpiece of the sacred and the profane … a literary triumph.’ — Guardian

‘Amos Oz’s A Tale of Love and Darkness… Fade[s] into oblivion compared with Lavie Tidhar’s magnificent novel MAROR, a panoramic look at four decades of the dark, despicable side of Israel, of death, corruption, violence and drugs… It’s a brilliant undertaking.’ — Jewish Chronicle

‘One of the sensational novels of 2022, a violent rollercoaster and drug-fuelled ride into Israel’s history’ — Jewish Chronicle (as part of ADAMA review)

‘MAROR blends the page-turning wit of a hard-boiled detective noir with the stirring intrigue of a multi-national political epic. An ambitious achievement that weaves a tapestry of both story and statement.’ — Kevin Jared Hosein

‘A bloody beast of a book… MAROR is to Israeli history what Tarantino is to American movie culture’ — Daily Mail

‘Comparisons to James Ellroy and Marlon James are valid… On every page we feel we’re among real, breathing people… [a] compelling, unflinching roman-fleuve.’ — Times Literary Supplement (joint review of ADAMA and MAROR)

‘Radiant with all the brutally elegant atmosphere of crime noir, and the richly nuanced complexity and style of Marlon James’ A Brief History of Seven Killings, it’s a genre-busting novel that will catch your breath … At once illuminating, thrilling and thought-provoking, this tale of corruption, killings, sacrifice and the souls that make up a nation is a symphonic feat of fiction.’ — LoveReading

Coming Soon: NOISE FLOOR by Andrew Cartmel

Posted on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024

On March 19th, the Vinyl Detective returns! NOISE FLOOR by Andrew Cartmel is the seventh novel in the acclaimed mystery series. Published by Titan Books in the UK and North America, here’s the synopsis…

The Vinyl Detective enters the fraught and frenzied realm of electronic dance music.

Lambert Ramkin aka Imperium Dart, techno trickster and ambient music wizard of the 1990s, has gone walkabout, disappearing from his palatial home in Kent. This isn’t the first time he’s pulled a vanishing act, but he’s never been gone so long before and his wife — wives, actually; it’s complicated — are worried and hire the Vinyl Detective to find the old rascal.

But does Lambert, a man known for his love of outlandish and elaborate pranks, really want to be found? And are the increasingly strange scenarios that the Vinyl Detective and his friends keep finding themselves in due to his trickery or something far more sinister?

Titan Books has published all of the Vinyl Detective novels to date, in the UK and North America.

Here are just a few of the many 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

‘Polished, fast-paced and a ton of fun, this is a fantastic read that is easy to get lost in… more polished… keeps the story rolling forward at an incredible speed – and also makes it very hard to put down… Cartmel has created an intoxicating mix of adventure, humour and mystery to lose yourself in… a truly engaging and enjoyable read. THE RUN-OUT GROOVE surpasses even the opening novel in the series for polish and fun.’ — The Crime Review

‘Part of the fun of the series is the obsessiveness of record collectors, the contradictions between the mundane places in which they hunt their treasures — charity shops, church bazaars — and the sophisticated sound systems they have set up to play what they find… the Vinyl Detective is proving to be a very amenable companion to have on a treasure hunt. This is one vinyl nerd you won’t mind spending time with.’ — Kirkus on THE RUN-OUT GROOVE

‘… 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

‘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

‘… an assured, highly readable and fun story that builds on Cartmel’s well-realised characters… I hope this series will run and run.’ — Blue Book Ballon on LOW ACTION

‘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

DEATH IN FINE CONDITION, the first novel in Andrew’s other crime/mystery series, the Paperback Sleuth, is also published by Titan Books (out now). The second book — ASHRAM ASSASSIN — is due out later this year.

Die Flüsse von London: WER GLAUBT SCHON AN DRACHEN? is Out Now!

Posted on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024

The German edition of HERE BE DRAGONS, the eleventh Rivers of London comic storyline, is out in now! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow, it is published as WER GLAUBT SCHON AN DRACHEN? by Panini Verlag. Series artwork is by the ever-excellent José María Beroy. Here’s the synopsis…

Ein Urban-Fanatasy-Kracher aus der Welt von Ben Aaronovitchs einzigartigem Peter Grant-Erzähluniversum! Es heißt, ein gefährliches Monster treibt über den Straßen von London sein Unwesen …

Ein geflügeltes Monster mit Zähnen und Klauen, und sein Name ist …

Wyvern! Der angehende Zauberer Peter Grant steigt zum Himmel empor, um in einer Reihe seltsamer UFO-Sichtungen über der Hauptstadt zu ermitteln, nachdem ein Hubschrauber der Met nachts von etwas angegriffen wurde, das sich nur als Drache beschreiben lässt! Peter und sein Mentor Thomas Nightingale, der einzige zugelassene Zauberer der Londoner Polizei, werden in die Pläne eines Trios abtrünniger Fae verwickelt und gehen Ereignissen nach, die bis weit in die Swinging Sixties und zu einem der berühmtesten Londoner Einwohner zurückreichen – eines legendären Rockstars, der einen Pakt mit der Demi-Monde einging, der nie erfüllt wurde. Um die Stadt zu retten, muss Peter die wütende Bestie jagen – aber schafft er es, die Sache zu einem friedlichen Ende zu bringen? Oder wird er gezwungen sein, den letzten Wyvern zu töten?

… Falls er das überhaupt kann.

HERE BE DRAGONS is published in the UK and North America by Titan Comics (who also publish the first ten Rivers of London series storylines). Here’s the English-language 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.

For those who prefer to read in chronological order, or would just like to know how the Rivers of London novels, novellas, and comics fit together, check out the graphic below…

ICYMI: Ben Aaronovitch Interview with Hampshire Libraries

Posted on Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

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

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

There is a world hidden underneath this great city…

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

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

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

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

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

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

DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON: WER GLAUBT SCHON AN DRACHEN? is Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Thursday, February 1st, 2024

The German edition of the eleventh Rivers of London comic, HERE BE DRAGONS, is out in three weeks! Written by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, and James Swallow, it is due to be published as WER GLAUBT SCHON AN DRACHEN? on February 20th by Panini Verlag. Series artwork is by José María Beroy.

Here’s the synopsis…

Ein Urban-Fanatasy-Kracher aus der Welt von Ben Aaronovitchs einzigartigem Peter Grant-Erzähluniversum! Es heißt, ein gefährliches Monster treibt über den Straßen von London sein Unwesen …

Ein geflügeltes Monster mit Zähnen und Klauen, und sein Name ist …

Wyvern! Der angehende Zauberer Peter Grant steigt zum Himmel empor, um in einer Reihe seltsamer UFO-Sichtungen über der Hauptstadt zu ermitteln, nachdem ein Hubschrauber der Met nachts von etwas angegriffen wurde, das sich nur als Drache beschreiben lässt! Peter und sein Mentor Thomas Nightingale, der einzige zugelassene Zauberer der Londoner Polizei, werden in die Pläne eines Trios abtrünniger Fae verwickelt und gehen Ereignissen nach, die bis weit in die Swinging Sixties und zu einem der berühmtesten Londoner Einwohner zurückreichen – eines legendären Rockstars, der einen Pakt mit der Demi-Monde einging, der nie erfüllt wurde. Um die Stadt zu retten, muss Peter die wütende Bestie jagen – aber schafft er es, die Sache zu einem friedlichen Ende zu bringen? Oder wird er gezwungen sein, den letzten Wyvern zu töten?

… Falls er das überhaupt kann.

HERE BE DRAGONS is published in the UK and North America by Titan Comics, and is out now. Here’s the English-language 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.

For those who prefer to read in chronological order, or would just like to know how the Rivers of London novels, novellas, and comics fit together, check out the graphic below…

ICYMI: Alice Bell’s DISPLEASURE ISLAND Announced!

Posted on Tuesday, January 30th, 2024

We’re very happy to share with you today that Alice Bell‘s next novel, DISPLEASURE ISLAND, has been officially unveiled by its UK publisher, Corvus Books! Check out the cover reveal, above. Due to be published in the UK on May 2nd, here’s the synopsis…

‘There are apparently a lot of ghosts on Spike Island,’ said Basher. ‘So perhaps one more can’t hurt.’
Claire sighed and looked at Sophie. She was standing in the sunlight beaming through the windows, so she was washed out and almost see-through – but still very clearly sticking her tongue out at Claire. ‘Oh,’ said Claire, ‘I think you’d be surprised.’

Professional medium turned detective Claire, her best friend Sophie (a 17-year-old ghost) and their pals are enjoying a much-needed cheap holiday in an unfinished hotel on Spike Island off the West Coast of Ireland. Claire is flattered to be asked by the local ghost of a pirate captain to investigate the theft of treasure from the shipwreck that stranded him there several hundred years ago.

But just when she thinks she is closing in on the culprit, a murder takes place, and Claire and her friends quickly become the chief suspects. Can they recover the treasure, solve the murder and clear their names before all is lost?

DISPLEASURE ISLAND is also due to be published in North America, by Vintage, on September 3rd. We’ll share the cover as soon as we have it.

If you haven’t yet read Alice’s debut, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS — which introduces Claire and Sophie — then it is available now in paperback, published by Corvus Books (UK) and Vintage (North America).

Here are just a few of the great reviews GRAVE EXPECTATIONS 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

UK Paperback Edition of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s UNTAMED SHORE Out in Two Weeks!

Posted on Monday, January 29th, 2024

The UK paperback edition of Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s acclaimed UNTAMED SHORE is out in just two weeks! Due to be published by Jo Fletcher Books, on February 15th, here’s the synopsis…

From Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of MEXICAN GOTHIC (July 2020) and VELVET WAS THE NIGHT (August 2021), comes UNTAMED SHORE, a dark cocktail mixing a nuanced coming-of-age story with a classical noir.

Baja California, 1979: Viridiana spends her days under the harsh sun, watching the fishermen pulling in their nets and the dead sharks piled beside the seashore. Her head is filled with dreams of romance, travel and of a future beyond this drab town where her only option is to marry and have children.

When a wealthy American writer arrives with his wife and brother-in-law, Viridiana jumps at the offer of a job as his assistant, and she’s soon entangled in the glamorous foreigners’ lives. They offer excitement, and perhaps an escape from her humdrum life. When one of them dies, eager to protect her new friends, Viridiana lies – but soon enough, someone’s asking questions. It’s not long before Viridiana has some of her own questions about the identities of her new acquaintances.

Sharks may be dangerous, but there are worse predators nearby, ready to devour a naïve young woman unwittingly entangled in a web of deceit.

The novel has received a great number of positive reviews since it was first published. Here are just a few of them…

‘This thriller sets a quiet tone before building slowly and evenly, showing how a meek teenager trapped by circumstance grows into a strong woman who takes control of her future.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘This insightful look at criminal lifefrom the viewpoint of a sardonic yet lonely soul seems destined for more plaudits.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘The Great Gatsby meets Night of the Iguana in this elegantly spare and darkly twisted story of undercurrents, deception, and colliding cultures.’ — Hank Phillipi Ryan

‘Atmospheric, compelling, and very suspenseful.’ — Alison Gaylin

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia jumps into the Noir genre… Brutality takes on an almost divine quality‘ — L.A. Review of Books

‘[This] compelling crime debut […] is a small masterpiece and presages well for Moreno-Garcia if she continues on a criminal path.’ — Crime Time

‘This is a really good slow-burn suspense novel […] if you like character driven suspense, and are looking for an interesting setting you’ve probably never read before, definitely pick this one up!’ — Book Riot

‘While it is a slower paced novel, the focus on atmosphere and character development make it a compelling one. Moreno-Garcia once more draws the reader into her Mexico and presents a rich and vivid world.’ — Grimdark Magazine

‘[I]t’s measured, thought-provoking and darkly fascinating, the sort of insightful character study that Moreno-Garcia does so well, full of characters who are largely irredeemable but – in spite or perhaps because of this – utterly believable. Psychologically complex and darkly satisfying, it’s an absolutely fascinating, compelling read.’ — Track of Words

Zeno represents Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

THE HOLY TERRORS by Simon R. Green Out in Three Weeks!

Posted on Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

THE HOLY TERRORS, the first novel in a new series by Simon R. Green, is due out in three weeks! Due to be published by Severn House, on February 6th (in the UK and North America), here’s the synopsis…

Six people locked in a haunted hall… Cameras watching their every move… And then someone dies… This first in a spine-tingling new paranormal mystery series from New York Times bestselling British fantasy author Simon R. Green will make you doubt your judgement – and believe in ghosts!

Welcome to Spooky Time, the hit TV ghost-hunting show where the horror is scripted… and the ratings are declining rapidly. What better way to up the stakes – and boost the viewership – than by locking a select group of Z-list celebrities up for the night in The Most Haunted Hall in England (TM) and live-streaming the ‘terrifying’ results?

Soon Alistair, a newly appointed Bishop, actress Diana, medium Leslie, comedian Toby and celebrity chef Indira are trapped inside Stonehaven town hall, along with June, the host and producer of the show. The group tries to settle in and put on a good show, but then strange things start happening in their hall of horrors.

What is it about this place – and why is the TV crew outside not responding? Are they even on air? Logical Alistair and intuitive Diana attempt to keep the group’s fears at bay and rationalize the odd events, but there are things that just can’t be explained within reason… Can the pair stop a cold-blooded would-be killer – even if it’s come from beyond the grave?

This locked-room mystery with a paranormal twist is classic Simon R. Green, featuring his trademark humour and imagination, irresistible characters, and thoroughly entertaining plotting.

Severn House also publishes Green’s acclaimed Gideon Sable and Ishmael Jones mystery series.

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

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

Posted on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Because there’s something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious, vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it’s fallen to me to bring order out of chaos – or die trying. Which, I don’t mind telling you, would involve a hell of a lot of paperwork.

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

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

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

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

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

‘… thoroughly entertaining… An engaging (if occasionally violent) mix of magic and police procedural, this is a great kick-off to a very promising series, as well as the most satisfying fantasy thriller to hit bookshelves in quite some time.’ — SFX on RIVERS OF LONDON

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UNTAMED SHORE UK Paperback Out Next Month!

Posted on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024

Next month, Jo Fletcher Books is due to publish the UK paperback edition of Silvia Moreno-Garcia‘s acclaimed UNTAMED SHORE! Here’s the synopsis…

From Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of MEXICAN GOTHIC (July 2020) and VELVET WAS THE NIGHT (August 2021), comes UNTAMED SHORE, a dark cocktail mixing a nuanced coming-of-age story with a classical noir.

Baja California, 1979: Viridiana spends her days under the harsh sun, watching the fishermen pulling in their nets and the dead sharks piled beside the seashore. Her head is filled with dreams of romance, travel and of a future beyond this drab town where her only option is to marry and have children.

When a wealthy American writer arrives with his wife and brother-in-law, Viridiana jumps at the offer of a job as his assistant, and she’s soon entangled in the glamorous foreigners’ lives. They offer excitement, and perhaps an escape from her humdrum life. When one of them dies, eager to protect her new friends, Viridiana lies – but soon enough, someone’s asking questions. It’s not long before Viridiana has some of her own questions about the identities of her new acquaintances.

Sharks may be dangerous, but there are worse predators nearby, ready to devour a naïve young woman unwittingly entangled in a web of deceit.

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

‘This thriller sets a quiet tone before building slowly and evenly, showing how a meek teenager trapped by circumstance grows into a strong woman who takes control of her future.’ — Library Journal (Starred Review)

‘This insightful look at criminal lifefrom the viewpoint of a sardonic yet lonely soul seems destined for more plaudits.’ — Booklist (Starred Review)

‘Silvia Moreno-Garcia jumps into the Noir genre… Brutality takes on an almost divine quality‘ — L.A. Review of Books

‘The Great Gatsby meets Night of the Iguana in this elegantly spare and darkly twisted story of undercurrents, deception, and colliding cultures.’ — Hank Phillipi Ryan

‘Atmospheric, compelling, and very suspenseful.’ — Alison Gaylin

‘[This] compelling crime debut […] is a small masterpiece and presages well for Moreno-Garcia if she continues on a criminal path.’ — Crime Time

‘This is a really good slow-burn suspense novel […] if you like character driven suspense, and are looking for an interesting setting you’ve probably never read before, definitely pick this one up!’ — Book Riot

‘[I]t’s measured, thought-provoking and darkly fascinating, the sort of insightful character study that Moreno-Garcia does so well, full of characters who are largely irredeemable but – in spite or perhaps because of this – utterly believable. Psychologically complex and darkly satisfying, it’s an absolutely fascinating, compelling read.’ — Track of Words

‘While it is a slower paced novel, the focus on atmosphere and character development make it a compelling one. Moreno-Garcia once more draws the reader into her Mexico and presents a rich and vivid world.’ — Grimdark Magazine

Zeno represents Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of the JABberwocky Literary Agency in New York.

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER by Tim Powers Available Now in Two New Audiobook Editions

Posted on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024

The CD and MP3 CD audiobook editions of MY BROTHER’S KEEPER, the latest novel from Tim Powers, are out now! Published by W. F. Howes, and narrated by Kristin Atherton. Here’s the synopsis…

THE TRUE STORY OF THE BRONTË SISTERS AS ONLY TIM POWERS COULD WRITE IT.

This is a ghost story. It is a story about werewolves, and things that go bump in the night. It is a story of an ill-fated land, the pathless moors of Northern England so well chronicled in Wuthering Heights. And it is the story of a real family whose destiny it is to deal with this darkly glamorous and dangerous world.

When young Emily Brontë helps a wounded man she finds at the foot of an ancient pagan shrine in the remote Yorkshire moors, her life becomes contentiously entwined with his. He is Alcuin Curzon, embittered member of a sect working to eradicate the resurgent plague of lycanthropy in Europe and northern England. But Emily’s father, curate of the Haworth village church, is responsible for having unwittingly brought a demonic werewolf god to Yorkshire forty years ago — and it is taking possession of Emily’s beloved but foolish and dissolute brother. Curzon must regard Emily’s family as a dire threat.

In spite of being at deadly odds, Emily and Curzon find themselves thrown together in fighting werewolves, confronting pagan gods, even saving each other from the lures of moorland demons. And in a final battle that sweeps from the haunted village of Haworth to a monstrous shrine far out on the moors, the two of them must be reluctant allies against an ancient power that seems likely to take their souls as well as their lives.

The print and eBook editions of the novel are out now, published in the UK by AdAstra/Head of Zeus. Here are just a few reviews the novel has received so far…

‘A masterly, compelling, and moving tale that places Tim Powers among the greatest fantasy writers of his or any generation. Countless novels have involved the Brontë family, but none would so surely please and enchant them as this one. MY BROTHER’S KEEPER is a pure delight.’ — Dean Koontz

‘Combines the Brontës, a mysterious cult, and werewolves… run, don’t walk, to your bookstore for this decadent Gothic bonbon.’ — Silvia Moreno-Garcia

‘[A]n impressive mash-up of literary biography and werewolf lore… Through all the supernatural drama, the shifting family dynamic remains the heart of the story and their domestic travails prove just as harrowing as any paranormal showdown. The result is a treat for Powers’s fans and Brontë lovers alike.’ — Publishers Weekly

‘MY BROTHER’S KEEPER is at its strongest when deftly mixing real-world biography with the stuff of horror… an eerie period piece perfectly well-suited to darkening October nights.’ — Wall Street Journal

‘… a joltingly good read… It’s all here: the wuthering wind, the vicarage, the three genius daughters and their useless brother… Powers brilliantly weaves through the hallowed family history a tale of ancient Irish curses, consumptive ghosts, fairylands and a werewolf cult that is blighting the North Country. It’s gruesome, gripping stuff as the fearless Emily, aided by her dog Pilot, forces her family to confront uncomfortable truths and lay a curse to rest.’ — Daily Mail (UK)

Zeno represents Tim Powers in the UK and Commonwealth, on behalf of Russell Galen at the Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.

SOHO ÜZERİNDE AY by Ben Aaronovitch Out Now in Turkey!

Posted on Friday, December 15th, 2023

MOON OVER SOHO, the second Rivers of London novel by Ben Aaronovitch, is out now in a new Turkish edition! Published by Epsilon, as SOHO ÜZERİNDE AY, it was translated by Handan Haktanır. Here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant geri döndü. Bir kez daha fantastik kurgu ve polisiye karışımı, sürükleyici bir üslup. Karanlık, büyülü, tüyler ürpertici, esprili, ilgi çekici ve benzersiz…

Ben Aaronovitch, açıkça taptığı bir şehrin sevimli ayrıntılarını yüzeye çıkarmada Londra Nehirleri`nin başarılı formülünü sürdürüyor.

Londra`nın Soho semtindeki Groucho Kulübü`nün tuvaletinde bir gazeteci vahşice öldürülmüştür. Soruşturmaya yardım etmesi için Londra Polis Teşkilatı Memuru Peter Grant çağrılır. Aynı zamanda Peter, performans sergiledikten kısa bir süre sonra meydana gelen amatör caz müzisyenlerinin bir dizi ölümünden rahatsızdır. Görünüşe göre doğal ölüm nedenlerine rağmen her vücut, Peter`ın ölümlerin doğal olmaktan uzak olduğuna inanmasına neden olan sihirli bir imza taşımaktadır.

 Daha fazla araştırma, muhteşem bir performansın hemen ardından ölen tek caz sanatçısının Cyrus olmadığını ortaya koyar. Bu yetenekli adamların peşine düşen bir tür doğaüstü canlı var gibi görünmektedir ve Peter bunun nedenini, nasıl ve kim olduğunu bulmaya kararlıdır.

 Eski biz caz sanatçısı olan Peter`ın babası tehlikede mi? Peter`ın kendisi tehlikede mi? Her durumda katiller kim ve Peter daha fazla zarar vermeden onların izini sürebilecek mi?

Soho Üzerinde Ay bu soruları yanıtlıyor ve kitabı okumanın keyfi, paranormal bir gizemi çözme süreci kadar Peter`ın anlatımında da kendini gösteriyor. Hikâye, esrarengiz konuları ele alırken zekâ ve mizahla harmanlanıyor.

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

‘… enormous storytelling gusto… exhilarating and emotionally affecting…’ — SF Reviews

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

‘… as funny as it is fantastic… [The plot] hops along happily to a toe-tapping time signature, with a sweet solo here and an awesome cacophony of noise there… vast amounts of fun…’ — Speculative Scotsman

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

‘MOON OVER SOHO is very good. Ben Aaronovitch continues the successful formula of RIVERS OF LONDON in bringing to the surface the endearing minutae of a city that he clearly adores. He also demonstrates the “real world” problems of a ritual magician trying to have some sort of ‘normal’ life… Grant continues to observe his world(s) in a detached way – a narrative voice that lends itself well to dry humor (and fits less neatly with the book’s few over-the-top action scenes). Mr. Aaronovitch is, in short, writing the best contemporary occult detective series on the shelf today, and that’s by a substantial margin.’ — Pornokitsch