Peter Grant Series - Zeno Agency Ltd.

New Rivers of London Omnibus Edition out in Germany!

Posted on Friday, August 21st, 2020

The first two novels in Ben Aaronovitch‘s internationally-bestselling Peter Grant/Rivers of London series are published in Germany today in a new omnibus edition! Published by DTV, the two novels are: DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON and SCHWARZER MOND ÜBER SOHO. Here’s the new edition’s synopsis, which is a great place for new readers to start…

Der Doppelband für Neueinsteiger

Die Anfänge der unglaublichen Laufbahn des Peter Grant, seines Zeichens Police Constable in London − mit einer ausgeprägten Begabung fürs Magische. Ein Umstand, der seinen Vorgesetzten nicht entgeht. Und schon nimmt Peters Karriere eine gänzlich unerwartete Wendung: Er wird Zauberlehrling, der erste in England seit fünfzig Jahren! Das große Abenteuer beginnt.

DTV has published all of Ben’s novels and novellas in Germany, in print and audiobook. The eight novel, FALSE VALUE, is due to be published in Germany as EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET, on October 23rd.

The series is published in the UK by Gollancz: RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO, WHISPERS UNDERGROUND, BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER, LIES SLEEPING, FALSE VALUE.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for book one (in case you’ve somehow managed to miss this series)…

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.

Ben Aaronovitch’s VERANO VENENOSO out now in Spain!

Posted on Monday, August 3rd, 2020

Spanish fans of Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant/Rivers of London series rejoice: FOXGLOVE SUMMER is now available, published as VERANO VENENOSO by Oz Editorial! Translated by Marina Rodil, here’s the synopsis…

La vida en el campo no es tan idílica como parece…

El agente de policía y aprendiz de mago Peter Grant decide tomarse un descanso del trabajo en la ajetreada ciudad de Londres para ayudar en la investigación de la desaparición de dos niñas en Rushpool, un pueblecito cerca de Gales donde se siente como un pez fuera del agua. Aunque en un primer momento parece que no se trata de un caso relacionado con la magia, pronto Peter descubrirá que los campos y bosques idílicos de la campiña inglesa esconden una historia muy oscura y que los seres de los cuentos de hadas no solo habitan en los cuentos infantiles…

Oz Editorial has also published the first four books in the series: RÍOS DE LONDRES (RIVERS OF LONDON), LA LUNA SOBRE EL SOHO (MOON OVER SOHO), SUSURROS SUBTERRÁNEOS (WHISPERS UNDERGROUND), and FAMILIAS FATALES (BROKEN HOMES).

FOXGLOVE SUMMER and Ben’s other books set in this world 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). The series has also been published widely in translation.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for FOXGLOVE SUMMER…

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…

Below are all of the covers (to date) for FOXGLOVE SUMMER: UK (Gollancz), US (DAW Books), Germany (DTV), France (J’ai Lu), and Czechia (Argo).

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

‘When it comes to the genre of urban fantasy, connoisseurs tend to rate Ben Aaronovitch’s RIVERS OF LONDON and its sequels quite highly. The adventures of Metropolitan policeman and apprentice wizard Peter Grant have thus far all been based around the city of London (it is, after all, where he works), and the author has drawn from the capital’s rich geography and occult history to create a profound and engaging world filled with the grit and stench of the city, though at the same time celebrating its warmth and wealth of choice. The very setup of the books is both urban and fantastic… The main story functions as an interesting thriller, and the additional commentary on the way the UK handles major incidents like the disappearance of children is both thought-provoking and carefully handled… FOXGLOVE SUMMER is evocative, mysterious, engaging, and, mostly, enormous amounts of fun. Fans of the Peter Grant series will not be disappointed, and those new to the books should start with Rivers in London, safe in the knowledge that the sequels are just as good.’ — Starburst

‘Ben Aaronovitch is in top form in this fifth Peter Grant novel, as his beloved police constable ventures into the wilds of the English countryside. As ever, the realistic police procedural details ground the plot, but the wonderful and unexpected fantasy world that lurks just below the surface of reality makes this tale the rousing success that it is. The tension is high from the opening of this unpredictable story, but the gravity of Grant’s newest case doesn’t keep his snarky humor or his wry insight from shining through, making this a book that new readers and fans alike will relish.’ — RT Book Reviews (January 2015 Top Pick)

‘[Aaronovitch’s] ability to construct a fast, tense, readable police procedural (with magic) is inarguable. The combination—and frequently, the clash—of modern policing methods with magic and folklore remains a compelling juxtaposition, one that’s funny more often than not… Peter’s voice remains compelling. It’s one of the most appealing things about this series. In removing him from his usual stomping grounds to the countryside, Aaronovitch takes the opportunity to cast a minor side-eye at the white uniformity and unthinking assumptions of part of Britain: as a mixed-race lad from London, Peter sticks out in Leominster… It’s amusing. It’s diverting. It’s fun…’ — Tor.com

‘There are only a few urban fantasy series I would drop everything for, and this is one of them. So when FOXGLOVE SUMMER arrived on my doorstep, I did exactly that – every other book that was on my plate got put on hold while I set forth to devour this one. Move over, “The Boy Who Lived”, for when it comes to my favorite British wizard, his name is Peter Grant… Out of all the books so far, I feel this one reads the most like a police procedural and also has the strongest self-contained and cohesive mystery plot yet. A lot of urban fantasies sell themselves as mysteries, but this one actually feels like a mystery, with subtle clues dropped along the course of the investigation that the attentive reader might pick up and use later on to put together the pieces… Peter’s most hilarious lines are often laced with strong undertones of sarcasm and self-deprecation, and delivered with the kind of subtlety that contrasts greatly with the in-your-face type of snark that I’m so used to in my mostly American UF heroes and heroines. Oh, but how Peter Grant makes me laugh and laugh and laugh. Reading these books in public is a risk, because I never know when something Aaronovitch writes will make me guffaw out loud, drawing stares from strangers around me who all then think I’ve gone nuts… this book is a great example of how a series and its main character can grow while still retaining everything that makes the previous novels so great. An extraordinary fun ride that’s not to be missed.’ — Bibliosanctum (5* Review)

TALES FROM THE FOLLY Out in Three Days!

Posted on Tuesday, July 28th, 2020

TALES FROM THE FOLLY, Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated short story collection set in the Rivers of London universe, is officially out on Friday (31st)! A must read for fans of Ben’s internationally best-selling and highly acclaimed series, here’s the synopsis and table of contents…

Tales from the Folly is a carefully curated collection that gathers together previously published stories and brand new tales in the same place for the first time.

Each tale features a new introduction from the author, filled with insight and anecdote offering the reader a deeper exploration into this absorbing fictional world. This is a must read for any Rivers of London fan.

Join Peter, Nightingale, Abigail, Agent Reynolds and Tobias Winter for a series of perfectly portioned tales. Discover what’s haunting a lonely motorway service station, who still wanders the shelves of a popular London bookshop, and what exactly happened to the River Lugg…

With an introduction from internationally bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris.

This collection includes:
The Home Crowd Advantage
The Domestic
The Cockpit
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Granny
King of The Rats
A Rare Book of Cunning Device
A Dedicated Follower of Fashion
Favourite Uncle
Vanessa Sommer’s Other Christmas List
Three Rivers, Two Husbands and a Baby
Moments One-Three

Available first as an eBook, published by JABberwocky, there are plans for an audio and print edition in the works — we’ll share more information as we have it.

The Rivers of London/Peter Grant series — currently at eight novels and two novellas — is published in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); and widely in translation.

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

‘As brilliant and funny as ever’ — The Sun

‘Charming, witty, exciting’ — The Independent

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

Coming Soon: Ben Aaronovitch’s EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET!

Posted on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020

In late October, DTV is due to published EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET, the German edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s FALSE VALUE! The eighth novel in the author’s internationally bestselling Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, here’s the synopsis…

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

DTV has published all of Ben’s Peter Grant novels and novellas in Germany to date. FALSE VALUE is published in the UK by Gollancz, and DAW Books in North America. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm.

Leaving his old police life behind, he takes a job with Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner’s new London start up: the Serious Cybernetics Corporation.

Drawn into the orbit of Old Street’s famous ‘silicon roundabout’, Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle.

But magic is not finished with the Met’s first trainee wizard in fifty years…

Because a secret is hiding somewhere in the building. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological – and twice as dangerous.

Ben’s latest novella set in the same world, THE OCTOBER MAN, is also set in Germany and features a new protagonist: Tobias Winter. It is published by Gollancz in the UK, Subterranean Press in North America, and DTV in Germany.

Ben Aaronovitch’s LA LUNA SU SOHO Out Now in Paperback!

Posted on Friday, June 26th, 2020

A new Italian paperback edition of LA LUNA SU SOHO, the second Rivers of London/Peter Grant novel by Ben Aaronovitch, is out today! Published by Fanucci Editore, here’s the synopsis…

Una canzone. Questo è ciò che Peter Grant, poliziotto della Metropolitan Police Service di Londra e apprendista stregone, non può far a meno di notare quando esamina per la prima volta il cadavere di Cyrus Wilkins, batterista jazz part-time e contabile a tempo pieno. Causa del decesso: attacco cardiaco durante un’esibizione al Club 606 di Soho. Fin qui tutto normale. Ma le note del buon vecchio jazz risuonano da quel corpo esanime come fosse uno stereo. E Peter sa che si tratta di una morte tutt’altro che naturale.

E mentre qualcosa di inquietante e di magico si muove nell’ombra uccidendo una serie di musicisti jazz dilettanti e semi-professionisti durante le loro esecuzioni, Peter dovrà indagare anche su un secondo intricatissimo caso che nulla ha a che vedere con il primo. Mentre investiga intorno a questa serie di morti tutte avvenute nel quartiere di Soho, Peter scoprirà che la misteriosa minaccia magica porta direttamente sulle tracce di un giovane musicista jazz, un talentuoso trombettista di nome Richard “Lord” Grant, altrimenti noto come suo padre. Con l’aiuto del detective Thomas Nightingale, l’ultimo mago presente in Inghilterra, e l’appassionata di jazz Simone Fitzwilliam, tenterà di combattere il più terribile degli incubi che avanza strisciando per le strade di Soho in cerca di un po’ di Jazz.

Dopo I fiumi di Londra Ben Aaronovitch torna con il secondo, rocambolesco urban fantasy della serie Peter Grant, La luna su Soho.

Fanucci has also published RIVERS OF LONDON — the first novel in the series — as I FIUMI DI LONDRA.

MOON OVER SOHO and the rest of Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas are published in the UK by Gollancz. The series is published in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas). The series has also been published widely in translation.

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.

‘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

‘Unexpectedly and truly fun, RIVERS OF LONDON promised many great things for the further adventures of Peter Grant. MOON OVER SOHO… [is] just as entertaining and just exciting as the first, with added depth to boot… an excellent, and in my opinion better, continuation to Peter Grant’s story. Aaronovitch in no way disappoints, so readers of the first book should have no fear of that digging in to the second one. The authenticity and accuracy of the London described by Aaronovitch still amazes me, in fact his books are almost worth reading just for that and the cultural references.’ 5/5 — LEC Book Reviews

… 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

INTRODUCING RIVERS OF LONDON: A Perfect Time to Start Reading Ben Aaronovitch’s Best-Selling Series!

Posted on Wednesday, June 10th, 2020

Tomorrow, Gollancz publishes a new eBook collection featuring the first three novels in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, best-selling Peter Grant/Rivers of London urban fantasy series! Perfect for newcomers to the series, we are sure it will help get you hooked on the series! Here’s the synopsis…

My name is Peter Grant, and until January I was just an ordinary policeman in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else).

Then my life took a turn for the strange, and now I’m a Detective Constable and trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years. My world has become somewhat more complicated, and it’s safe to say the problems London’s streets throw at me are now much more difficult to respond to.

But there’s someone out there causing trouble, using all manner of magic to do it, and they’re putting ordinary Londoners at risk. It’s fallen to me to bring order out of the chaos – or die trying.

Like I said, life is stranger now. But I’m a police officer at heart, London is my city, and I’ve got a job to do.

This eBook boxset contains the first three novels in the bestselling Rivers of London series. Full of warmth, humour, and mysteries that will keep you guessing, this is your perfect introduction to a whole new side of England’s capital.

The first three novels in the series are RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO and WHISPERS UNDERGROUND.

The other books in the series are also published in the UK by Gollancz: BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER, THE FURTHEST STATION (novella), THE HANGING TREE, LIES SLEEPING and FALSE VALUE. The stand-alone novella, THE OCTOBER MAN (set in Germany) is also available via Gollancz.

The series has been a best-seller in the UK, and is widely available in translation. For more details, check out Ben’s client page.

Audio Cast Edition of DER BÖSE ORT out now in Germany!

Posted on Monday, June 1st, 2020

Audible Germany has exclusively published a new cast edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s fourth Peter Grant novel, BROKEN HOMES! Published as DER BÖSE ORT, here’s the synopsis…

“Die magischen Fälle des Peter Grant” von Ben Aaronovitch sind internationale Bestseller und absoluter Kult. In seinem vierten Fall führt der ausgebildete Buchhändler und ausgezeichnete Drehbuchautor (“Dr. Who”) an einen Ort, an dem Humor und Spannung wie die Magie des Bösen kongenial miteinander verschmelzen. Ein Audible Original der Krimi-Spitzenklasse.

Der Skygarden Tower in London ist ein düsteres Fleckchen. Ein Sozialwohnblock im Süden der Stadt, wo Drogendealer auf skurrile Künstlergestalter, korrupte Politiker und irre Serienmörder treffen. Für einen Polizisten auf den ersten Blick nichts Außergewöhnliches. Aber Peter Grant ist und sieht bekanntlich mehr. Ein Constable, der nicht nur seinen Job macht, sondern als Zauberlehrling in Ausbildung immer auch ein Auge für das Magische und seine Unerklärlichkeiten hat. Und auf sein Gespür ist wieder mal Verlass: Ein vermeintlich unspektakulärer Autounfall, ein wertvolles gestohlene Buch aus der magischen “Weißen Bibliothek” in Weimar und der offenkundig gestörte Architekt des Towers stehen in einem mysteriösen Zusammenhang. Alle Spuren führen nach Skygarden.

Da hilft nur eins: Peter und seine Kollegin Lesley ziehen als verdecktes Ermittlerpaar in eine der Sozialwohnungen und sind so plötzlich Teil der verrückten Nachbarschaft. Doch die verborgenen Kräfte des Ortes ziehen das Böse auf magische Weise an und haben Verbündete, die Peter an seine Grenze bringen.

Audible has also published the first three books as cast editions.

The novels are published in print and digital in Germany by DTV, where they have frequently landed on bestseller lists.

Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London series is published in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); and widely in translation.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for BROKEN HOMES…

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 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?

Next Month, INTRODUCING RIVERS OF LONDON…

Posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2020

Next month (June 11th), Gollancz is due to publish a new eBook collection featuring the first three novels in Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, best-selling Peter Grant/Rivers of London urban fantasy series. This is a fantastic opportunity for new readers to get hooked on the series (we have no doubt that you will be). Here’s the synopsis…

My name is Peter Grant, and until January I was just an ordinary policeman in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else).

Then my life took a turn for the strange, and now I’m a Detective Constable and trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years. My world has become somewhat more complicated, and it’s safe to say the problems London’s streets throw at me are now much more difficult to respond to.

But there’s someone out there causing trouble, using all manner of magic to do it, and they’re putting ordinary Londoners at risk. It’s fallen to me to bring order out of the chaos – or die trying.

Like I said, life is stranger now. But I’m a police officer at heart, London is my city, and I’ve got a job to do.

This eBook boxset contains the first three novels in the bestselling Rivers of London series. Full of warmth, humour, and mysteries that will keep you guessing, this is your perfect introduction to a whole new side of England’s capital.

The first three novels in the series are RIVERS OF LONDON, MOON OVER SOHO and WHISPERS UNDERGROUND.

Gollancz has also published the other novels in the series, which currently also includes BROKEN HOMES, FOXGLOVE SUMMER, THE FURTHEST STATION (novella), THE HANGING TREE, LIES SLEEPING and FALSE VALUE. The stand-alone novella, THE OCTOBER MAN (set in Germany) is also available via Gollancz.

The series has been a best-seller in the UK, and is widely available in translation. For more details, check out Ben’s client page.

DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON: DETEKTIVGESCHICHTEN out now in Germany!

Posted on Friday, April 3rd, 2020

The fourth Rivers of London collection, DETECTIVE STORIES, is out now in Germany! Written by Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel, the book is published by Panini as DETEKTIVGESCHICHTEN. Here’s the synopsis…

Neue Fälle für Star-Ermittler Peter Grant!

Diesmal haben sich die Autoren Ben Aaronovitch und Andrew Cartmel in einer Reihe von Kurzgeschichten ihrem magisch begabten Polizisten Peter Grant, seiner Partnerin Sarah Guleed und ihren Mitarbeitern gewidmet. Eine Anthologie übernatürlicher Verbrechen auf den Straßen Londons, die direkt in die Kontinuität der „Die Flüsse von London“-Romane greifen.

Panini has also published the first three collections from the Rivers of London comic series: AUTOWAHN (BODY WORK), DIE NACHTHEXE (NIGHT WITCH) and SCHWARZSCHIMMEL (BLACK MOULD).

The series is published in English by Titan Comics. At present, the first seven story-arcs have been collected. Here’s the English-language synopsis for DETECTIVE STORIES…

CSI meets Harry Potter in this fantastic new graphic novel from Ben Aaronovitch, writer of the best-selling Rivers of London supernatural police procedural crime novel series! An anthology series of stories featuring Police Constable Peter Grant, his partner, Sahra Guleed, and their associates, as they tackle supernatural crime on the streets of London! An all-new adventure for Ben Aaronvitch’s laconic, way-past-cool but slightly geeky trainee wizard and budding detective, Peter Grant! Tying directly into the Rivers of London continuity. Aaronovitch is joined by Doctor Who writer Andrew Cartmel for this gripping new series.

FALSE VALUE is No.1!

Posted on Sunday, March 1st, 2020

FALSE VALUE, Ben Aaronovitch‘s eighth Peter Grant / Rivers of London novel has enters the Sunday Times Bestseller list at #1!

Massive congratulations to Ben on this amazing milestone! Very well-deserved!

FALSE VALUE is out now in the UK (Gollancz) and North America (DAW Books). Here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm.

Leaving his old police life behind, he takes a job with Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner’s new London start up: the Serious Cybernetics Corporation.

Drawn into the orbit of Old Street’s famous ‘silicon roundabout’, Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle.

But magic is not finished with the Met’s first trainee wizard in fifty years…

Because a secret is hiding somewhere in the building. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological – and twice as dangerous.

FALSE VALUE is out Tomorrow in North America!

Posted on Monday, February 24th, 2020

Ben Aaronovitch‘s eighth Peter Grant novel, FALSE VALUE is out today in North America! Published by DAW Books, here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with émigré Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner’s brand new London start up – the Serious Cybernetics Company.

Drawn into the orbit of Old Street’s famous ‘silicon roundabout’, Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant’s favourite son.

Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological – and just as dangerous.

The novel was published in the UK last week, by Gollancz.

Here’s what Publishers Weekly had to say about FALSE VALUE, in their Starred Review: ‘Aaronovitch showcases a superlative blend of whimsy and grit in the eighth Rivers of London urban fantasy… The suspenseful mystery at the novel’s core is laced with humor and charm. Jim Butcher meets Douglas Adams in this winning series installment.’

The series is published in North America by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-). Gollancz has published all of the Peter Grant books in the UK. The most recent book, THE OCTOBER MAN, is set in the same universe but has a new protagonist (Tobias Winter) and a new location (Germany) — it is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Subterranean Press.

There is also a comic series set in the same universe, written by Ben and Andrew Cartmel — the first seven story arcs are complete, published by Titan Comics.

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

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

‘… witty, fun, and full of vivid characters, and the plot twists will keep even seasoned mystery fans guessing.’ — Publishers Weekly on RIVERS OF LONDON

‘… enormous storytelling gusto… exhilarating and emotionally affecting…’ — SF Reviews on MOON OVER SOHO

‘… a relentlessly entertaining, fast-moving and enjoyable urban fantasy with intriguing hints of greater depth waiting to be explored.’ — Wertzone on MOON OVER SOHO

‘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… This fast, engrossing novel is enjoyable, cheerful, and accessible to new readers.’ — Publishers Weekly on WHISPERS UNDERGROUND

‘… 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

‘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

‘Smart, edgy and dramatic, BROKEN HOMES is a fine addition to a fascinating series.’ — Locus

‘When it comes to the genre of urban fantasy, connoisseurs tend to rate Ben Aaronovitch’s RIVERS OF LONDON and its sequels quite highly. The adventures of Metropolitan policeman and apprentice wizard Peter Grant have thus far all been based around the city of London (it is, after all, where he works), and the author has drawn from the capital’s rich geography and occult history to create a profound and engaging world filled with the grit and stench of the city, though at the same time celebrating its warmth and wealth of choice. The very setup of the books is both urban and fantastic… The main story functions as an interesting thriller, and the additional commentary on the way the UK handles major incidents like the disappearance of children is both thought-provoking and carefully handled… FOXGLOVE SUMMER is evocative, mysterious, engaging, and, mostly, enormous amounts of fun. Fans of the Peter Grant series will not be disappointed, and those new to the books should start with Rivers in London, safe in the knowledge that the sequels are just as good.’ — Starburst

‘Aaronvitch guarantees a thrilling read; his style and approach to world building are simply too tight and too accomplished not to. THE FURTHEST STATION is a strong example of compact and intense storytelling… We get some nice character development, especially via Peter’s cousin. She’s beginning to dabble in magic herself, which is a little like learning to juggle hand live hand grenades, and this provides a decent B-plot. THE FURTHEST STATION is short, but perfectly formed.’ — Starburst

‘[H]ijinks, explosions, property destruction on the million-pound scale, a rival tradition of British wizardry (or rather witchery) that isn’t too happy with Nightingale’s old boys’ club tradition, and interfering American military contractors. And yes, the Faceless Man. Narrated with Aaronovitch’s trademark blend of wit, sarcasm, and police acronyms, THE HANGING TREE is a breeze of a supernatural detective thriller.’ — Tor.com

‘… recounted with deadpan British wit and irony… packed with fascinating historical detail… Lively and amusing and different.’ — Kirkus on LIES SLEEPING

‘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 on THE OCTOBER MAN

The wait is finally over: Ben Aaronovitch’s FALSE VALUE out now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, February 20th, 2020

The highly-anticipated, eighth novel in Ben Aaronovitch‘s Peter Grant series, FALSE VALUE is out now in the UK! Published by Gollancz, here’s the synopsis…

Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with émigré Silicon Valley tech genius Terrence Skinner’s brand new London start up – the Serious Cybernetics Company.

Drawn into the orbit of Old Street’s famous ‘silicon roundabout’, Peter must learn how to blend in with people who are both civilians and geekier than he is. Compared to his last job, Peter thinks it should be a doddle. But magic is not finished with Mama Grant’s favourite son.

Because Terrence Skinner has a secret hidden in the bowels of the SCC. A technology that stretches back to Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and forward to the future of artificial intelligence. A secret that is just as magical as it technological – and just as dangerous.

The novel is due to be published in North America next week (19th), by DAW Books.

Here’s what Publishers Weekly had to say about FALSE VALUE, in their Starred Review: ‘Aaronovitch showcases a superlative blend of whimsy and grit in the eighth Rivers of London urban fantasy… The suspenseful mystery at the novel’s core is laced with humor and charm. Jim Butcher meets Douglas Adams in this winning series installment.’

Gollancz has published all of the Peter Grant books in the UK. The series is published in North America by Del Rey (1-3) and DAW Books (4-). The most recent book, THE OCTOBER MAN, is set in the same universe but has a new protagonist (Tobias Winter) and a new location (Germany) — it is published in the UK by Gollancz, and in North America by Subterranean Press. All of the books are also available as audiobooks.