Tag: Rivers Of London

Next March, Find Out WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER…

Posted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020

Announced today, Ben Aaronovitch‘s next novella is coming out next early next year! Set in the same world as his internationally acclaimed and best-selling Rivers of London world, WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER is due to be published by Gollancz in the UK, on March 18th, 2021.

We don’t have a final cover just yet (we’ll share it when we do), and we’ll hopefully have more news about other international editions. In the meantime, here’s the synopsis to further whet your appetite…

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?

North America Audio Edition of TALES FROM THE FOLLY out Tomorrow!

Posted on Monday, October 5th, 2020

Rivers of London and Ben Aaronovitch fans in North America, your wait ends tomorrow, when Tantor Media publishes the North American audio edition of TALES FROM THE FOLLY! A collection of short stories set in the Rivers of London/Peter Grant series, here’s the synopsis…

Return to the world of Rivers of London in this first short story collection from bestselling author, Ben Aaronovitch. 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 listener a deeper exploration into this absorbing fictional world. This is a must-listen 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.

Already a huge hit in eBook, this collection is a must read for all fans of Peter Grant, Nightingale and the other excellent characters in the series. The UK audio edition is out now, published by Orion. The eBook edition and forthcoming print edition of the collection are published by JABberwocky.

Czech Edition of Ben Aaronovitch’s THE OCTOBER MAN Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2020

We’re very happy to share the news that the Czech edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s THE OCTOBER MAN is out now! Published by Argo as STÍN NAD TREVÍREM, it’s the first set in Germany and starring Tobias Winter. Here’s the synopsis…

První případ, který se neodehrává v Londýně a který neřeší Peter Grant. Svižné dobrodružství, které si v ničem nezadá s eskapádami slavné partičky z Rozmaru a anglických říčních božstev. Tajnosti tentokrát obestírají řeku Moselu a jihoněmecké město Trevír, proslavené vínem a starověkými Římany. Právě zde je na vinici nalezena mrtvola muže pokrytého plísní. Místní policie s něčím takovým nemá zkušenosti, kolem případu se navíc vznáší aura nadpřirozena, a proto je na scénu pozván vyšetřovatel Tobias Winter, německá obdoba Petera Granta, který s pomocí trevírské policistky Vanessy Sommerové záhy odhalí propojení oběti se skupinkou místních mužů a čímsi, co město a jeho okolí prorůstá už pěkně dlouhou dobu. Případ se větví a nejde v něm pouze o plíseň a vraždu, nýbrž i o vlákna minulosti, sahající do dávné historie Trevíru.

Knižní řada Řeky Londýna se vydává do Německa!

Argo has also published Ben’s first seven Peter Grant novels, the novella THE FURTHEST STATION, and also the first two Rivers of London comic collections (co-authored by Andrew Cartmel).

THE OCTOBER MAN is published by Gollancz in the UK, Subterranean Press in North America, and DTV in Germany. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

Trier is famous for wine, Romans and for being Germany’s oldest city. So when a man is found dead with, his body impossibly covered in a fungal rot, the local authorities know they are out of their depth.

Fortunately this is Germany, where there are procedures for everything.

Enter Investigator Tobias Winter, whose aim is to get in, deal with the problem, and get out with the minimum of fuss, personal danger and paperwork. With the help of frighteningly enthusiastic local cop, Vanessa Sommer, he’s quick to link the first victim to a group of ordinary middle aged men – and to realise they may have accidentally reawakened a bloody conflict from a previous century. But the rot is still spreading, literally and with the suspect list extending to people born before Frederick the Great solving the case may mean unearthing the city’s secret magical history.

… so long as that history doesn’t kill them first.

Finally, check out some 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

‘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

‘Aaronovitch is well on his way to becoming this country’s standout voice of urban fantasy, with a sprinkling of humour… a tasty little mystery… Set in Germany, with all the usual murder and mayhem the author is famed for, it’s about as enjoyable as a tease can be from a writer on top form.’ — The Sun (UK)

‘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

Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel’s FUCHSGESCHREI Out Now in Germany!

Posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020

CRY FOX, the fifth Rivers of London comic story arc by Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel, is now available in Germany! Published by Panini as DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON: FUCHSGESCHREI, here’s the synopsis…

Die russische Mafia will Rache für ihren „Verrat“ an der (Nacht) Hexe Varvara üben. Dazu heuern sie zahlreiche Schurken der magischen Londoner Unterwelt an. Die ehemalige sowjetische Zauberin steht jedoch unter dem Schutz von Londons ganz eigenem Zauberer-Polizisten Peter Grant … Detective Peter Grant! Um die Aufmerksamkeit von Peter und seinen Kollegen in eine andere Richtung zu lenken, wird die Tochter eines prominenten russischen Oligarchen von Unbekannten entführt …

Panini has also published the first four comic collections in Germany: BODY WORK, NIGHT WITCH, BLACK MOULD and DETECTIVE STORIES.

CRY FOX and the other acclaimed Rivers of London comics are published in English by Titan Comics — the series also includes WATER WEED, ACTION AT A DISTANCE, and THE FEY AND THE FURIOUS.

Here’s the English-language synopsis for CRY FOX…

The bookstore smash-hit returns for a brand-new story, picking up the threads from the most recent bestselling Rivers of London novel, The Hanging Tree!

Vengeful Russian mobsters are looking to hire members of London’s own more-then-natural underworld to bring bloody retribution down on the witch Varvara. However, the ex-Soviet sorcerer is under the protective wing of London’s own wizarding cop, Peter Grant (now a proper detective and everything), and to get the attention of Grant and his colleagues, the daughter of a prominent Russian oligarch is kidnapped by parties unknown but possibly fox-like.

What makes it worse is that Peter is going to have to leave his beloved London and gasp go out into the countryside! And when there’s trees and fields and wildlife involved, things never end well…

The comic series is set in the same world as Ben’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London fiction series, which is published in Germany by DTV, in the UK by Gollancz, in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-), and Subterranean Press (novellas).

UK Paperback Edition of Ben Aaronovitch’s FALSE VALUE is Out Now!

Posted on Thursday, September 17th, 2020

The paperback edition of FALSE VALUE, Ben Aaronovitch‘s best-selling and highly-acclaimed eighth Peter Grant/Rivers of London novel is out today 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.

Gollancz has published all of the books set in Ben’s Rivers of London world in the UK. The series is also available in North America and in a growing number of translated editions, around the world.

Eyes Open: Peter Grant Invades Germany’s U-Bahn!

Posted on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020

We are very grateful to Elisa for sharing with us photos of these posters for Ben Aaronovitch‘s two latest books in Germany! Up in various subway stations, we think that’s rather excellent, and wanted to share them here, too.

The two books features are EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET (FALSE VALUE, the eighth Peter Grant novel); and DIE FLÜSSE VON LONDON – SCHWARZER MOND ÜBER SOHO, an omnibus edition including the first two novels (RIVERS OF LONDON and MOON OVER SOHO).

Both books are published in Germany by DTV, who have published all of Ben’s books set in this world. The omnibus is out now. Here’s the synopsis for EIN WEISSER SCHWAN IN TABERNACLE STREET, which is due out in Germany on October 23rd…

Peter Grant ist suspendiert…

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 Corporation 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.

The series is published in the UK by Gollancz; 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 FALSE VALUE…

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.

Finally, here’s the poster graphic…

Ben Aaronovitch’s TALES FROM THE FOLLY out now as an Audiobook!

Posted on Thursday, August 27th, 2020

We’re very happy to report that TALES FROM THE FOLLY, Ben Aaronovitch‘s highly-anticipated short story collection set in the Rivers of London universe, is now available in the UK as an audiobook! Published by Orion, it is a must-listen for fans of Ben’s internationally best-selling and highly acclaimed series. The collection has a large cast of narrators — including Ben himself and long-time Rivers of London narrator Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, other narration is provided by Alex Kingston, Ben Elliot, Felix Grainger, Penelope Rawlins, Sam Peter Jackson, and Shvorne Marks.

Here’s the collection’s 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 in the UK and North America, there are plans for a print edition in the works, as well as audio editions for other territories/languages — 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.

Next Month, Ben Aaronovitch & Andrew Cartmel’s CRY FOX arrives in Germany!

Posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

Next month (September 22nd), Panini is due to publish the German translation of CRY FOX, the fifth Rivers of London comic collection! Written by Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel, the comics are set in the same universe as Ben’s internationally bestselling novels and novellas. The German edition was translated by . Here’s the synopsis…

Die russische Mafia will Rache für ihren „Verrat“ an der (Nacht) Hexe Varvara üben. Dazu heuern sie zahlreiche Schurken der magischen Londoner Unterwelt an. Die ehemalige sowjetische Zauberin steht jedoch unter dem Schutz von Londons ganz eigenem Zauberer-Polizisten Peter Grant … Detective Peter Grant! Um die Aufmerksamkeit von Peter und seinen Kollegen in eine andere Richtung zu lenken, wird die Tochter eines prominenten russischen Oligarchen von Unbekannten entführt …

The English-language edition of the collection is published by Titan Comics, who have published all eight collections to date (covers below). Here’s the English-language synopsis for CRY FOX…

The bookstore smash-hit returns for a brand-new story, picking up the threads from the most recent bestselling Rivers of London novel, The Hanging Tree!

Vengeful Russian mobsters are looking to hire members of London’s own more-then-natural underworld to bring bloody retribution down on the witch Varvara. However, the ex-Soviet sorcerer is under the protective wing of London’s own wizarding cop, Peter Grant (now a proper detective and everything), and to get the attention of Grant and his colleagues, the daughter of a prominent Russian oligarch is kidnapped by parties unknown but possibly fox-like.

What makes it worse is that Peter is going to have to leave his beloved London and gasp go out into the countryside! And when there’s trees and fields and wildlife involved, things never end well…

The Rivers of London/Peter Grant novels and novellas are published in Germany by DTV; in the UK by Gollancz; in North America by Del Rey, DAW Books, and Subterranean Press; and also widely in translation. The latest novel is FALSE VALUE. The latest novel, THE OCTOBER MAN, features a new protagonist and is the first book set in Germany.

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.

Coming Soon: TALES FROM THE FOLLY!

Posted on Saturday, June 27th, 2020

In case you missed the announcement earlier, we are happy to share the news that Ben Aaronovitch has a new collection of short fiction on the way! Due to be published by JABberwocky on July 31st, it collects a number of Ben’s Rivers of London-related short stories in one handy place — including some new stories! Here’s the synopsis…

Return to the world of Rivers of London in this first short story collection from #1 Sunday Times bestselling author, Ben Aaronovitch. 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 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

Ben’s Rivers of London novels and novellas are 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

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

Paperback edition of Ben Aaronovitch’s THE OCTOBER MAN out now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, June 11th, 2020

The paperback edition of Ben Aaronovitch‘s acclaimed, best-selling THE OCTOBER MAN is out now in the UK! Published by Gollancz, it is the first to feature a new protagonist, Investigator Tobias Winter. It is also the book set outside of the UK — specifically, in Trier, Germany. Here’s the synopsis…

Trier is famous for wine, Romans and for being Germany’s oldest city. So when a man is found dead with, his body impossibly covered in a fungal rot, the local authorities know they are out of their depth.

Fortunately this is Germany, where there are procedures for everything.

Enter Investigator Tobias Winter, whose aim is to get in, deal with the problem, and get out with the minimum of fuss, personal danger and paperwork. With the help of frighteningly enthusiastic local cop, Vanessa Sommer, he’s quick to link the first victim to a group of ordinary middle aged men – and to realise they may have accidentally reawakened a bloody conflict from a previous century. But the rot is still spreading, literally and with the suspect list extending to people born before Frederick the Great solving the case may mean unearthing the city’s secret magical history.

. . . so long as that history doesn’t kill them first.

Gollancz has published all of Ben’s Rivers of London/Peter Grant novels and novellas in the UK to date. They are published in North America by Del Rey (1-3), DAW Books (4-) and Subterranean Press (novellas); the books have also been published widely in translation — check out Ben’s page for more details.

Here are just a few of the great reviews THE OCTOBER MAN has received since it was first released…

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘THE OCTOBER MAN is a very well-constructed detective story, simple enough to be told in the span of a novella (granted, at more than two hundred pages, this one’s on the longer side) while still containing plenty of complexity to hold the reader’s attention. In addition, its pacing allows for plenty of fast-paced action and police work, but moments of downtime also provide opportunities to get to know our characters better. Despite being in a new setting and following a new protagonist, I was delighted to feel all the familiar attributes and the fine balance of Ben Aaronovitch’s writing style… Aaronovitch has delivered another fun and captivating Rivers of London mystery… I loved getting to meet Tobias and Vanessa, and it would thrill me greatly to see this corner of the series expanded with more stories in the future.’ — Bibliosanctum

The comic series set in the same universe, and comprised of new stories, is co-written by Andrew Cartmel, and published by Titan Comics in the UK and North America.