'Rivers of London's by Ben Aaronovitch

What if, hidden alongside the normality of London, there was a whole other world - of ghosts, gods and the supranational

Overview

The life of a London police man is not easy. Long hours and lots of criminals are a certain way to keep someone on their toes. But when, on a cold winters evening, after a grizzly murder near St Paul's, Police Constable Peter Grant meets an eye witness to a murder - a ghost - his world is turned upside down.

Suddenly Peter finds himself an apprentice to the elusive Nightingale, learning the secrets, and mysteries of London. He must stop a war breaking out between the Gods and Godesses of the rivers, create a truce between Mother and Father Thames, while trying to solve a series of murders sweeping the city.

As the story twists along the rivers of London, friends can become foes, and Peter soon discovers how dangerous the world of magic can be... Over time he learns to grasp some simple spells, and utilising his new skills and ghostly friend, he follows the trail of deaths around London, discovering hidden histories of Punch and Judy and long-forgotten stories from London's theatre district.

The book is extremely well-written with intriguing characters, as well as mysterious unknowns from the supernatural. And I found that although there's a lot of supernatural happenings, there was a lot of relatability behind the characters and their burning passions.

Synopsis

This is London as you've never seen it before. A city of wonders and terrors. A city of ancient secrets, which is haunted by its past. A city where you are never far from magic. A city Peter Grant will help you discover:

My name is Peter Grant, and I used to be a probationary constable and that mighty army for justice known to all right - thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth.

My story really started when I tried to take a witness statement from a man who was already dead...

Overall

A great read! It will have you been the edge-of-your-seat, waiting to discover the exciting and terrifying magical world haunting the streets of London. If you've spent any time in London, it's a great chance to explore the streets in a new (and creepy) way.

I will be reading the next instalment soon!