What lies beneath

I've been meaning to read Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London for some time; and am so glad that I finally got round to it. It was a smashing read. Part detective story, part fantasy, with a liberal dash of humour, this was such a fun read.

When recently qualified Police Constable Peter Grant unexpectedly bumps into a witness to a murder in Covent Garden, it looks as though his career is looking up. However when he discovers that his witness is a ghost, everyday life in the Metropolitan Police is about to get a lot weirder. For not only can Grant see the spirits of past London life, but he also discovers that he has magical powers. As though this wasn't enough to cope with, the murders continue as a ghostly serial killer with a liking for Punch and Judy stalks the streets of Covent Garden, meanwhile a turf war breaks out between Mother and Father Thames...

Rivers of London is brilliantly written. Drawing on the long complex history of the city, it's not just a fantastical adventure but an affectionate tribute to the capital with nods to its history and culture. Grant is an engaging character, his multicultural background is London in microcosm. Aaronovitch balances humour, fantasy, horror and crime effortlessly.

I loved it. If you're a fan of Jasper Fforde or Christopher Brookmyre, you're going to enjoy this. Elements of Aaronovitch's style inevitably remind you of these writers, but he is also unmistakeably himself - a new and unique voice in British fantasy-crime fiction.