Another hard to rate book in that I can't really say I like it as much as my favorite books...but it it deserves more than 4 stars. So...5 stars, but not quite the top of my 5 star rating (?).

This is an urban fantasy, a genre that's become so chock full lately that you can't swing a kobold without hitting a new one. Most are(sadly) of the mediocre vein but every now and then you stumble on (or as in this case are directed by a friend on Goodreads) a gem.

Peter Grant is a young man just finishing up his probationary period on the Metro police of London and about to become a full fledged Constable (complete with helmet thank you). However, the night before his final interview he's one of a large number of police personal involved in controlling the area around a strange murder...and in the "wee hours of the morning" (of course) he's approached by a witness, who's a ghost. Predictably enough Peter is somewhat reticent to report to his superiors that he has talked to a ghost who saw the murder. While it looks like he will be "condemned" to one of the more boring areas of police work, his interview not going exactly as he hoped Peter can't let the murder investigation (and the fact that he apparently talked to a ghost) go. Upon going back and waiting around till the nearby pub closed still hoping to meet his ghost a second time, Peter is approached by a man...who turns out to be a ranking inspector...and Peter tells hims he's looking for a ghost. Peter wonders what possessed him to admit this to an inspector and figures he's about to be pegged as a nut...until the next day when he finds that the inspector, Nightingale, is a wizard. He (quietly) handles supernatural and uncanny things that "come up" for the police. And he wants Peter to work for him....

Our story takes off from here.

Good book. And while I suppose comparisons with other urban fantasies must arise (I'd say especially with Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books) enjoy this for what it is, itself. While I freely admit that I came on it as I wait (impatiently) for the release of the next Dresden novel (as I'm a huge fan) this is a good book in its own right. While our protagonist is a bit of a wise guy with a quirky sense of humor I didn't find the character quite a well done or as likeable as Harry. He is though well constructed and saying I don't find the character to my liking quite as much as one of my favorite characters may be a bit unfair.

So...brain candy, total enjoyment reading. A well constructed story and the beginnings of a good magical world. The magic "system" and the background of the magic world it functions in are still very much only an outline, like a line drawing waiting for color to be added along with the shadings and shadows that will add depth. Still the lines are there and I hope all the rest will be added in the inevitable sequels. I've already ordered the next book, Moon Over Soho and I've seen that a third Whispers Under Ground is due out in Nov. All things remaining equal, I'll probably get that one to...

:)

5 stars. Good book, enjoy.