Foxglove Summer (Rivers of London, #5) in The Folly Irregulars

Apr 27, 2017 Philip rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, author-man, fantasy, mystery, supernatural

4.25ish stars.

Perhaps my favorite of the series so far not least because it's made the most sense. :) One of the only issues I have with the series is the general lack of cohesion from book to book. This is a personal preference but I favor focus in my police procedurals as opposed to more "true-to-real-life" stories following several plots and going on adventures that aren't necessarily relevant to the plot even if they do widen the universe and the characterizations. I thought the mystery here 4.25ish stars.

Perhaps my favorite of the series so far not least because it's made the most sense. :) One of the only issues I have with the series is the general lack of cohesion from book to book. This is a personal preference but I favor focus in my police procedurals as opposed to more "true-to-real-life" stories following several plots and going on adventures that aren't necessarily relevant to the plot even if they do widen the universe and the characterizations. I thought the mystery here was engaging and the most traditional of any of the books so far which, again, I like.

Having said that, this book is really a departure in a lot of ways from previous books in the series: it takes place outside of London, several notable characters (Lesley, Nightingale) don't factor heavily, the Faceless Man is hardly even mentioned. These factors all mean that Peter is front and center more now than ever. He doesn't have Lesley as his better half, he doesn't have Nightingale as his failsafe, he's not even in his element back in London, and he grows so much from it all.

Now about that ending... I was listening to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's incomparable narration and wasn't paying attention to how much time was left (as opposed to reading a paper copy and being fully aware of the end approaching) so I was completely caught off guard when it just ended out of nowhere! It was pretty much build, build, build until the last five minutes and then everything was tidied up all of a sudden. A lot of interesting secondary stuff was introduced and never resolved or explained. But whatever, it was fun for what it was.

Now Beverley. :) I love her. I enjoy hers and Peter's relationship, especially because she doesn't feel like the "required female love interest" one might expect from one's UF. She's really only featured prominently in this book. I don't think she even made an appearance in 2 and 3 besides being mentioned? Anyway they're far from "soul mates." She and Peter have their thing and they work well together and while their relationship definitely moved forward in this book it's still far from traditional. Who knows how long or to what extent they'll be "together." But mostly I love her spunk. :)

I'm excited to return to The Folly as we know and love it, but it was nice to go on holiday in the country for a bit.

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Mar 05, 2017 Lata rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: x2017-read, sf-f-h, x2018-read, x2022-read, bipoc-actor

2022-02: I needed a pick-me-up, and this book did it for me. The wonderful voicings of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith were what I needed to get me through a cold day. And it's always great to check in with Peter "distracted" Grant while he deals with all the weird stuff. Like big, furious unicorns.....

2018-05: Though the ending felt abrupt with a bunch of questions left unanswered, I loved Peter's time in the British countryside and dealing with the coppers and residents on a weird child disappearance ca ...more

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Aug 08, 2016 Orient rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: entertaining, favorites, hero, historical, fantasy, desperado, recs-by-milda, killer

A brand new change for Peter! He’s out of London and has no Nightingale to cover up his back during the meeting with some bad big muscular princesses Lunas poking around and some other crazy fairy stuff.

I admired how Peter shines as a character being left alone in the magic field. He definitely grew up to be more self-confident and skilled. And he has a girlfriend worthy his magical self. Yay!

Also it was cool to know more about the mysterious Ettersberg and to my joy there are still enough my ...more

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Jan 28, 2019 Wanda Pedersen rated it really liked it

Shelves: good-dog, read-in-2019, brit-lit, urban-fantasy, read-in-2021, london, fantasy, owned, favourites

***2021 Dog Days of Summer***

It's time for my summer theme and this year I have chosen to read books that include canine companions. This volume of the Peter Grant series has only a couple of mentions of Toby the terrier, as the ghost hunting dog. Peter once again mentions the yap-o-metre, Toby's bark rate which varies depending on magic levels. Still this was a very enjoyable re-read.

I can't believe that I didn't write a review after my first reading, but perhaps Goodreads ate it. At any ra ...more

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May 02, 2016 Hank rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned_audio

I will quote another reviewer, Carol, who summed up the audio version perfectly..."It should be clear by now that Holdbrook-Smith is a stunning reader." The combination of Holdbrook-Smith and this series shouldn't be missed. I actually signed up for Audible specifically to get this book on audio since I couldn't find it any other way.

Although it says bestselling series on the blurbs, I am still surprised this hasn't hit bigger here in the U.S. They are all wonderfully entertaining books with t ...more

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Dec 31, 2016 Arlene♡ rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, marchmysterymadness

After having been semi let down with the previous book, I'm happy to day that this segment in the Peter Grant series was great.

Two girls go missing, and Peter isn't even sure if his certain arena of policing experience is needed, but he soon finds out that he was right to get involved with this case.

Irregular bee migrations
Invisible unicorns
Body snatchers
Mind manipulation

This one has everything, including the sarcasm that I have greatly enjoyed in the previous books. ...more

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Nov 03, 2015 Margaret rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-sf, 2016-challenge

Excellent read. The PC Peter Grant books just keep getting better.

In this one, two little girls disappear in the English countryside. Peter is dispatched to explore the rustic delights of the countryside, and find out if there in anything about the disappearance that Falcon should be involved in. Naturally, there is.

I don't want to give the plot away, but I will say this. "Foxglove Summer" quite literally had me crying with laughter.

Highly recommended. ...more

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Jan 27, 2017 Becky Pettit rated it it was amazing

I have totally fallen in love with Peter Grant and his magical mysterious world, I can't wait to read the next adventure, I hope Peter and his crazy friends and enemy's are with us for a long time to come. ...more

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