From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Midnight Riot (Rivers of London #1)

Ben Aaronovitch

Start date: May 1, 2016

Finish date: May 31, 2016

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

Jun 07, 2015 Ije the Devourer of Books rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-exquisite-2015-reads

5 stars for the story. 10 stars for the narration!!

This is an excellent urban fantasy story brought to life by the most brilliant narration I have ever listened to.

The story has a number of different characters and the narration gave each character their own distinctive voice. It was amazing to listen to, a bit like watching a film or play in my imagination. It made for an incredible listening experience which I really enjoyed and left me with a hunger to listen to the rest. The story focuses o 5 stars for the story. 10 stars for the narration!!

This is an excellent urban fantasy story brought to life by the most brilliant narration I have ever listened to.

The story has a number of different characters and the narration gave each character their own distinctive voice. It was amazing to listen to, a bit like watching a film or play in my imagination. It made for an incredible listening experience which I really enjoyed and left me with a hunger to listen to the rest. The story focuses on Police Constable Grant who has just started his career in London. When Peter is assigned to a special department that investigates crimes which involve the paranormal he discovers there is far more to policing than he imagined.

There is also far more to policing in London than he imagined too. He sets out to investigate a series of murders that seem to have been committed by a long dead murderer only to find that there is far more to the case than he thought. As ancient drama comes to life with murderous and violent consequences for Londoners and his colleagues, Peter finds he has to rely on his wits, wisdom and his emerging spell craft as well as the wily assistance and support of London's rivers.

It is a great story. Highly imaginative, great pace, amusing and attention grabbing. I listened to this over a number of days while I walked along the River Lea in London. Listening to a story about London's rivers while walking along one of them made for a truly enjoyable reading experience.

The author has captured the essence of London in this book: a truly urban feel, tourists, Londoners, London's diverse communities, the police, the tube, theatre land, history, London's urban landscape and mixed it together with magic and mayhem to produce a really engaging story.

I loved the voices and characters of London's diverse communities. That clinched it for me, especially Mama Thames. Not everyone can bring a Nigerian character to life in this way. Both author and narrator have given their characters a truly realistic edge without falling into boring stereotypes.

But for me it was the narration that brought all these elements to life and have made me want more. This was like a drama for my ears. I think if every audible book was like this I wouldn't go to work.
...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2016 Meep rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: age-difference, thriller, paranormal, culled

This is very different to most urban fantasies, it lacks oneliners and reads more like a police procedural. The main character is Peter Grant a fresh new policeman discovering there's more to the world than he imagined. He tells his story almost as a police report, it's very much 'I went, I did, I saw' but there's a familiarity with London and a very dry humour beneath his words. It's all quite British and droll, I'm not sure every reader is going to appreciate it.

Instead of reacting in shock, G This is very different to most urban fantasies, it lacks oneliners and reads more like a police procedural. The main character is Peter Grant a fresh new policeman discovering there's more to the world than he imagined. He tells his story almost as a police report, it's very much 'I went, I did, I saw' but there's a familiarity with London and a very dry humour beneath his words. It's all quite British and droll, I'm not sure every reader is going to appreciate it.

Instead of reacting in shock, Grant reaches for science to explain things. It's a very technical/forensic outlook which was quite novel but at times dragged for me, sometimes the plot was lost to historical detail which nullified any emotional connection or urgency. Grant is more random estorical facts than action hero. As a result I never felt that involved with the crime-solving, rather than curiosity or concern it felt more distant note-taking. Possibly this is to do with setting up the verse and introducing the reader to how the magic works. More fact than wonder. The writing itself is smooth and the text often interesting.

Not a great book for feminism though, there are several powerful women but that's not the same as strong. Grant as narrator is certainly appreciative of the female form and I could never shake of the feeling that women in this verse have a very specific role. I could accept Grant's point of view, reading an element of self-depreciative humour in places, but one plot choice really disappointed me as regards what happens to a character. It was too blatantly a punishment for achieving, our formerly unremarkable bookish male must be the hero of all things. An intelligent capable woman is far too much competition.

Highly recommend the audio version of the book, the narrator brings the character to life and even when I switched to reading found he'd set the tone in my head. Definitely a case where the audio enhances the book.

It's an interesting one, definitely worth a look. Not ruling out reading the next book. Until about 90% this was a comfortable 3* and might have made 4* but for me the misogyny left such a bitter taste those fell away. I would recommend it, but with reservations. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jul 14, 2015 Meg Perry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Thoroughly enjoyed this! Smart, funny and a strong mystery.

1 like · Like · see review

May 14, 2018 Allison rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, audio

I liked it, but I am not sure I feel any compulsion to continue either. If I had all the books lying around I'd probably read them, but I don't, so I may not. Parts of the book made me uncomfortable and seemed a bit tone deaf.
The narration was largely very good although there were times when I wondered if he had COPD or something similar. He did a great job with the MC, and with the varied accents. ...more

1 like · Like · see review