Moon Over Soho (Rivers of London US Book 2)

by Ben Aaronovitch

‘You can’t call them black magicians,’ I said. ‘You realise that we’re using “black” in its metaphorical sense here,’ said Nightingale. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I said. ‘Words change what they mean, don’t they? Some people would call me a black magician.’ ‘You’re not a magician,’ he said. ‘You’re barely even an apprentice.’ ‘You’re changing the subject,’ I said. ‘What should we call them?’ he asked patiently. ‘Ethically challenged magical practitioners,’ I said.

Anyway, a daily routine consisting of pain and misfortune tends to breed steady and pragmatic personalities. In short, just the kind of person you want manning your ambulance in the middle of the night.