Rivers of London (original UK title) or
Midnight Riot (US title)
Ben Aaronovitch
2011
5/5 stars
Peter Grant, a probationary constable with the Met, is guarding a London crime scene one night, when he is approached by a ghost with information about the murder. Discovering the previously unknown world of the paranormal, unsurprisingly, changes Peter's life completely and gives him a new position as the apprentice to DCI Nightingale, investigating preternatural crimes. Together they hunt vampires, try to placate river gods, and search for an unearthly killer at the risk of their own lives.
This is an enormously fun book with spectacular world-building. Peter is a likable protagonist, well-drawn and believable. While some of the lesser characters weren't fleshed out as much as I would have liked, Nightingale in particular, the plot, action, and descriptions were great. Rivers of London is smart, witty, geeky, and mostly incredible and, though not perfect, it's close enough. I'm truly sorry I waited so long to read it.
(note: It's so good that, even at nearly 400 pages, I read it in less than 24 hours.)
