![Rivers of London](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/485/564/1585564485.0.m.jpg)
Rivers of London
by Ben Aaronovitch
- Used
- near fine
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine
- ISBN 10
- 0575097582
- ISBN 13
- 9780575097582
- Seller
-
Carrollton, Texas, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Softcover with red river running through drawing of London; very minor wear to softcover spine (you can feel light crease, but it's very hard to see). Light crease on binding edge of front cover; tight binding and pages still look in excellent condition. Cover price of £7.99 on back board of softcover book.
Gollancz First Edition, Thirteenth printing as indicated by number line of "13 15 17 19 20 18 16 14" on copyright page. Author's signature and inscription on title page.
Aaronovitch's first book in his now-famous Rivers of London series starring the characters of Peter Grant and Thomas Nightingale. Softcover comes with excerpt from Aaronovitch's following book in the series, Moon Over Soho. Softcover issued without a dust jacket so unable to be protected by archival Mylar cover.
Reviews
4.5★s
Rivers Of London is the first book in the Rivers Of London series by best-selling British author, Ben Aaronovitch. Reaching the end of his probationary period, Constable Peter Grant is reluctantly headed for the Case Progression Unit until he accidentally shares with DCI Thomas Nightingale that he's looking for a ghost.
The ghost of Nicholas Wallpenny had earlier told Peter that he'd witnessed a murder, and Peter wanted to know more, even though he doesn't believe in ghosts. But now he's working with Nightingale, investigating a very unusual aspect of that murder. And before long, he becomes the default owner of the victim's dog, Toby, is living in a rather grand Georgian terrace called the Folly, and is apprenticed to a wizard.
He's learning magic and enjoys working in the Folly's lab, applying his C-grade science A-levels to researching how it all works. And he is still doing police work, especially anything with a supernatural element. That's how he ends up helping to dispatch a pair of vampires, and trying to broker a peace between Mother Thames and Father Thames.
But that initial case, after the murderer went on a killing rampage before dying, is still unsolved, there being a magical element involved, and Peter's co-probationary constable, DC Lesley May's research has turned up similar disturbances. Getting more information sees Peter performing a necromantic ritual that almost goes very badly wrong.
Eventually, they are tracking down a supernatural entity, a vengeful, malicious revenant, a vampire ghost who seems to have a thing for the traditional story of Punch and Judy, using real people as the puppets. Peter and Thomas lay a trap. And this one does go badly wrong. Someone is shot, there's a riot at the Royal Opera House where well-dressed opera attendees get quite aggressive, and a bit of time travel before it's all sorted out.
With its London setting and the mention of so many streets, localities and landmarks, this would be an especially enjoyable read for those familiar with the city, but that doesn't exclude non-resident readers getting a vicarious London fix. The concept is clever and Aaronovitch gives the reader some quirky characters, snappy dialogue, an interesting plot and plenty of dark humour in this first instalment: more of this cast will be most welcome. A very entertaining read.
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Sherlock Joe's Book Hunting
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- AA003
- Title
- Rivers of London
- Author
- Ben Aaronovitch
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition; Later Printing
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 0575097582
- ISBN 13
- 9780575097582
- Publisher
- Gollancz
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 2011
- Pages
- 421
- Keywords
- ben aaronovitch; rivers of london; inscribed
- Bookseller catalogs
- Fiction; Fantasy; Signed / Inscribed;
Terms of Sale
Sherlock Joe's Book Hunting
About the Seller
Sherlock Joe's Book Hunting
About Sherlock Joe's Book Hunting
I focus on modern first edition, first printings, but have been lately finding first editions, later printings of older novels in my inventory. I'm also highlighting a lot of signed books that I've found.
I will also gladly search for and offer well-priced books of all kinds. If there's something you'd love to have, either send me a message here or go to https://cases.sherlockjoes.com and Open a Case!
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Number Line
- A series of numbers appearing on the copyright page of a book, where the lowest number generally indicates the printing of that...
- Copyright page
- The page in a book that describes the lineage of that book, typically including the book's author, publisher, date of...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...