And again we assist Detective Constable Grant at his rather unusual work in an expanded subtly magical London.
This time it is the mysterious death of a jazz musician, who collapses and dies after his appearance for some reason. Everything looks like a natural death, but along with Dr Walid succeeds Grant to determine the true cause of death, and not only that. It seems that this is a serial killer is on the loose, and it will probably be only a matter of time, until it found his next victim.
Unlike the first volume, Peter Grant is primarily apparent in this part on their own. His mentor was the book on still clearly struggling with the aftermath of his confrontation with Mr. Punch, and his former partner Lesley will stay put due to their really horrific injuries probably for quite a while out of action, although here maybe a little shimmer on is indicated end of the tunnel for the next band.
But one learns more about the backgrounds of the Folly, Nightingales and Molly's past, and why there are so few Wizards of the European tradition. Other familiar faces one meets in the form of resolute Detective Sergeant Stephanopoulos, interim head of the Homicide Division, and Grant's father, who - will be consulted on the mysterious killer jazz - as a former jazz legend.
Also in this band Aaronovitch holds sent the balance between shockingly brutal and bloody murders and a boisterous sense of humor, in which one often can hardly restrain himself, laugh out loud, or at least to smile with amusement, as if Grant in mind the benefits of good, sturdy shoes praises, "recommended by police and skinheads far and wide, occur in the event that someone down the stairs must necessarily".
Taste is certainly the Hollywood-style product placement which started operating at every opportunity, and that someday is too much of a good thing in my eyes the twentieth phone that Grant accidentally scrapped, but also gives this series a certain Dimensions a personal touch.
Compared with the first band "Moon Over Soho" seems harder and bloodier in any case. However, even better thought out and with a more complex storyline that is not least underlined by the fact that in the end not all strands are completely dissolved, special here an opponent emerges, which represents a serious threat even for Nightingale. So we can look forward to coming volumes.
For those who want the "Rivers of London", from me an unconditional recommendation read.