Moon Over Soho

Written by Ben Aaronovitch

Narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

I was my dad's vinyl-wallah: I changed his records while he lounged around drinking tea, and that's how I know my Argo from my Tempo. And it's why, when Dr Walid called me to the morgue to listen to a corpse, I recognised the tune it was playing. Something violently supernatural had happened to the victim, strong enough to leave its imprint like a wax cylinder recording. Cyrus Wilkinson, part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant, had apparently dropped dead of a heart attack just after finishing a gig in a Soho jazz club. He wasn't the first.

No one was going to let me exhume corpses to see if they were playing my tune, so it was back to old-fashioned legwork, starting in Soho, the heart of the scene. I didn't trust the lovely Simone, Cyrus' ex-lover, professional jazz kitten and as inviting as a Rubens' portrait, but I needed her help: there were monsters stalking Soho, creatures feeding off that special gift that separates the great musician from someone who can raise a decent tune. What they take is beauty. What they leave behind is sickness, failure and broken lives.

And as I hunted them, my investigation got tangled up in another story: a brilliant trumpet player, Richard 'Lord' Grant - my father - who managed to destroy his own career, twice. That's the thing about policing: most of the time you're doing it to maintain public order. Occasionally you're doing it for justice. And maybe once in a career, you're doing it for revenge.Read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette UK Audio
• Release date: Jul 21, 2011
• ISBN: 9781409142898

Ben Aaronovitch

Born and raised in London, Ben Aaronovitch worked as a scriptwriter for Doctor Who and Casualty before the inspiration for his own series of books struck him whilst working as a bookseller in Waterstones Covent Garden. Ben Aaronovitch’s unique novels are the culmination of his experience of writing about the emergency services and the supernatural.

Reviews for Moon Over Soho

[liscarey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Peter Grant, Patrol Constable and apprentice Wizard with the Metropolitan Police, is called in by Dr. Walid to listen to a corpse.Cyrus Wilkinson, jazz musician by night and accountant by day, died suddenly, right after a performance, apparently of natural causes. However, in the process of doing the postmortem, Walid hears a song. He recognizes it as jazz, but jazz isn't his thing, and it is, if not Peter's, at least his father's. Richard Grant, nicknamed "Lord" Grant by his fellow musicians, stood on the brink of becoming a jazz legend twice, and managed to destroy his own career both times. Peter has grown up with jazz. He recognizes the song as "Body and Soul," but can't identify the musician. The fact that this remnant of music is clinging to the body, though, means that some really powerful magic was involved in Wilkinson's death. There's a killer out there, using magic, and he has to be caught. That means it's Peter's business, or rather the Folly's, which means--Peter and his boss, Thomas Nightingale.Peter turns to his father to identify the musician playing the song. Then he goes doing normal police legwork into the background and associates of the dead man, and looking for signs of similar unexpected but seemingly natural deaths, specifically among jazz musicians. No one is going to let him dig up corpses to test for vestigia of magic, so--more legwork. He meets Simone, Cyrus Wilkinson's ex-lover, and his band, and is summoned to another death that looks remarkably like Cyrus's. As the band members realize that Peter is "Lord" Grant's son, and the police officer investigating their bandmate's death, they become happy to help with whatever information they can provide. Oh, and they'd like to meet "Lord" Grant, if convenient.But beyond that relatively positive development, there's that other death, followed by yet another, by a different means. A man is found dead sitting on a toilet in a another music club, bled to death after his penis was bitten off in what appears to be a second instance of an attack by a woman with teeth in her vagina. Before long, Peter is hunting a Pale Lady (a death avatar), possible "jazz vampires," sucking the life force out of, for some reason, specifically jazz musicians. Peter also learns some, let's say startling, things about both Thomas Nightingale, and the Folly's housekeeper, Molly. This is also the book where Peter meets Abigail Kamara. A tiny, unimportant detail, in this book.It's an interesting and complex mystery, and we get better acquainted with Peter, his friends and family, and his world.Recommended.I bought this audiobook.

[g33kgrrl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mostly good but a huge instance of transphobia there.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read it again, this time as a splendidly narrated audio book. Love the police procedural aspects, love the sarcastic humor, and it's a good review of Peter Grant's adventures -- how could I forget the Irregulars? And The Jazz Vampires? And the heartbreaking sorrow of Simone.

[tsmom1219 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The second book in the Peter Grant series was just as satisfying as the first. I'm really enjoying the series and am looking forward to seeing how some of the dangling threads at the end of this one are tied up in future books.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There are two storylines running through Moon Over Soho: one that begins and ends with this book, involving a string of suspicious deaths, all of them jazz musicians. The other centres on a mysterious, faceless, unknown sorcerer running around London killing and conducting his own Dr. Moreau type experiments, and the reader is left hanging as to its resolution, presumably because it will come back up in future books. I knew how the first story line would play out by the time I got to a page that falls somewhere in the range of 40-60 (I won't give the exact page number because I don't want to risk spoilers). This is why my rating is only 3.5 stars. The story is still good, but it's definitely hampered by knowing the ending, and wanting to smack Peter for not figuring out what was right in front of him a lot sooner. To give credit though, I did not foresee how he would try to resolve the situation; I liked it, even though it didn't work out quite the way he's hoped.

[mithril_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well-written and plotted.

[switchknitter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am really loving this series. Peter Grant is a great character -- he's flawed, but he tries hard, and sometimes he's damn funny. Definitely recommend this!

[bardbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After finishing the second book, I now understand why some critics call the Rivers of London series a blend of CSI and Harry Potter. Glad I scoured about for the entire series; it's a great winter binge.

[kittycunningh-815148 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As with all "second in a series", I enjoyed the first one better. But, I like this world and these characters and I will continue with the series.

[charlotteburt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good ending

[ma_washigeri · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Wish I'd jotted down the character list as I went along as I lost the plot a bit in the middle. If I read another one I'll do that to save a lot of flicking back and forward.

[count_zero-837732 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've found the best Urban Fantasy novels are also great detective novels, except instead of ballistics, DNA testing, and the other tools of the science detectives trade that Sherlock Holmes & the like bust out, there's magic. The Peter Grant novels succeed at this fantastically. Aaronovitch creates excellent characters and riveting mysteries that really pull you in.

[pdcread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Slight incompetent PC and struggling apprentice wizard Peter Grant has been asked to investigate the brutal murder of a journalist in a toilet in the Groucho Club. And there are more deaths too, jazz musicians are collapsing and dying after gigs, supposedly of natural causes, the Peter detects the thaumaturgical signature of magic, meaning that these are not as natural as first thought.

The detective in charge really does't want Peter on the case, but reluctantly accepts that he needs to be, Peter starts to track the creatures that haunt these Soho clubs, and he realises that a proficient wizard, unknown even to Nightingale may be behind the deaths. As Peter finds the limits of his magic and starts to push the envelope with his abilities, even though his efforts are not always successful.

As the rush to find the perpetrator builds, he involves his dad in one of the bands, has a steamy liaison with the girlfriends of one of the murder victims and we find out more about Nightingale. It all ends as a bit of a blast, with a nice subtle twist.

The characters are growing in stature, Grant in particular. The plot was not quite as strong as the first book, but this is a series, so you are getting lines from the first, swirling through this book, and I can see others still being carried forward to the next. One of the great things about the book is the characterisation of the city, it does feel alive and real. Good solid urban fantasy.

[skybalon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I think this series gets better as it goes on. It isn't deep nor does it ask any big questions but it is fun and well worth the read.

[piemouth · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked it better than the first one even though through most of it Peter was pretty much letting his dick guide him around, and ignoring the most obvious suspect. Still, great London and jazz history.

[devilish2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

light but funny and entertaining

[macha_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

second in the series. i like these quite a lot, all the great detail on the real history of the architecture and social life of the City of London coalescing in a convincing picture of London as a nexus of supernatural activity under the umbrella of modern-day policing (albeit armed with an admirable amount of compartmentalization to accommodate this special squad). also kinda love the whole notion of jazz vampires in this one. already i can't imagine not continuing to read this series as long as the author wants to write it. there are many mysteries i hope he will address eventually. the characters are very strong, and keep getting fleshed out over time, and the central figure especially keeps learning both his trades, and therefore growing.

[bell7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Constable Peter Grant is a fairly normal copper in London, except for one thing - he's learning to practice magic under one Thomas Nightingale, and the two of them are called in on any, well, unusual case. When jazz musicians begin dying for no particular reason, leaving a faint sense of magic used behind in the tune of the jazz classic "Body and Soul," Grant is on the case.The second book in the series starts soon after the first left off, with Leslie, for example, still dealing with the physical aftermath of Peter's first case, and the rivers of London still present as secondary characters. There are these threads that continue, but the story and mystery also finish and leave this a story wholly its own. I enjoyed the setting and genre-bendedness of the story, and I like Grant's narration and humor. The sex read like, well, a hetero guy wrote it and though it did end up having a point in the story I'd figured out part of it way before Peter himself had. A fun, light read and while I'll probably read the next one eventually I won't knock myself out to get a copy soon.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The second Peter Grant mystery has him investigating the jazz scene in Soho when a drummer dies of a heart attack but has a famous jazz tune as part of his vestigia. That's a clear sign that his death had something supernatural about it. However despite investigation, nothing is found linking him to magic. Another death of a jazz musician does lead to a magical link that takes them to Oxbridge and a club that has been under the radar since the 1960s.Peter is learning from his mentor Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale who is the only registered wizard in London and who happens to be aging backwards. However, Nightingale is still recovering from an injury experienced in their first adventure and Peter is more on his own than perhaps he should be. Peter comes to believe that there are some jazz vampires feeding on and killing jazz musicians which concerns him particularly because his own father is a rather famous one. Peter is busy looking into the unexplained deaths of jazz musicians that has been going on since World War II. Of course, he is also looking into the possibility of other magic users - what his mentor calls black magic users, too. On the personal side, he is dealing with his former colleague Leslie who is still dealing with the grave consequences of the events of MIDNIGHT RIOT and starting a new relationship of his own with Simone Fitzwilliam who was the live-in girlfriend of one the victims of the jazz vampires. This was a fast-paced and very snarky story. Peter has quite a cynical viewpoint but he also has a lot of idealism about his role as a police officer. The world he inhabits with jazz vampires, evil magicians, chimeras and animate rivers along with the day-to-day bustle of modern London and a modern police force is well-drawn and feels very real. I can't wait to see where this series goes as Peter learns more about magic and the supernatural creatures who inhabit his world.

[sensitivemuse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

***Spoilers ahead you’ve been warned***It is advisable to read the first one before you get into Moon Over Soho. You’re pretty much carrying on right after the events in the first book so it’s always better to get the background information before carrying on :)I was pleased with this one, complete with rather macabre scenes that will stick with me for a while. I still enjoy the way it’s being narrated by Peter Grant. He tells it pretty bluntly and explains well for some of us who don’t live in London which helps understand the setting more. The setting is dark and gritty, just right to complement the mystery that is prevalent to the case. The mix with the supernatural blends quite well with real life London, I believe it’s probably even more enjoyable to read for those that are quite familiar to the city. Supporting characters and some new ones are featured in the book. It’s nice to see Leslie again despite what happened to her (ahh but the ending though!). Peter takes a lot of beating (both verbal and physical) during the book which is to be expected. He does have a thing with Simone that covers a good latter part of the book which is ok, although I thought it provided a lot of filler and it slowed the pace down considerably. You almost wanted to ask; “Peter, don’t you have a case to work on?”It proved to be a quick read with a good open cliffhanger ending with the mystery of The ‘Faceless One’ which makes the series even more intriguing at this point. I’ll be definitely be picking up the third one. A great series to read so far!

[ladyoflorien_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The second in the Peter Grant series is even better than the first. I really liked how Leslie was kept in the story after the unfortunate ending for her in the first book. Jazz, vampires, and magic, all with a dose of humour.

[clarerhoden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gotta love a maguc detective in a recognisable London - plus a dog called Toby. A great second adventure with Peter Grant.

[kmajort · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Paranormal in the sense that Harry Dresden is.... so I'm saying "magic". Good fun, solidly fills a niche I'd been missing.

[isabelx_21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

'How did you spot this?' I asked. 'I check all the sudden deaths,' said Dr. Walid. 'Just on the off chance. I thought it sounded like jazz.' 'Did you recognize the tune?' 'Not me. I'm strictly prog rock and the nineteenth-century romantics,' said Dr. Walid. 'Did you?' 'It's "Body and Soul,"' I said. 'It's from the 1930s.' 'Who played it?' 'Just about everybody,' I said. 'It's one of the great jazz classics.' 'You can't die of jazz,' said Dr. Walid. 'Can you?' I thought of Fats Navarro, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker who, when he died, was mistaken by a coroner for a man twice his real age. 'You know,' I said, 'I think you'll find you can.'Jazz had certainly done its best to do for my father.As it's about a year since I re-read Rivers of London, I thought I had better get on to book 2 before I forgot what happened. Unfortunately I wasn't as keen on Moon Over Soho, as the various plot lines felt rather disjointed. Although some of the Rivers made an appearance (with Ash and the ambulance trip probably being my favourite part of the book), the plotline about the other magician(s) never really grabbed me, and nor did the mysterious deaths of jazz musicians.But I still went straight on to book 3, and that was a definite improvement.

[seschend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great second act/novel from Aaronovitch and it was nice to see gradual/organic change in Peter Grant & his supporting cast. Too often, there's an overcorrection and huge jump/change between an intro book and a followup, and that didn't happen here. Good plot, interesting new characters and fleshing out returning characters. Recommended if you want a decently paced magical procedural.

[ajbraithwaite_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first. I found I was getting confused between the various cases that Peter Grant was working on - couldn't keep them straight in my head - and I found the descriptions of his sexual prowess a bit OTT (yes, I'm probably turning into a prude in my old age).

There were lots of fun parts - the ambulance hijacking and the disembodied fortune-telling head, for example - and I appreciated the use of the London Metropolitan Archives in a supporting role. But overall, not quite as gripping and easy to follow as the first in the series. And there were similar editing issues in this one, too.

[gretchening · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So far this is the weakest of the series (I just finished listening to #2) but I still really enjoyed it.

[mrslee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There are many reviews of this book, so I'm only typing my thoughts here so I remember for the future. Peter Grant, up and coming wizard apprentice/police detective, has two cases. One has to do with jazz musicians dying untimely "natural" deaths, the other is getting to the bottom of the "pale lady" mystery and the possibility that there are magicians left in London unknown to authorities who are not using their abilities for the public good.I loved that some considerate person has put together a station on YouTube to go with this book which has many variations of the song, "Body and Soul" by different artists. It made great background music while reading. I enjoy the relationship Peter has with his parents and Nightingale. Peter has some of the smart-assery I like, some of the compassion and the thirst for justice even if he pretends not to. I didn't care for the many wild sex scenes, but they were integral to a certain character's nature.

[5eva5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Constable (and sorcerer apprentice) Peter Grant examines the body of a musician, he hears notes of old jazz, notes that aren't actually being played in the here and now, so Grant knows it's time for him and DCI Nightingale to go on the hunt for a supernatural killer. Aaronovitch has really built a wonderful world, firmly based in real life London, but with the supernatural added in such a way that it all seems possible, even probable; when Grant hijacks an ambulance to save one of the river gods, he gets a run-of-the-mill bollocking from his boss, as if he had broken any regular copper's rule. Also, when the people get hurt in this series, they stay hurt - there are no instant fixes for magical damage, which really adds tons to the story's verisimilitude. It's all very good, but what really brings it home for me are the characters who are just so witty and real that I need to root for them - this is another of the few books (authors, really) where I find myself going back in the text just to read some passages out loud. Very entertaining installment in a series I hope to follow for a very long time.

[passion4reading_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Peter Grant, police constable in the Metropolitan Police and apprentice wizard, investigates a series of seemingly natural deaths among jazz musicians, while also trying to hunt down a dangerous ethically challenged (that's black, to you and me) magician and trying to avoid upsetting the offspring of the local river gods, paramedics and various other inhabitants of London.The second volume in the Rivers of London series of urban fantasy novels, this book shows a little more what it means to be a wizard, apprentice or fully qualified, employed by the Metropolitan Police, and it's a wonder that Peter Grant actually manages to get in some practice and training, he's so busy chasing after suspects (or otherwise engaged). While the engaging writing and easy deprecating humour are still very much in evidence, I would have preferred not to get to know Peter quite so intimately (if you catch my meaning); apart from that, after a fairly slow start the plot heated up very nicely and became rather tense, though certain passages are not for the squeamish. It is clear that certain developments will play a significant part in subsequent novels, and I will definitely continue with the series.