Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch continues the thrilling adventures of Detective Constable Peter Grant, member of the Metropolitan Police’s special unit dedicated to supernatural crimes. In this fourth instalment of the captivating Rivers of London series, Grant’s unique abilities and investigative skills are tested to their limits.
When a mutilated body is discovered in Crawley, suspicion falls on Robert Weil, an associate of the sinister magician known as the Faceless Man. As Peter delves deeper into the case, it remains unclear whether Weil is merely a garden-variety serial killer or something far more diabolical.
While grappling with this gruesome murder, Peter is also drawn into a case involving a town planner who meets a tragic end under a tube train, and a stolen grimoire that could spell disaster in the wrong hands. Each new lead steers him further into the intricate web spun by London’s criminal and supernatural underbelly.
The fast-paced narrative takes an intriguing turn when Peter gets wind of strange occurrences in Elephant and Castle. Here, on a peculiar housing estate dreamt up by an eccentric architect, built by frauds, and lived in by the desperate, Peter finds eerie connections that pose more questions than answers. What links this place to his current cases, and why does it have to be on the oft-avoided South of the River?
Ben Aaronovitch’s rich portrayal of London is more than just a backdrop; it is a living, breathing character filled with warmth, sly humour, and endless quirks. The city’s essence infuses the narrative, providing a vividly detailed setting that only Aaronovitch can conjure. With each twist and turn, Broken Homes brings readers deeper into a world where magical and mundane collide.
This series has rapidly earned its place alongside the iconic locales of Rebus’ Edinburgh and Morse’s Oxford. For those who relish their crime fiction mixed with a dash of the supernatural, Broken Homes promises an exhilarating journey through a magically charged London.
Immerse yourself in an expertly crafted tale that showcases Ben Aaronovitch’s talent for blending the police procedural with a fantastical twist. Broken Homes is not just a book; it is a gripping adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
