My name is Peter Grant and until January I was just probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service (and as the Filth to everybody else). My only concerns in life were how to avoid a transfer to the Case Progression Unit - we do paperwork so real coppers don't have to - and finding a way to climb into the panties of the outrageously perky WPC Leslie May. Then one night, in pursuance of a murder inquiry, I tried to take a witness statement from someone who was dead but disturbingly voluable, and that brought me to the attention of Inspector Nightingale, the last wizard in England.

Now I'm a Detective Constable and a trainee wizard, the first apprentice in fifty years, and my world has become somewhat more complicated: nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames, and digging up graves in Covent Garden ... and there's something festering at the heart of the city I love, a malicious vengeful spirit that takes ordinary Londoners and twists them into grotesque mannequins to act out its drama of violence and despair.

The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it's falling to me to bring order out of chaos - or die trying.

This book is surprising, charming, well written, well plotted and full of likeable, interesting characters. It had me laughing out loud at times.

I am going to be buying the second in the series this afternoon.

You've been tagged!

Thanks amber. Have heard nothing but good things about this series. :D

An imaginitve, fun read and a great beginning to the series.
Thanks again amber.

I placed this one into the OZ VBB and it was chosen by jennymidget. So today began the long trip eastward across the continent. Hope you enjoy it.

Thank you so much crimson-tide!