Published: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Del Rey
Series: Rivers of London #2
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 288 (Paperback)
My Rating: 4.0/5.0
Synopsis:
The song.
That’s what apprentice wizard and London Metropolitan Police Constable Peter Grant first notices when summoned to the local morgue to view the corpse of Cyrus Wilkinson, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. He, along with Scottish pathologist Dr. Abdul Haqq Walid, hears the distinct notes of an old jazz standard emanating from the body—a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not as normal as it might first have seemed, since only something supernatural leaves such an imprint.
Body and Soul.
They’re also what Peter will risk, as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last practicing Newtonian wizard in England, and the questionable assistance of voluptuous but old-fashioned jazz groupie Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace—one that leads right to his own doorstep, with an unexpected connection to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant—otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.
This is shaping up to be an extremely short, almost mini review but I don’t really have too much to say about this second installment in the Rivers of London series.
When Peter Grant investigates the death of a jazz musician and catches a whiff of magic, he jumps to the only possible conclusion. Jazz vampires. No kidding, though he does venture the possibility that it was just an overdose before he goes to that extreme. This case is near and dear to him since his father is a renowned (though sort of retired) jazz musician himself and Peter needs to find out what’s going on so his pops doesn’t drop dead too.
Moon Over Soho was another enjoyable installment in the Rivers of London series and the overarching plot is ramping up. While the books seem to carry on with their episodic nature, there is a “big baddie” introduced during Moon Over Soho who (I think) will play a big role throughout the series. Peter Grant’s narration continues to make me absolutely roll with laughter and the more serious notes hit just right as well. While the individual books aren’t quite hitting the bar to be new favorites, I think the series will be an overall win for me! Can’t wait to check out the third book in the near future!
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