Review: Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

I think Ben Aaronovitch grew up on a council estate. Or lived on one. Nobody else could write this decidedly ambiguous love letter to one of the worst ideas in the history of public housing...and that's the ones without the flammable cladding.

Broken Homes is also about what people will do when things get too much. Oh, and there's a Russian spy. Sort of.

It's also about fighting the man, which in a series that is, after all, a police procedural might seem remarkable...but it really all fits together quite nicely.

The dog is especially adorable in this one. (This series wouldn't be complete without a magically sensitive dog named Toby. The first book was, of course, about Punch and Judy).

And there's little bits in here that show a good knowledge of London architecture and its history, warts and all.

Definitely better than book three. And it is really starting to better build the idea of London itself as as character, as in all the best urban fantasy. Good work.

Review Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch

Apparently, fae aren't that dangerous in this world. Until they are, of course. And unicorns are carnivorous. (That particular trope is starting to get worn around the edges).

Peter is pulled into a missing kid case that they don't think is supernatural. Until it is. This is a trip to the countryside...the first of the books where the action does not take place in London, but rather in Hereford...which, to Peter, is halfway to Wales.

(I mean, it kind of is, but...)

Also, about time he got together with Beverly now Lesley is evil. Or evil adjacent. Or...something.

Not sure what's going on there. But I'm sure we'll find out.

Also.

Bees.

Just saying.

Bees.

I received copies of these books for award consideration purposes.