Review: Broken Homes

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Broken Homes, the fourth of the Rivers of London/Peter Grant novels, by Ben Aaronovitch, continues to impress as much as the first three novels in the series. For newcomers, DC Peter Grant is a special sort of copper; he and the rest of the crew at the Folly (all 3 of them... four if you count the dog) investigate the really weird stuff that happens around London. Not just "guy in a bear suit playing keytar" weird, more like "half-man/half-bear guy rampaging through the subway" weird. Their latest case starts with a car accident. Not especially strange by itself, but the fact that there's evidence that a cadaver might have walked away on its own raises some eyebrows. When another body turns up later, cooked from the inside, the Folly is dragged into an investigation that bears all the marks of their nemesis, the Faceless Man.

Broken Homes starts off slower than the earlier books; Grant isn't quite as snarky this time around, and there's a lot of legwork involved in tracking down the information about the deaths he's investigating. It comes across as just a little drier, perhaps, than the first three books. Still engaging, but not as fast paced.

If the early parts of the book are a comfortable ride through the scenic valleys, the third act explodes like a fighter jet rocketing through the sky. Aaronvitch has already shown that he's willing to push his characters around a bit, and this book is no exception. The stakes are getting higher with each book, and a final showdown between the Folly and the Faceless Man can't be far off.

Broken Homes is a really terrific read that perfectly blends mystery and magic with just the right dose of humor. The result is a well crafted mystery full of charming characters that I've really grown attached to (always a dangerous thing!). The best thing I can say for it is that it has me eagerly anticipating the moment I can crack open the next book.

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