While Broken Homes isn’t my favorite in Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series, the ending came as surprise. And, it was perfect.

Peter Grant is a police constable with a little bit of magic. He and a former classmate, Lesley May, reside at the Folly with their instructor, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale. It’s there that they continue their lessons while fighting against those who use magic and the supernatural for evil purposes. Peter calls one of those the “Faceless Man”, and they’ve been hunting him since Peter first ran into him.

This time, the small group travel all over the countryside as they investigate a case that could have a connection to the Faceless Man. Eventually, they end up in a confrontation with a Russian woman, who like Nightingale, seems to be aging backwards. She, too, had been active in World War II, using her magic skills.

But, it’s one building, what we would call the projects, and the book refers to as an estate, the infamous Skygarden Estate, that draws Grant and Lesley. They move in, searching for someone with a connection to magic or to the “Faceless Man”. And, they find more than they expected, a dryad, river goddesses, fae, and others who hear what’s going on in the building. Peter also makes connections with residents of the neighborhood, while keeping his occupation a secret. It’s only at a climatic scene that he’s forced to reveal his identity.

As I said, Broken Homes isn’t my favorite book. There’s a little too much German, a little too much discussion of architecture. But, the resolution will come as a shock to anyone who has been following the series. On the other hand, as I said, it was an appropriate, perfect ending. It will be fascinating to see where Aaronovitch goes from here.

Ben Aaronovitch’s blog is at http://temporarilysignificant.blogspot.com

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch. DAW Books, 2014. 326p.

*****
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