False Value: A Rivers of London Novel

Aaronovitch showcases a superlative blend of whimsy and grit in the eighth Rivers of London urban fantasy (after Lies Sleeping). Magic practitioner Peter Grant leaves his position in the Metropolitan Police and lands a job with the Serious Cybernetics Corporation, whose head of security suspects a rat within the organization and wants Grant to root out who it is. Grant soon stumbles on a promising lead when he spots Jacob Astor, a fellow magic user who Grant recognizes from a previous investigation, trying to break into a restricted area of Serious Cybernetics. The plot thickens when Grant learns that the company is working for the Russian government to develop algorithms meant to influence public opinion and an attempt is made on the life of the company founder. The suspenseful mystery at the novel’s core is laced with humor and charm. Jim Butcher meets Douglas Adams in this winning series installment. Agent: John Berlyne, Zeno Agency. (Mar.)