The October Man cover art

The October Man

Rivers of London, Book 6.2

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The October Man

Written by: Ben Aaronovitch
Narrated by: Sam Peter Jackson
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About this listen

If you thought magic was confined to one country - think again. 

Trier: famous for wine, Romans, and being Germany's oldest city. 

When a man is found dead with his body impossibly covered in a fungal rot, the local authorities know they are out of their depth. But fortunately this is Germany, where there are procedures for everything. 

Enter Tobias Winter, an investigator for the Abteilung KDA, the branch of the German Federal Criminal Police which handles the supernatural. His aim is to get in, deal with the problem, and get out with the minimum of fuss, personal danger, and paperwork. 

Together with frighteningly enthusiastic local cop, Vanessa Sommer, he quickly links the first victim to a group of ordinary middle-aged men whose novel approach to their mid-life crisis may have reawakened a bloody conflict from a previous century.  

As the rot spreads, literally, and the suspect list extends to people born before Frederick the Great, Tobias and Vanessa will need to find allies in some unexpected places. 

And to solve the case they'll have to unearth the secret magical history of a city that goes back two thousand years. Presuming that history doesn't kill them first.

©2019 Ben Aaronovitch (P)2019 Tantor Classics Fantasy Fiction Magic Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Paranormal Urban Contemporary
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A Rivers of London novella, but this time set in Germany. I liked the characters of Tobias and Vanessa, but found just about everyone else had confusing (to me) names and especially those of the wine club, I could not keep them straight.

Tobias is like Peter, a young policeman fairly new to magic, but unlike Peter more competant and less humourous. I did miss Peter's impetuous momentum.

The novella was ok. It was interesting to get an idea of magic in other countries, and enjoyed the mythology behind the story, but it was not as engrossing or as fun as the other books in the series. I missed the dynamism of the London based books. However, I would be up for a future novel that has Tobias and Peter working together.

Rivers of London Novella set in Germany

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Once you get over the narrator not being Kobna Holdbrook-Smith you start to hear classic Aaronovitch writing in the hands of a master storyteller. Awesome.

Has the making of a stand alone series

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I enjoyed the international nod to magic. Brilliant writing concept by Ben. I adjusted and enjoyed this reader immediately.

Ben A. clarifies in English every German name and phrase within the story and captures the feel of the German culture expertly.

I hope Mr. Aaronovitch will set more stories, both long and short, in many other countries. I would love to see what he could do with Italy.

Great way to expand the insular themed format of most story series. Loved it!

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Being a great fan of the London series and with thanks to Ben Aaronovitch for his mighty works, this story would be great for those who speak English and German. With only English to rely on, I could not find my way through.

October man

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