Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch – Book Review

Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch is the seventh PC Grant mystery, continuing his bestselling series of London adventures.

In this latest book in the series, The Faceless Man, who is wanted for murder, fraud and malevolent crime, has finally been flushed out and named. The Special Assessment Unit has been ordered to run the operation, despite their unorthodox methods. D.C. Peter Grant now plays a key role in bringing this felon to justice.

Peter uncovers clues that indicate The Faceless Man is still intent on performing the final stages of his long term plan.

This plan has its origins in London’s two millenniums of violent and bloody history going back to the Roman conquest and the Celtic “Warrior Queen”, Boudicca.

To save the city Peter turns to his former friend and colleague, Lesley May. But, will he  be able to overcome the pain of her brutal betrayal?

And could he face a far more hazardous confrontation with the psychopathic killer and instrument of misrule, Mr Punch?

Personally, I think it is an absolute must to read the other six books in the series before reading this one. I hadn’t, and found it extremely difficult to follow the complex mix of characters and their magical categories.

Otherwise, it is a well-written and unusual book in that Peter Grant is a Detective Constable AND an apprentice wizard, fighting criminals, who also have magical powers!  I very much enjoyed his references to the history and mythology that is associated with London. These he skilfully entwines around people and places to make the supernatural believable.

ISBN: 9781473207820

Lies Sleeping is available in Paperback, Hardback and CD Audio.

About Ben Aaronovitch

Ben Aaronovitch is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling PC Peter Grant series of novels (Rivers of London, Moon Over Soho, Whispers Under Ground, Broken Homes, Foxglove Summer and The Hanging Tree).

He was born and raised in London, and his love for the city is reflected throughout the series. Ben’s career began exceptionally well, writing for “Dr Who”, then collapsed somewhat until he began writing his popular Rivers of London series. 

He still resides in London says that he’ll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers. He is currently working on his next novel.