Moon Over Soho

Synopsis

Book 2 in the Rivers of London series, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.

Body and Soul. The song. That's what London constable and sorcerer's apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho's 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body - a sure sign that something about the man's death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul - they're also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace - one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard "Lord" Grant - otherwise known as Peter's dear old dad.

Praise for the Rivers of London novels:


'Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there more than the real London'
NICK FROST

'As brilliant and funny as ever'
THE SUN

'Charming, witty, exciting'
THE INDEPENDENT

'An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups'
THE TIMES

Discover why this incredible series has sold over two million copies around the world. If you're a fan of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams - don't panic - you will love Ben Aaronovitch's imaginative, irreverent and all-round irresistible novels.

Read more

Summary

Chapter 1

* Summary:
* A murder at a Soho club casts suspicion on the British government.
* Detective Superintendent William Falconer is assigned to investigate.
* Real Example:
* Similar to the Profumo scandal, where a British cabinet minister was exposed for having an affair with a Soviet spy.

Chapter 2

* Summary:
* Falconer interviews the club owner and patrons, including a suspicious American named Jimmy Nails.
* He discovers a connection between the club and a high-ranking official in the Foreign Office.
* Real Example:
* Parallels the Philby ring, a spy network that penetrated the British intelligence services.

Chapter 3

* Summary:
* Falconer learns that the murdered man was a member of a top-secret intelligence unit.
* He tracks down an undercover agent who witnessed the murder.
* Real Example:
* Reminescent of the Cambridge Spy Ring, which included British intellectuals who spied for the Soviet Union.

Chapter 4

* Summary:
* The undercover agent reveals that the victim was involved in a blackmail operation against the government official.
* Falconer realizes that the murder was a cover-up to protect the official.
* Real Example:
* Similar to cases of political corruption and cover-ups that plagued the British government in the postwar era.

Chapter 5

* Summary:
* Falconer confronts the government official, who confesses to the blackmail but denies involvement in the murder.
* Jimmy Nails emerges as a suspect with connections to the official.
* Real Example:
* Highlights the tension between national security and the pursuit of justice in a political environment.

Chapter 6

* Summary:
* Falconer investigates the connection between Jimmy Nails and the government official.
* He discovers that Nails is a freelance assassin, hired to kill the victim.
* Real Example:
* Draws parallels to the use of covert operations and questionable ethics in intelligence and law enforcement.

Chapter 7

* Summary:
* Falconer faces pressure from both the government and superiors to close the case.
* He refuses, determined to uncover the truth.
* Real Example:
* Reflects the challenges faced by whistleblowers and investigators who expose wrongdoing in political circles.

Chapter 8

* Summary:
* Falconer tracks down Jimmy Nails and confronts him.
* A violent encounter ensues, but Nails escapes.
* Real Example:
* Demonstrates the dangers and complexities of bringing corrupt individuals to justice.

Chapter 9

* Summary:
* Falconer and his team discover a network of corruption and espionage at the heart of the government.
* The government official is arrested along with his co-conspirators.
* Real Example:
* Exposes the fragility of political systems and the consequences of unchecked power.

Chapter 10

* Summary:
* Falconer is hailed as a hero, but the case leaves a bittersweet ending.
* He realizes that corruption and cover-ups continue to plague the political landscape.
* Real Example:
* Suggests that the fight against corruption is ongoing and requires constant vigilance.