Broken Homes
by Ben Aaronovitch
Peter Grant (4)
crime, fantasy
copyright 2013
read in June 2014
rated 8/10: really quite good
I read Broken Homes and thought, this is really quite good... But I had questions. You know how it is: you read quickly, you're not familiar with the characters, you miss a lot.
So I read it again. Most of it.
Confirmed the weaknesses. And still enjoyed it.
This is the fourth in a series. Four novels starring the same character. Independent novels -- yet related.
This is -- if I correctly understand the term -- a "police procedural". Crimes, clues, police following several related lines of enquiry. With the author's clever or cynical comments on the police methods.
Yes, the author is showing off his knowledge. In the style of his clever and cynical hero. It's fun.
The crimes are magical: that's central to the plot. The magical style is, to me, new and interesting. The occasional insight into the history of magical practice is also interesting.
Then there are the supporting characters...
On first reading I assumed that they were adding to the plot... But... They didn't seem to add much.
My second reading confirmed my worry: this book is one story in a continuing soap opera.
Some characters come and go, staying just long enough to fill in some minor gap in the plot. Other characters appear, continue their ongoing saga -- and disappear. Having added background to the environment but little else.
You know, like The Bill, when it stopped being about police and changed to a soap opera about the personal lives of people who happened to also work as police.
Luckily, Broken Homes still spend most of its time solving the crime...
With plenty of time also spent on commentary on the city of London and its near neighbours. Which -- I must say -- I enjoyed.
We're given, for example, a view of the tower blocks of flats which became vertical slums. Then we're taken inside -- and given a far more positive view of the towers, if only the original intention had matched the reality of life. With a brief reference to one area which was -- in reality -- defended against towering monstrosities.
Views, actions, opinions, all merged with the living reality of London. Pease Pottage ? Yes, the village does exist. Bernie Spain Gardens ? Yes, they are there, on the banks of the River Thames. Fascinating !
Of course I do believe that London is the greatest city in the world. So I'm predisposed in favour of anything set in London (Sherlock Holmes, Monopoly...).
Still...
The flavour of the book is young adult. Some violence, mostly off screen. Some suggestions that sex would be enjoyable. Plenty of escapism. A solid story with an acceptable level of soap opera background.
Very enjoyable. And I've bought the first in the series, to see how the soap opera began.
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Problems ? Solved
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