Reviews

False Value by Ben Aaronovitch

brassduke's review against another edition

4.0

My favourite book series that is still running. Sometimes struggle to remember all the history of all the previously introduced characters but apart from that, it's excellent.

lisadelasan's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

tulip0803's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.25

booksorbones's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

3.5

"If you're not dead in the first instance your chances of survival are much improved"

I think compared to others in the series, this book falls a bit flat. That's not to say it's a bad read by any means I just found it less engaging than the others, which is disappointing as I had put off reading this installment for over a year and was hoping to regret that choice. The blend of police work and magic was why I was so drawn to this series and I was thrown at first when Peter is very much not a cop. I also am not that invested in Beverly and Peters's relationship and I can imagine with children on the way it is much more likely to be a focal point in the coming books.

One thing I do love about this series and the reason I keep coming back is the characters, namely Peter Grant and of course London's best practitioner, The Nightingale. I absolutely adore Nightingale and this book provides the perfect amount of backstory while keeping him mysterious, I also like that we get to see him in action a bit more. I hope that is a trend that continues in the next books. Peter remains brilliantly realistic and hilarious while still being scary or aggressive when he needs to. It was also interesting to see him around people who are "geekier than he is" as the blurb states. I have never read Hitchhikers Guide but I believe this book is a sign that I finally should.

Also while I never expected it to be a true AI (though the implications of that would have been very interesting) Peter's "That thing just passed the fucking Turing Test" was delightful. Thing that was unrealistic to want, but I kind of was hoping they could keep the AI/Ghost situation and we could get a sci-fi fantasy buddy cop, but obviously that is not the case, which I am glad about because again the implications of a functional AI would be insane both in Aaronovitch's world and our own

sri_savita's review against another edition

3.0

The AI stuff is a little too central to our real world right now lol, so I wasn't feeling all the magic/escapism vibes of this one. Now I have Book 9, and have to bounce back to reading Book 6 since my library doesn't have the audio version until I'm caught up on the series.

danskireads's review against another edition

2.0

Ben is putting less and less effort into these books. They say readers tend to give authors of series they love three not-so-great or bad books before they abandon them. It breaks my heart to abandon this series but if Ben isn't going to put the effort in, why should I? (And yes, I'm writing this review late. Book #9 has just come out and that makes it three in a row for me. I'm bowing out.)

ohsugrplum's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

thedeadwoods's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

tomfairfax's review against another edition

4.0

Good addition to the series expanding the Riversverse in lots of new directions with customary good humour. Chronology rooted at the start of 2016 which makes me eager to see what the author does with the turmoil of the upcoming years. Long may it continue.

valodniece's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This is perhaps the weakest in the Rivers of London series, though still awesome. I find it weaker than the others because in the beginning the chapters alternate between back and forwards in time and if you're doing audio like me, you don't necessarily catch on that right away and thus get completely confused what's going on. But once that stopped and everything came together, it went back to being the great series it has always been.