Books › Broken Homes
Broken Homes
392 pages
A wry, fast-paced magical procedural that peels back the concrete of London to reveal the dark, bloody secrets underneath.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like riding in the passenger seat of a police cruiser through a rain-slicked, magically charged London. The experience is anchored by a narrator whose dry, pragmatic wit makes the bizarre feel entirely routine, blending the meticulous details of a police procedural with the wild unpredictability of urban fantasy. It moves at a brisk, confident clip, inviting you to geek out over architectural trivia and bureaucratic absurdities before pulling the rug out from under you. The atmosphere is gritty and deeply atmospheric, steeped in the hidden histories of the city. It is a perfect fit for readers who want their magic grounded in reality, offering a comfortable, humorous ride that slowly tightens into a knot of genuine suspense and shocking betrayal.
- Mood
- atmospheric
- gritty
- suspenseful
- urban
- Tone
- wry
- pragmatic
- irreverent
- observant
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- hidden urban histories · bureaucracy vs magic · the weight of duty · shocking betrayal · architectural secrets
- The writing
- Snappy and conversational, packed with dry British wit, police jargon, and affectionate architectural trivia.
- The arc
- Moves from the comfortable, wry routine of a magical police procedural into a tense, high-stakes investigation that culminates in a devastating betrayal.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love their urban fantasy grounded in gritty police work, dry humor, and a deep, geeky love for the city of London.
Content notes
- murder
- graphic violence
- gore
- betrayal
About the book
My name is Peter Grant, and I'm a keeper of the secret flame. Truth be told, there's a lot I still don't know. My superior Nightingale is trying to teach me proper schooling for a magician's apprentice. But even he doesn't have all the answers. A mutilated body in Crawley means another murderer is on the loose. But then I get word of something very odd happening in Elephant and Castle. Just the typical day for a magician constable.
Description from Open Library.
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