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Rivers of London #6.4
A Rare Book of Cunning Device
Somewhere amongst the shadowy stacks and the many basements of the British library, something is very much amiss - and we're not talking late returns here. Is it a ghost, or something much worse? PC Peter Grant really isn't looking forward to finding out....
5 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 27, 2017
36 people are currently reading
4025 people want to read
About the author
Ben Aaronovitch
159 books13.5k followersBen Aaronovitch's career started with a bang writing for Doctor Who, subsided in the middle and then, as is traditional, a third act resurgence with the bestselling Rivers of London series.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
Born and raised in London he says that he'll leave his home when they prise his city out of his cold dead fingers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
January 5, 2021
3.5 stars
Funny, too short, and available only on audio, for now anyway, and it's still going for free at Audible.
Nightingale is out of town again, and Peter gets called to the British Library about what appears at first to be a poltergeist problem. But after some investigating, it turns out to be a book running amok after dark and keeping the librarians up at night.
The book isn't actually a book, but an ancient device of magical origins. It has moving parts and seems somewhat sentient, or at least aware of its surrounding. I'd love to learn more about it and see it featured in later books.
Peter brings Toby and Postmartin along to the library and learns from the librarians that the good professor has a reputation for stealing rare tomes. This comes as no surprise to me because I've always suspected that about him. Gatekeepers like the people of the Folly have always seemed like the kind to confiscate rare books and other objects of magical origins for "safe keeping."
This short story reads like another sequence from the cutting room floor, not unlike The Home Crowd Advantage. I get the feeling these two should have been part of the main novels, but for whatever reason, they had to be cut during the editing process. But they were too good to delete permanently, so we get these little snippets to entertain us while we wait for Lies Sleeping.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
Funny, too short, and available only on audio, for now anyway, and it's still going for free at Audible.
Nightingale is out of town again, and Peter gets called to the British Library about what appears at first to be a poltergeist problem. But after some investigating, it turns out to be a book running amok after dark and keeping the librarians up at night.
The book isn't actually a book, but an ancient device of magical origins. It has moving parts and seems somewhat sentient, or at least aware of its surrounding. I'd love to learn more about it and see it featured in later books.
Peter brings Toby and Postmartin along to the library and learns from the librarians that the good professor has a reputation for stealing rare tomes. This comes as no surprise to me because I've always suspected that about him. Gatekeepers like the people of the Folly have always seemed like the kind to confiscate rare books and other objects of magical origins for "safe keeping."
This short story reads like another sequence from the cutting room floor, not unlike The Home Crowd Advantage. I get the feeling these two should have been part of the main novels, but for whatever reason, they had to be cut during the editing process. But they were too good to delete permanently, so we get these little snippets to entertain us while we wait for Lies Sleeping.
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
July 22, 2019
Cute, fun story. A little bit of a taste of Kobna. Why do I feel like the drug dealer just gave me the first one for free?? The addicting properties are strong with this one...
February 22, 2018
Ben Aaronovitch has created in the Peter Grant series a storyline with a seemingly innumerable list of possible story ideas. From the novels (of which we are all impatiently waiting for the next) to the graphic novels (with fun vignettes at the end) to these short stories.
A Rare Book of Cunning Device is an audiobook available for free on Audible and highlights not only Aaronvitch’s exceptional writing ability and imagination but also narrator Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s perfect casting and execution reading these stories.
Like the opening scenes in Ghostbusters, Grant investigates some ghostly goings on in the library, this time in the British Library, built recent enough that vestigial residue would argue against a traditional haunting.
Good fun.
A Rare Book of Cunning Device is an audiobook available for free on Audible and highlights not only Aaronvitch’s exceptional writing ability and imagination but also narrator Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s perfect casting and execution reading these stories.
Like the opening scenes in Ghostbusters, Grant investigates some ghostly goings on in the library, this time in the British Library, built recent enough that vestigial residue would argue against a traditional haunting.
Good fun.
May 6, 2017
aka "Ben's Ode to Librarians and Their Charges," free at Audible.
A wonderful introduction to both Peter Grant and the wonders of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's voice acting. It's a quick story, quite possibly short on world-building background for those new to the series, but does have a nice little bit about Peter's family. In it, Peter is asked by librarian Elizabeth Winn-Stanley (aka "Hatbox" Stanley) to investigate a poltergeist in the King's Collection at the British Library. The Folly's own librarian, Professor Harold Postmartin (aka "Harold the Pirate") becomes involved as well. I do so enjoy Kobna's ponderous, resonant rendition that also captures his mischievous humor.
Fun facts:
The British Library gets two copies of all books published in England and Ireland.
Number of Scooby-Doo references: One
Favorite line:
"I like to learn from the mistakes of fictional characters."
A wonderful introduction to both Peter Grant and the wonders of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's voice acting. It's a quick story, quite possibly short on world-building background for those new to the series, but does have a nice little bit about Peter's family. In it, Peter is asked by librarian Elizabeth Winn-Stanley (aka "Hatbox" Stanley) to investigate a poltergeist in the King's Collection at the British Library. The Folly's own librarian, Professor Harold Postmartin (aka "Harold the Pirate") becomes involved as well. I do so enjoy Kobna's ponderous, resonant rendition that also captures his mischievous humor.
Fun facts:
The British Library gets two copies of all books published in England and Ireland.
Number of Scooby-Doo references: One
Favorite line:
"I like to learn from the mistakes of fictional characters."
May 27, 2018
A Rare Book of Cunning Device
By: Ben Aaronovitch
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
A fantastic short in the library. Complaints of a poltergeist in the library but once there, that's not what is found! Fun story...
Great narration!
By: Ben Aaronovitch
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
A fantastic short in the library. Complaints of a poltergeist in the library but once there, that's not what is found! Fun story...
Great narration!
September 5, 2021
I think Aaronovitch is getting better at this short story thing by now. I really enjoyed this little nod to Pratchett and libraries. :)
June 27, 2018
Aww, why so short? As soon as I got involved with the story it ended quite brutally, that's not fair! In such case I guess I will have to listen to it again... ;)
Cute and funny, it makes a nice appetizer before the next Peter Grant book is out.
Cute and funny, it makes a nice appetizer before the next Peter Grant book is out.
July 29, 2018
Short, tiny and wonderful story of Peter Grant investigating a report of a poltergeist at the British library with the head librarian and Harold Postmartin. And Toby. I love that this story is a bit of a love letter to librarians, and that Postmartin is known as “The Pirate” by other librarians.
If you haven’t read any of the other stories in this world, this isn’t the place to start, but it’s a lovely reminder of Aaronovitch’s characters and humour, and the lovely, amazing voices of Kobna’s Holdbrook-Smith.
If you haven’t read any of the other stories in this world, this isn’t the place to start, but it’s a lovely reminder of Aaronovitch’s characters and humour, and the lovely, amazing voices of Kobna’s Holdbrook-Smith.
January 15, 2019
This was a short audible listen, at around 25 minutes long and part of a longer series, which I haven't gotten round to reading yet. I did like the narrator, he spoke clearly and made the characters stand out. The story-line itself just didn't fully capture my attention. I've never been to the British Library (considering that one of my real-life goals is to become a Librarian!) and while I loved the imagery surrounding this setting, it just moved too quickly and a little underdeveloped for me personally.
September 4, 2021
Did you know that the British Library has FIVE underground levels full of rare books?! Oh, what I wouldn't give to get access!
Aaronovitch was asked to pen a short story (and produce if for/with Audible) of which the proceeds would go to a library charity - so of course he made it about THE library he could think of. 625km of shelves meant there was a lot he could write about after all. Yes, you read correctly: six undred and twenty five kilometres! *swoons*
Anyway, it's about the King's Library, a quirky librarian, and a possible poltergeist (so not a poltergeist) that keeps moving things ().
The setting once again managed to create a fantastic atmosphere. I mean, I'm a bookworm so OF COURSE I loved this one. But it's also the magic and further character building (Postmartin "the Pirate" ;) is in this one together with Peter).
While there is no URL for this one, you can find it as an Audible Exclusive.
Aaronovitch was asked to pen a short story (and produce if for/with Audible) of which the proceeds would go to a library charity - so of course he made it about THE library he could think of. 625km of shelves meant there was a lot he could write about after all. Yes, you read correctly: six undred and twenty five kilometres! *swoons*
Anyway, it's about the King's Library, a quirky librarian, and a possible poltergeist (so not a poltergeist) that keeps moving things ().
The setting once again managed to create a fantastic atmosphere. I mean, I'm a bookworm so OF COURSE I loved this one. But it's also the magic and further character building (Postmartin "the Pirate" ;) is in this one together with Peter).
While there is no URL for this one, you can find it as an Audible Exclusive.
July 5, 2017
This is an audiobook exclusive Peter Grant short story (set between books five and six in the series). It was pretty good but left me craving MORE! Good job I've got book six lined up on my Kindle ready to go.
This was very well read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. I'm told he does a great job on the other Peter Grant books too; alas, I have read them on my Kindle and deprived myself of the pleasure. Maybe when I re-read them a few years down the line I'll go the audiobook route...
This was very well read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. I'm told he does a great job on the other Peter Grant books too; alas, I have read them on my Kindle and deprived myself of the pleasure. Maybe when I re-read them a few years down the line I'll go the audiobook route...
March 9, 2025
”There’s a long history of extraordinary things being hidden in books — alcohol, keys, letters, very small heirs to a throne…hand grenades, pistols, radios, why not a robot?”
This brief tale of a medieval book/magical construct loose and causing havoc in the basements of the British Library is full of clever description, broad humor, formidable librarians, Peter Grant at his cheeky best, and an appearance from Toby the wonder dog. It’s a short, quick, slight thing, little more than an after dinner mint for your literary appetite, but it does hit the spot.
This brief tale of a medieval book/magical construct loose and causing havoc in the basements of the British Library is full of clever description, broad humor, formidable librarians, Peter Grant at his cheeky best, and an appearance from Toby the wonder dog. It’s a short, quick, slight thing, little more than an after dinner mint for your literary appetite, but it does hit the spot.
June 14, 2018
Short story, audiobook available for free on Audible.
Peter is sent to investigate weird bollocks at the British Library. Amusing, very short, great narration again by Kobna Holbrook-Smith.
Can someone enlighten me regarding the tattooed eyeball reference?
Peter is sent to investigate weird bollocks at the British Library. Amusing, very short, great narration again by Kobna Holbrook-Smith.
Can someone enlighten me regarding the tattooed eyeball reference?
January 3, 2020
I'm not familiar with the series, so my synopsis - some poltergeisty activity in the library results in Peter Grant finding a cunning device in said library - is probably not as detailed as if I were familiar with Peter Grant and his cases!
Loved the narration and that British accent - top notch and all that.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Loved the narration and that British accent - top notch and all that.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
September 17, 2017
Well.
I'm now scared of old books.
Congrats?
I'm now scared of old books.
Congrats?
July 11, 2017
A short story from Ben Aaeronovitch exclusively available on audible. It fit's in the 'Rivers of London' series and features Peter assisting a librarian by investigating a poltergeist in the British Library. The 35 minute story is read by the amazing Kobna Holbrook-Smith.
If you haven't experienced Kobna reading Aaeronovitch this is free sample not to be missed. If you have, then you probably already grabbed this one:)
If you haven't experienced Kobna reading Aaeronovitch this is free sample not to be missed. If you have, then you probably already grabbed this one:)
September 18, 2017
I liked this one, but it was just a tad too short for me to get full enjoyment. The end was a bit abrupt and unsatisfying for my personal taste, but I've never been too good with short stories, so it might just be me... ;)
I liked the humor and the craziness and had some laugh out loud moments, so I'll give it 4*.
I liked the humor and the craziness and had some laugh out loud moments, so I'll give it 4*.
November 21, 2020
Charming piece of ephemera. Set in a library (be still my heart). I’m not sure but I feel that there was a little flirtation going on between Postmartin and Winstanley. Delightful.
December 29, 2020
A quirky listen. Short but fun.
July 12, 2020
This Audible freebie is a short story set in the Peter Grant universe. It is light and humorous, with some good-natured fun-poking at librarians everywhere. It is inventive, but too short to really draw us into the characters, and the story seems unfinished.
February 11, 2019
This was a bit of an odd experience, as after 7+ books my own mental Peter Grant voice is a thing, and this obviously was different in numerous ways, not least of which were the cadences and emphasis my internal voice would have read this with. So a bit of an adjustment there, but excluding that the narration was good and I don't think I'd have had any issues was this my first encounter with the character.
The story itself, being a short, was pretty linear and didn't have much in the way of tension or depth, but that's ok for a 30 minute episode.
Audio is somewhat difficult for me, so I'll have to listen again later to really make up my mind about it.
The story itself, being a short, was pretty linear and didn't have much in the way of tension or depth, but that's ok for a 30 minute episode.
Audio is somewhat difficult for me, so I'll have to listen again later to really make up my mind about it.
March 6, 2018
Okay, this probably doesn't deserve 4 stars, because it's just sort of a middling story. But since this is only an Audible story, you get to hear the narration from the wonderful Kobna Holdbrook-Smith--and that's worth an extra star on its own. It's free, and it's a terrific introduction to this world. Give it a listen.
April 28, 2017
My first Peter Grant story I just sort of liked instead of loved. Apparently I need a longer story to get into the flow, this was too short. Still good but not enough time to appreciate the humor or the setting.
June 8, 2017
Adorable, though too short. I don't like audiobooks, but this one was fun. I'd happily read about other adventures in the library.
October 11, 2017
5 Words: Perfect length for a cuppa.
Although this didn't really add much to the world, I appreciated this little extra.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith was an exceptional narrator, as always.
Although this didn't really add much to the world, I appreciated this little extra.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith was an exceptional narrator, as always.
January 17, 2021
Are you kidding me? Peter Grant is called to the library to catch a poltergeist, finds a weird supernatural insect connected to a book, catches it, the end. The end?!
Dear Ben, please, you can do better than that.
Dear Ben, please, you can do better than that.
July 5, 2019
Ein Poltergeist in einer Bibliothek und Peter Grant soll nachsehen, was Sache ist.
Für eine Kurzgeschichte von gerade mal 30 Minuten war sie doch sehr unterhaltsam und witzig.
Und! Es gibt sie kostenfrei bei Audible!
Da kann man nicht meckern. Wirklich nicht!
Für eine Kurzgeschichte von gerade mal 30 Minuten war sie doch sehr unterhaltsam und witzig.
Und! Es gibt sie kostenfrei bei Audible!
Da kann man nicht meckern. Wirklich nicht!
May 1, 2017
London PC Peter Grant gets called to the British Museum, which has a serious problem in one of its many basements. They think it's a poltergeist; something, at least, is moving things around in ways that can't be accounted for by the actions of staff and users. Grant thinks this is unlikely, because of how modern the building is, but given the ancient, rare, historical, and otherwise valuable items in the collection, can't rule it out.
And so he goes hunting through the basements. But is he hunting a ghost, a poltergeist, something else?
And has he brought the right equipment?
This is a nice little short story, an Audible exclusive, that adds to the world-building and character development of the series. It's an additional little treat if you've been reading the series, and a nice introduction to Peter Grant if you haven't been.
This story was free on Audible when I downloaded it.
And so he goes hunting through the basements. But is he hunting a ghost, a poltergeist, something else?
And has he brought the right equipment?
This is a nice little short story, an Audible exclusive, that adds to the world-building and character development of the series. It's an additional little treat if you've been reading the series, and a nice introduction to Peter Grant if you haven't been.
This story was free on Audible when I downloaded it.
November 7, 2017
Narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, this is a short story set in Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London world. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is a great narrator and sounds just perfect for Peter, and while it’s a short story, it’s fun and features Toby and Postmartin… and the British Library. And, of course, a rare book of cunning device.
I won’t spoiler you if you haven’t listened to it, but it really is fun, helped by Holdbrook-Smith’s delivery. If you enjoy Peter Grant and his brand of humour, you’ll be in for a treat. And as I recall, it’s free on Audible…
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
I won’t spoiler you if you haven’t listened to it, but it really is fun, helped by Holdbrook-Smith’s delivery. If you enjoy Peter Grant and his brand of humour, you’ll be in for a treat. And as I recall, it’s free on Audible…
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
June 9, 2017
Neat short story that I'd love to see evolve into a bigger book. I'd love to learn about the inventor of the book of cunning device. Sounds like a very interesting character!
Peter Grant is a paranormal investigator. He gets a call to check out the British Library. They seem to think they have a poltergeist in the basement of the library. What they find is much more interesting!
Loved the narration by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.
Peter Grant is a paranormal investigator. He gets a call to check out the British Library. They seem to think they have a poltergeist in the basement of the library. What they find is much more interesting!
Loved the narration by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews