The Cockpit

Rivers of London #3.5

by Ben Aaronovitch

The Covent Garden branch of Waterstones may, or may not, have a poltergeist. Lesley and Peter spend the night there to investigate further.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Crime

5 pages, Unknown Binding

First published July 25, 2013

About the author

Ben 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.

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

So once again, this is a short story there unfortunately is no link to. I have it in my short story collection, which also has great introductions to the single stories.

As it happens, that means that if I hadn't known already, I'd have found out via said introduction that the author was told to write a short story with every book he published and he actually learned to have fun with the short form. So in this case he thought he should set it in the very Waterstones bookstore he used to work in and play around with a Ghostbusters reference.

The result is the best short story in this series yet complete with Peter and Lesley getting to spend a night in a possibly haunted bookshop!

By the way, it is always nice reading a story set somewhere you've personally been to. My favourite Waterstones might be the flagship-store in Picadilly, but I purchased my copy of the Ravenmaster's book in the one at Covent Garden so this gave me an additional thrill. :D

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, funny, and a definite homage to working in a bookstore. :)

I may be weird, but I like this story better than most of the Aaronovitch stories.

Those poor books!

[Litsplaining]

A haunted bookstore sounds cool and creepy.

Reading this short story was fun because I was slightly familiar with this Waterstones location from my study abroad semester and it being around the corner from where our university’s dorms were.

This short story isn’t as good as the Abigail novellas, but it was cute for what it was.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rivers of London 3.5 The Cockpit [short story from the Tales From the Folly] by Ben Aaronovitch

3.0 Stars

funny informative lighthearted tense

Fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Short form stories are not my favourite, but any addition to this world is fun and appreciated.

This story in particular was okay, but nothing to push the main story forward.

It is a side quest...and can be skipped, if you're not that interested in getting to know this world a little better.

Glad I read it, but it doesn't move the needle in any fruitful way...to my knowledge.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A god or goddess of books is miffed that they don’t get to hear readings anymore now the children’s section of a Waterstones has moved upstairs. The paranormal police investigate with snacks in tow.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars, rounding up to four. Reading through this short story collection by Aaronovitch, and this is the first really funny one - there's poltergeist-like activity in a bookshop, and Peter and Leslie have to stay the night there and sort it out. Why they just can't go after hours on a Sunday or anything when it's still light I don't know, but it's kind of like those stupid ghost shows on the telly where they hang around at midnight with torches, I guess, instead of getting a good look at a time of day when they can actually see things.

Peter and Leslie have electricity enough to do actual reading so it's not actually the same, but you get my drift. Anyway, I'll never not like a haunted bookshop story.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story set in a bookstore and it was nice to see Lesley in this one. Part of Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Four stars.
Another humorous trip into the world of the Folly and our friends Peter and Leslie. This time they are dealing with some strange activity in a book shop, and trying to figure out what it is and what is causing it. I enjoy every outing of these two (and Toby) and this didn’t disappoint. I liked what the problem turned out to be too. Very poetic. 👏🏻

[Brok3n · Rating 1 out of 5]

See review of Tales from the Folly at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... .

[Andrea (mrsaubergine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intro by the author sets the tone nicely, and the story has a great message.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the setting of this short story, a haunted bookshop! This was such a treat. Not to mention that Lesley was featured here. I need more Lesley stories!

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

285 - 2021

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it online. Loved it! Fun Ghostbusters reference and who can resist a bookstore?

[AcidGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice idea, a haunted bookshop - or is it really haunted? Peter, Lesley and Toby investigate. Cute.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This starts out okay, but then ends with a rather silly conclusion. Available in 'Tales From the Folly'.

[Celtic · Rating 4 out of 5]

From 'Tales from the Folly'.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this little short. The solution will come as no surprise to book lovers!

[Breña · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kein abwegiger Gedanke. ;)

[Rachreads22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice little short story. Paranormal activity, Peter, lesley and books. What's not to like?

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the Ghostbusters reference

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any short story that involves a god or goddess of reading will always get 5 stars, particularly one that features Peter Grant.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to, part of “Tales from the Folly”

[Gill]

Contained within Tales From the Folly collection.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this one. Kinda wish it wasn't fiction.

[Megan S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only you’d had to explain the situation, Peter.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! I love this short story collection! This a must read series! I can’t more tales!

[Victoria Nika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, little entry in the series that’s enjoyable

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as part of Tales from the Folly and loved it. Ghostbusters reference was hilarious and who can resist a bookstore?