This book hits the ground running and never really stops. I can imagine Aaronovitch paying rapt attention in English class when the teacher repeats, for the third time, that your beginning must grip the reader... and he obviously took it to heart, with my attention fully grabbed by the end of the first page. So many questions were already at hand, and the protagonist already had the dry wit that made me miss my home in the UK much more than anything else has in the last few months. 
 The story recreates a realistic London and takes the reader on a journey alongside the protagonist, Peter Grant, through the known and then the paranormal unknown. I liked this alternative view on magic - despite it reusing some of the golden tropes, Grant's views and Nightingale's teachings still gave them a fresh coat of paint so it didn't get too drab. This is a good light read for those who like some properly British sarcasm, with a side of detective work and magic. 
 Although, I do hope Grant gets laid somewhere in between book one and book two as his constant sexual frustration did take some of the spark out of this for me. Yes, we get it, she has nice legs - now get back to the story!