Rivers of London (Midnight Riot in the US) is the first novel in the Peter Grant series by English author Ben Aaronovitch. The novel was released on 10 January 2011 through Gollancz and was well received by critics, earning a Galaxy National Book Awards nomination for Aaronovitch in the New Writer of the Year award. The author Ben Aaronovitch has subsequently written nine books in the Peter Grant Series, plus accompanying novellas, short stories, comics and graphic novels. Plot The novel centres on the adventures of Peter Grant, a young officer in the Metropolitan Police; who, following an unexpected encounter with a ghost, is recruited into the small branch of the Met that deals with magic and the supernatural. Peter Grant, having become the first English apprentice wizard in over seventy years, must immediately deal with two different but ultimately related cases. In one he must find what is possessing ordinary people and turning them into vicious killers, and in the second he must broker a peace between the two warring gods of the River Thames and their respective families. Characters Characters introduced in this novel Police Constable Lesley May; an officer in the Metropolitan Police who, having completed her mandatory probationary period, is expected to go far. Police Constable Peter Grant; an officer in the Metropolitan Police who, having completed his mandatory probationary period, is expected to do paperwork. Inspector Neblett; Peter and Lesley's shift commander and line manager at Charing Cross Police Station. Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale; head of the Folly and the last officially sanctioned English Wizard. Dr Abdul Haqq Walid; world-renowned gastroenterologist and cryptopathologist, a "gingery" Scot who converted to Islam. Detective Chief Inspector Alexander Seawoll; The SIO (Senior Investigation Officer) of the MIT (Murder Investigation Team) assigned to investigate the death of William Skirmish. Detective Sergeant Miriam Stephanopoulos; DCI Seawoll's case manager. Augusta Coopertown; Danish expatriate living in Hampstead. Brandon Coopertown; her husband. Molly; The Folly's domestic helper, of unknown species. Mama Thames; Goddess of the River Thames. Beverley Brook; "daughter" of Mama Thames and goddess of a small river in South London. Frank Caffrey; LFB (London Fire Brigade) Fire Investigator, ex-para and a key "associate" of the Folly. Father Thames; aka "The Old Man of the River" God of the River Thames or at least the bits above Teddington Lock. Oxley; one of the "sons" of Father Thames and his chief negotiator. Anna