The Severed Streets

March 31, 2014
Cornell follows London Falling with new personal, political, and procedural adventures for Det. Insp. James Quill and his three Sight-gifted colleagues. The team is being strangled by austerity measures and a mission that’s difficult to justify to superiors who don’t know about or believe in magic. This fast-paced thrill ride doesn’t skimp on the grit and gore as a Jack the Ripper copycat—whom only the Sighted can see—begins targeting London’s rich and powerful white men. Cornell doesn’t sidestep personal drama, either, as the investigators pursue disparate and sometimes conflicting personal goals, both in and out of the “other” world, sacrificing much in the process. Although there are some gimmicky side plots that draw attention and pages away from the main focus, the team’s continued struggle to understand the dark and terrifying side of London is gripping. This book is a strong follow-up, a good standalone story, and an excellent read for fans of dark urban fantasy.

May 15, 2014

The cops in DI Jim Quill's squad have gained a special sight that allows them access to the magic of London. The city is in the middle of a class war, with masked protesters taking to the streets to challenge income inequality and class privilege. When a cabinet minister and the commissioner of police are killed by one of the flash mobs, it is assumed that they were targeted because of their wealth and power. But the squad fears the Smiling Man they faced before is still at the center of the unrest. VERDICT Lacking some of the originality of the first volume (2013's London Falling), this is still one of the more unusual combinations of dark fantasy and police procedural. Fans of Ben Aaronovitch will likely enjoy this (more serious) series.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
Detective Inspector Quill's special squad is dedicated to standing against the powers of darkness, though they are careful not to advertise that mission to those unaware of London's occult underbelly. This makes for some tricky operations in this sequel to London Calling (2013), as Quill and his team must continually justify their unorthodox investigation into a series of impossible Ripper-style murders. An impending police strike and a string of political riots obscure the case's true nature; the only certainty is that although the Sight might let them see danger approaching, it doesn't protect them from it. Cornell brings a dry, understated wit to this supernatural crime procedural without lessening the impact of its graphic violence and horror, though repeat cameos by Neil Gaiman may distract from its verisimilitude. Cornell better differentiates his four troubled narrators as their personal story lines diverge: Ross and Costain are in competition to acquire a rare magical device, Sefton is haunted by accidentally causing a death, and Quill's own research takes him all the way to hell for answers. This series has endless potential, and new readers can confidently start with either volume.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)