#false values

or at the very least Bob Howard knows more about computers than Peter Grant

Actually, some Rivers Of London Laundry Files crossover would be a lot of fun, just not for Peter

Definitely the start of a new arc, from my memories of the next book focussing on magical other realms, that and parenthood

I'm not sure I liked the jumping around of timelines in the first section, didn't feel necessary, and some of the sorta nerd culture references sorta fell flat

also, I feel it could have done a better job showing the absolute scumminess of undercover policing, ethically awful even for those who think policing in general is good and necessary, at least for Peter it was only short term and he didn't do anything really really bad, unlike some of the scandals involving the met and undercover policing IRL

all this being said I did enjoy the book

it's nice to see Peter and Beverlies relationship develop a bit given they're having kids and it was interesting to see actual discussion of how Bevs divinity works

The Librarians are cool, and there were hints that the magical practice is massive and diverse in America, particularly when compared with Europe, understandable given how the books describe the effect of WW2 on European wizardry, but idk mildly annoying, possibly pandering to an American audience (ok that might not be rational). I'm given to understand we're getting a novella from Nightingale's POV next, set in New York, in the 1920s, so that might explore some of that admittedly with more of a historical perspective (Winter's Gifts was a lot of fun I kinda really want more from Kimberley Reynolds's perspective, I want to see her pick up some magic sometime)

To give a small taste of the writing:

"Burglary, which is defined in law as entering someones gaff and nicking stuff, is a pain to investigate. /.../ Still, the obviously magical nature of the burglary meant I had to follow it up."

…our need for truth is inescapable.

Instead of conforming ourselves to what is, we twist everything around, in our words and thoughts, to fit our own deformity.

The seat of this deformity is in the will. Although we still may speak the truth, we are more and more losing our desire to live according to the truth. Our wills are not true, because they refuse to accept the laws of our own being: they…