Books On Board
series Reading Order

Peter Grant Books in Order

34 Books
2 Reading orders
2011 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Reading the Peter Grant Series

For almost all readers, the best place to start is with the first novel, Rivers of London (published as Midnight Riot in the United States). This book introduces you to Peter Grant, a young police constable in the Metropolitan Police who discovers he can speak to ghosts and gets recruited into the Folly—the secret department handling supernatural crimes. Starting here ensures you learn the rules of magic, the politics of London's river gods, and the history of the enigmatic wizard Thomas Nightingale alongside Peter.

While the prequel novella The Masquerades of Spring takes place first chronologically (set in the 1920s), it is highly recommended to read it later. The prequel assumes a level of familiarity with the magic system and the lore of the Folly, meaning it functions far better as a flashback companion than as an entry point.

Publication Order of the Peter Grant / Rivers of London Universe

Following the publication order is the safest and most cohesive way to experience the series. This list includes the main novels, standalone novellas, and short story collections in the order they were released to shelves:

  1. Rivers of London / Midnight Riot (2011)
  2. Moon Over Soho (2011)
  3. Whispers Under Ground (2012)
  4. Broken Homes (2013)
  5. The Home Crowd Advantage (2014) — Short Story
  6. Foxglove Summer (2014)
  7. The Hanging Tree (2016)
  8. A Rare Book of Cunning Device (2017) — Short Story / Audio Short
  9. The Furthest Station (2017) — Novella
  10. Lies Sleeping (2018)
  11. The October Man (2019) — Novella
  12. False Value (2020)
  13. Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection (2020)
  14. What Abigail Did That Summer (2021) — Novella
  15. Amongst Our Weapons (2022)
  16. Winter's Gifts (2023) — Novella
  17. The Masquerades of Spring (2024) — Prequel Novella
  18. Stone and Sky (2025)

Chronological Order of the Main Storyline

If you want to follow the timeline of events within the fictional world, the chronological order shifts several of the novellas and side stories. Note that because The Masquerades of Spring takes place in the 1920s, it sits at the absolute beginning of the timeline:

  1. The Masquerades of Spring (Set in the 1920s)
  2. Rivers of London / Midnight Riot (Set in modern day)
  3. The Home Crowd Advantage (Set during the 2012 London Olympics, though published later)
  4. Moon Over Soho
  5. Whispers Under Ground
  6. The Domestic (Short story featured in Tales from the Folly)
  7. Broken Homes
  8. Foxglove Summer
  9. What Abigail Did That Summer (Runs concurrently with the events of Foxglove Summer)
  10. The Furthest Station
  11. The Hanging Tree
  12. A Rare Book of Cunning Device
  13. The October Man (Introduces the German branch of supernatural policing)
  14. Lies Sleeping
  15. False Value
  16. Amongst Our Weapons
  17. Winter's Gifts (Set in the United States, following FBI agent Kimberley Reynolds)
  18. Stone and Sky

Understanding the Spin-offs, Novellas, and Comics

The Peter Grant universe is vast, spanning novels, novellas, short stories, and graphic novels. Here is what you need to know about the different formats:

The Major Novellas

Aaronovitch uses novellas to explore different perspectives and expand the world beyond Peter's direct view. The October Man takes place in Germany and introduces Tobias Winter, demonstrating how magic is handled in other countries. What Abigail Did That Summer focuses on Peter's teenage cousin, Abigail Kamara, and her own magical escapades in London. Winter's Gifts takes the series to Wisconsin, USA, centering on FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Finally, The Masquerades of Spring is a historical prequel exploring the early life of Thomas Nightingale.

The Graphic Novels

Co-written by Ben Aaronovitch and Andrew Cartmel, the graphic novels (such as Body Work, Night Witch, and Black Mould) are fully canonical and fill in the gaps between the main novels. While you do not need to read them to understand the main novels, they offer excellent background detail and character development for fans who want to dive deeper.

What to Know Before You Start

The magic system in the series is uniquely scientific. Peter Grant approaches magic with the mind of a modern investigator and a former physics student, attempting to explain magical phenomena (vestigia) through Newtonian physics and electromagnetic waves. This lends a distinctive, grounded feel to the urban fantasy elements.

Additionally, the series undergoes a minor title change depending on your location. The first book is titled Rivers of London in the United Kingdom and Europe, but was renamed Midnight Riot for the United States market. Rest assured, they are the exact same book.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best starting book for the Rivers of London series?

You should start with the first novel, Rivers of London (published as Midnight Riot in the United States). It establishes the characters, the magic system, and the setting perfectly.

QAre the Rivers of London novellas necessary to read?

While not strictly necessary to follow the main plot of the core novels, novellas like The October Man and Winter's Gifts expand the universe globally, and characters from What Abigail Did That Summer play larger roles in later books.

QWhy is the first book called both Rivers of London and Midnight Riot?

Rivers of London is the original title used in the UK and international markets. The book was retitled to Midnight Riot for its US publication, but the contents are identical.

QWhere does the prequel The Masquerades of Spring fit in the reading order?

Chronologically, it is set first (in the 1920s), but you should read it after the main novels (at least after Amongst Our Weapons) to fully appreciate the backstory of Thomas Nightingale.

QAre the Rivers of London graphic novels canon?

Yes. The graphic novels are co-written by author Ben Aaronovitch and are considered fully canonical, filling in gaps between the main novels.