A new book in Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series has just arrived from Subterranean Press. And the story takes place in between Bayfield and the Red Cliffs Reservation, in Wisconsin!

The bad news is that Peter Grant, constable and magician—sorry, practitioner—for the London Metropolitan Police, is only peripherally involved. The good news is that the FBI has its own department for investigating cases with “Unusual Characteristics,” and no prior knowledge of London’s supernatural troubles is required for the new reader.

FBI Agent Kimberley Reynolds has appeared in some previous Rivers of London books. She is, perhaps, not so well-trained in magic, but she’s as snarky as Peter Grant and possibly smarter. She grew up, we learn, in a small Bible Belt town. She doesn’t approve of cursing because it’s “unnecessary,” but she’s open-minded and fair. I fell in love with her when she tells us that her Mama “is not a fan of the federal government, although she makes an exception for the military, the post office and, more recently, Medicare,” which I think sums up the American Wild MidWest nicely.

Kimberley has never been to Wisconsin before, particularly not in a harsh winter which is being made far worse by supernatural storms (or maybe global warming). I’m not sure that Ben Aaronovitch has been in a severe Northern winter either, but his descriptions seemed spot-on to me, though not quite as funny as his usual snide descriptions of London architecture.

The plot is, of course, a mystery involving magic, fast-paced and with plenty of action. The addition of historical speculation about the clash between Native American magic and imperialistic European magicians makes the story more relevant without diminishing the fun. A great read for a snowy Minnesota evening. Have hot chocolate standing by.