Moon Over Soho, by Ben Aaronovitch

London jazz musicians have been dying immediately after gigs and while initially deemed to be of natural causes, there is a pattern that looks suspicious. Quite apart from his role as apprentice wizard in a special unit of the Metropolitan Police, Constable Peter Grant is uniquely placed to investigate the mystery. His dad is an almost famous jazz trumpeter, derailed by his addictions, who has taken up keyboard and is hoping for a second chance career. As if the jazz vampires weren’t enough, there is also a ‘dark lady’ wreaking horror on not-so innocent men. This uncovers the working of a dark wizard, who looks likely to cause trouble for Peter and his colleagues in future books. The plot gets a bit convoluted and the usually sharp Peter stays a long way behind the reader in identifying a likely suspect. This is possibly a commentary on how even the best young men can be led by their anatomy. The author’s trademark dry wit makes for an entertaining read, with the history and geography of London an intrinsic part of the tale.