I finished it because it was part of the series. But it's not something could not wait to continue reading. ( )

Abigail is a little too precocious to really feel like a 13 year old girl but the story is interesting. The talking foxes are the best part of the whole thing.
read 12/9/2023 ( )

A short spinoff from Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series, featuring Peter Grant's young cousin Abigail. While Peter is off investigating missing girls in the countryside in Foxglove Summer, Abigail is back in London investigating a different set of missing kids with the help of some talking foxes, an investigation that eventually turns into a sort of haunted house story.

It's a little simpler than the novels in the main part of the series, but that's fine by me, as I admit I sometimes find the plots of those a little difficult to follow, anyway. It is a bit of an odd read, as it has something of the feel of a kids' book, even though the series itself is definitely not for children, and there are a few things in this one that probably wouldn't be considered entirely suitable for actual 13-year-olds, either. Abigail's a fun character, in any case. Occasionally I think she may be a bit too precocious, but then I remember what I was like at her age (a giant know-it-all, basically), and decide maybe she's not too unbelievable, after all. Although she's definitely braver than I ever was.

The writing style is interesting, full of slang that feels strange to me but which may very well be exactly how kids in London (or at least in Abigail's particular community) talk these days. The plot is maybe almost a little too lightweight and easily wrapped up, but it's not unsatisfyingly so.

I don't think this is an essential part of the series (at least, not unless later books refer to it in some way I don't particularly expect them to), but it's a pleasant enough diversion along the way. And probably actually stands on its own reasonably well, too. ( )

Eine wirklich amüsante und spannende Geschichte. Ich bin schon seit Peter's Geschichten großer Fan von Abigail und Teil 5 (Fingerhut-Sommer) ist mein Liebling. Zu wissen, was Abigail in der Zeit gemacht hat freut mich sehr und mehr von den Füchsen zu hören war super. Ich mochte Simon's Charakter, das Haus als Bösewicht war eine neue und interessante Idee, die sich auch nicht danach angefühlt hat, als hätte man Peter's Story neu aufgezogen (oh nein, noch ein Gesichtsloser, böser Zauberer. Das wäre langweilig gewesen.). Stattdessen bekommt Abigail Kamara ihre ganz eigene Geschichte und Probleme, im Schreibstil kreativ und erkennbar umgesetzt und ja. Rundum ein Erfolg, auch wenn es für 5 Sterne halt nicht ganz reicht. Dafür war es dann doch nicht genug Einschlagskraft. Was nicht unbedingt schlecht ist. ( )

Could not get my hands in a paper or ebook copy of this one so listened to the audiobook. For the most part, that was great, the narrator was excellent. It did feel confusing at first when with the changes in realities though. Not sure if perhaps reading would have smoothed that out a bit. All said, really enjoyable book and I hope Abigail gets her own series. And, gosh I love the foxes. I would read any number of books of their adventures. ( )