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A Rare Book of Cunning Device cover art

A Rare Book of Cunning Device

By: Ben Aaronovitch
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Publisher's Summary

Exclusive to Audio! Somewhere amongst the shadowy stacks and the many basements of the British library, something is very much amiss - and we're not talking late returns here. Is it a ghost, or something much worse? PC Peter Grant really isn't looking forward to finding out....

©2017 Ben Aaronovitch (P)2017 Audible Studios

What listeners say about A Rare Book of Cunning Device

Average Customer Ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    251
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    49
  • 2 Stars
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    4

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lurking in the stacks...

Fun romp through the stacks in search of a poltergeist. Must listen for all shelvers and librarians.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intriguing

from the start I was more than interested especially as it is only a half an hour reading and to my Delight I enjoyed most it every moment and was sad when it ended so abruptly I wish there to be more

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A promising story cut too short!

Would love to hear more about the Cunning Device & its Author! perhaps further episodes may become available in the future?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun.

It won't let me say that unless I use at least 15 other words or maybe the sas me one 15 times?

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series read by Kobna is brilliant.

I recommend you read all of them.

The only thing wrong with this story? It's not long enough :-)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

magical shenanigans in The British Library

I loved this tasty morsel from The Rivers of London range. Beautifully narrated to keep in the humour of this excellent short story. Please keep up the magical work,Mr Aaronovich

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Agreed, was just getting into it when…

It simply ended without exploring all the themes it had set up. I guess that’s the point, to make you go back to the first book, but another half hour of audiobook to wrap it up and it would have been a 5 star story. Still def worth a read when ‘included’ free - gives you a taste to let you know if you’ll enjoy the series I assume.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What’s not to love?

A brilliant little story to keep me going until the next book. I must admit to impartiality as I am a teacher librarian and always enjoy a clever, witty and unexpected librarian. I would have liked to know how the book was ‘borrowed’.
As usual, a brilliant reading by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Too short, too short!

I wanted MORE!!!! (sob!) I thoroughly enjoyed all the longer books and this little taster was but a crumb to this ravenous listener.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Pleasant enough but I like more exposition

The PC Peter Grant books have ongoing humour and I enjoy the development of the characters and their back stories, and the details in the theme of each novel.
This short story is pleasant enough but has none of the attributes mentioned above, which are my main joy.

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