The Minority Council: A Matthew Swift novel (Matthew Swift Novels) [Paperback]

There's a drug on the streets of London destroying magicians and a shadow killing children and it's going to be up Matthew Swift to do something about about it, but can he trust his own council to help? Matthew has been settling into the job of Midnight Mayor in his own unique way, but it's not one which has gained him many allies among his own staff, or so he thinks.

I'm continuing to enjoy this series, though I think this installment was much darker in many ways than previous books. Also, the author's writing style seems to have changed a little in that it doesn't seem to be quite as witty as the earlier books. Matthew is at his most interesting in many ways when interacting with characters such as Penny who we already know and I'll be glad when this series gains a few more regular characters again after the events in [book:The Neon Court|8348904]. Overall, the ending makes me look forward to the next book in the series next year when I get my yearly dose of Matthew Swift. This is still one of the best urban fantasy series out there.

With more than its fair share of Magic and Monsters, Kate Griffith's offers up plenty of clever ideas and characters wrapped in a London that is recognisable, but never in a tour guide book kind of way.

For me, part of the fun in reading these books is recognising the places I live and play in all neatly wrapped in a believable, evolving mythology. It is this growing mythology that lends itself to smart turns enjoyed through surprising plot twists and the different and unexpected characters and groups who populate this magical London.

Swift is a character who would sit easily as a supernatural counter-point to the BBC's Dr Who (sci-fi), Sherlock Holmes (crime and logic) and Dirk Gently (the metaphysical). He's an urban magician, in the vein of John Constantine, though less cynical and with perhaps more of a sense of community to the London he resides in, though never quite rules over.

An alloy of man and magic, Matthew Swift is a character comfortable in his own (shared) skin, sometimes naïve in his dogmatic approach, but not all together innocent. He has a sense of how difficult life can be for your average, and less than average Londoner, and how magic, more often than not, only adds to that difficulty.

In this book Matthew seems to have put his own stamp on the role of Midnight Mayor, and the fractious relationship with the Aldermen has developed its own rhythm and expectation. Griffith builds on familiar themes of the powerful and mighty being out of touch with, and caring little for, the low and lowly. While Matthew Swift's social conscience is more in the fore, Griffith seems to be having more fun with him as he increasingly grows into his prestigious role.

And just like her man, Kate Griffiths writing is developing with each novel to become what is an enjoyable and readable writing style.

My only gripes are that occasionally characters I've gotten to like (or at least gotten used to) disappear just as they become familiar links into a particular magical group.
Some groups and characters can seem a little familiar and touch on the clichéd but I guess you don't need to reinvent the wheel when the rest of the vehicle is so interesting.
There are also touches of Harry Potter in the way the common world has a magical parallel (Night buses and magical NHS) though these are generally handled quite well and can be amusing.

Lets face it, at only 24 years of age Kathy Griffiths (her `nom de plum') generally comes up with something fresh and unexpected which, for the most part, all works fine, and she seems willing to put the pressure on herself to come up with a new take on an tried idea. Her writing and ideas are already good, and with this book you can really feel the kind of great writer that experience could make her.

I've found all four books a real treat to read, liked this one a lot, and look forward to more from Kathy Griffiths.

Firstly, let me say I may be a bit biased, as I love all the Matthew Swift Books since I first read A Madness of Angels, and I always wait impatiently for the next one to be published .I particularly like that they are set in London, a much older, more arcane and haunted place than any of the American cities usually featured in Urban Fantasy. It seems to me that London itself is just as much a living entity in the stories as any other character, human or otherwise.
This is a much darker episode than the preceding books, but then it is about a powerful addictive drug that ultimately brings death, the misuse of power, betrayal and revenge. Matthew himself stumbles around attempting to right immense wrongs, and regretting that the Blue Electric Angels are no longer entirely human. Don't let this put you off - it is also fast and furious, and about loyalty, doggedness and friendship freely given.
Ms Griffin's writing is powerful and in parts lyrical, and made me feel sympathy for her monster as Mary Shelley made
me feel sorry for Frankenstein's monster .But then, who are the real monsters?
I don't go to London often, but next time I will be looking out for the landmarks mentioned in the series, and craning my neck to find the Silver Dragons.