A Rivers of London novella, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.

Trier is famous for wine, Romans and for being Germany''s oldest city. So when a man is found dead with, his body impossibly covered in a fungal rot, the local authorities know they are out of their depth.

Fortunately this is Germany, where there are procedures for everything.

Enter Investigator Tobias Winter, whose aim is to get in, deal with the problem, and get out with the minimum of fuss, personal danger and paperwork. With the help of frighteningly enthusiastic local cop, Vanessa Sommer, he''s quick to link the first victim to a group of ordinary middle-aged men - and to realise they may have accidentally reawakened a bloody conflict from a previous century. But the rot is still spreading, literally and with the suspect list extending to people born before Frederick the Great solving the case may mean unearthing the city''s secret magical history.

. . . so long as that history doesn''t kill them first.

Praise for the Rivers of London novels:

''Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there more than the real London''
NICK FROST

''As brilliant and funny as ever''
THE SUN

''Charming, witty, exciting''
THE INDEPENDENT

''An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups''
THE TIMES

Discover why this incredible series has sold over two million copies around the world. If you''re a fan of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams - don''t panic - you will love Ben Aaronovitch''s imaginative, irreverent and all-round irresistible novels.