I have read and thoroughly enjoyed a number of China Miéville's previous novels, so it was with some excitement that I got hold of his latest book, The City & The City.

In this, as in his other works, Miéville's greatest strength lies in his ability to create a fantastical setting that is absolutely real, functioning and solid. The City & The City is a murder mystery set in a pair of cities that, somehow, share a physical location, overlapping in some streets while being totally distinct in others. It is a gritty, modern fantasy tale that investigates a fascinating world.

An excellent read: well-written, intelligent and thought-provoking.