Le pauvre intelligent était un observateur bien plus fin que le riche intelligent. Le pauvre regarde autour de lui à chaque pas qu'il fait, il écoute soupçonneusement chaque mot qu'il entend dire aux gens qu'il rencontre. Chacun des pas qu'il fait impose de la sorte à ses pensées et ses sentiments une mission, une tâche. Il a l'oreille fine, il est sensible, c'est un homme éprouvé, son âme porte des brûlures...

Enfin, la maladie était vaincu. De nouveau, froide et raisonnable, Marianne se faisait l'effet d'être la seule personne sensée dans un monde de fous. Elle n'avait plus ni haine ni amour. Elle comprenait son père. Elle les comprenait tous. Qui comprend ne hait pas.

You don't get rid of an old stalwart that easily, so DI Munro is back in this murder mystery by Pete Brassett. No swearing, no children locked in dark rooms, no hidden agenda - its all intricate plot, devilish dialogue, and enough twists to make your head spin.

What made this book enjoyable was how such an intricate web was spun throughout the novel giving the reader enough interest to keep reading. I was not sure what to expect from this book. Although I’ve heard good things about it I didn’t think I would be so engrossed and be flying through the pages to find out what will happen next.

I’m still not sure what to think of Erlandur as a character. Like most protagonists in series like these they usually have an underlying personal issue (whether it be health, or family for example) which he does have, but his personality I can’t really quite make out. He doesn’t seem to have much of one except he cares for his daughter and her well being even though they are estranged. He does have some sense of humor and wit but overall he appears to be driven by his work and hard working to solve the crime (we all need police like these don’t we?.)

I’m liking how his relationship with his daughter is turning out. It’s nice to see them slowly step away from their estrangement and it shows they do truly care for each other even though it’s done through yelling (most families are like that though, aren’t they?) It shows a lot of tough love, and I’m hoping the best for Eva Lind in the next books (I hope she appears as I’m slowly starting to like her more.)

What I enjoyed the most of this book was the plot like I mentioned earlier. It went from point A to point B but in such a dramatic motion it certainly kept you reading to find out what was going to happen next. The mood of the story also, was excellent. It was dark, dreary, melancholy, and although not suspenseful like the majority of the crime novels, it didn’t have to be. It made the setting suitable for the plot and made it more enjoyable.

One little thing I do have to add though, is the side story with the bride. I’m not sure why that was mentioned as it had little to do with the main story and it seemed like a filler. It wasn’t necessary as the plot itself was fine without it. I also enjoyed the ending of the book. It was sad, but you came to the realization it had to come to an ending like this.

As this is book #3 in its native language, it’s considered book #1 in its’ English translation. It seems all right and nothing seems to be lacking. Perhaps a bit of backstory might have helped but it was comprehensible to read. Greatly recommended! It’s a great break from the usual detective novels we have out there.

See my full review at Mystereity Reviews

David Bercoivci's The Origins of Everything in 100 Pages (More or Less) is actually closer to 150 pages, which still makes it a short, concise book considering there's 14 billion years of history packed into it.

I've always had an interest in the origins of the universe and life on Earth, but my knowledge is rudimentary. Before starting the book, I'd say my knowledge of the subject was pretty basic, limited to a few college courses years ago, some science documentaries on tv and an article here and there.

The author admits that "the goal of this book is not meant to be deep and comprehensive, but instead to be boldly (or badly) shallow and superficial in the best sense of these words." Which is a good thing, because although the book is written to be understood by anyone, part of it were still over my head. I had to read this bit by bit, because it was easy to overload on the information and at that point, it was hard for me to absorb the information. So I'd take a break for a bit, then go back to it.

Starting with The Big Bang and the formation of Earth, continuing through plate techtonics and finally the evolution of life on Earth, The section that interested me the most was the formation of our planet, including how and why Earth is the only temperate and habitable planet. I was fascinated by the explanations that answered many of the questions I had, such as why Venus didn't evolve like our planet did and even raised new questions that I can explore.

Overall, The Origins of Everything in 100 Pages (More or Less) is an excellent book that covers the basics of Planetary physics and Geophysics and is a great overview for those starting out in learning, or who want to expand their knowledge.

Thank you to Yale University Press and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in return for my honest review.