Broken Homes - Ben Aaronovitch The book was slacking a bit in the beginning, as many incidents seem scattered points that makes it difficult to remember them later in the book. But this loose start of the plot has improved considerably compared the previous books.

Once again, Peter Grant chases the supernatural criminals that dare disturb the Queen's peace in Greater London. This time, murders here and there seem to connect with Skygarden Estate in the notorious Elephant & Castle. As we follow his, Leslie's and Nightingale's efforts to investigate this, we get a better outline of the magic in this alternative world that includes this alternative London.

What I really liked is how every country has a different set of magical practises, according to how each culture developed it. Despite that, the majority of it remains a mystery, which we find Peter Grant trying to solve it in his modern geeky (surprisingly) way that involves true scientific methodology of an empirical study. Well, almost...

"Dr Walid leaned forward as I talked - he at least appreciated a bit of empiricism. I explained that I'd exposed each material sample to identical amounts of magic, by conjuring a werelight - the simplest and most controlable spell I knew - and then put it in the box with Toby to see what happened.
'Were there any significant findings?' he asked.
'Toby's not very discriminating, so we're talking a wide margin of error,' I said. 'But it was about what I expected. And in line with my reading. Stone retains vestigia the best, followed by concrete. Wood was next and the worst was flesh.' In the form of a leg of pork which Toby subsequently ate before I could stop him."


Another thing I liked is that Nightingale has a more active role in this book. We learn more things about him and his past and the interactions with him and the modern times in many occasions were fun.


I would give it four stars because of the not-perfect first one-third of the book, but oh, that ending.