Status Updates From Broken Homes (Peter Grant, #4)

'Peter,' said Nightingale. 'If you'd like to spend the next three days cleaning the lab then by all means keep referring to my old school as Hogwarts.'

So we had afternoon tea and pathology, sitting in the stuffed leather armchairs downstairs in the atrium.

Nightingale was aghast at my lack of arboreal knowledge. 'I don't understand how you can know five types of brick bond,' he said, 'but you can't identify the most common of trees.' Actually, I knew about 23 types of brick bond if you counted Tudor and other early modern styles, but I kept that to myself.

'Day boy or boarder?' asked Nightingale. I've picked up a smattering of posh since working with Nightingale, so at least I understood the question.

I say a walk, but actually the pair of us had sloped off through the thin winter drizzle to the café in the park where I had coffee and Toby had cake.

It's a police mantra that all members of the public are guilty of something, but some members of the public are more guilty than others.

Somewhere in Chapter 17. FINALLY Nightingale shows his shit. This is what I've been reading for.

WHAT THE EVER FUCKING LOVING SHIT, LESLIE??? I HOPE YOU DIE. FUCK YOU.

"You don't get to be a senior investigating officer unless you have a degree in skepticism, an MA in distrust and your CV lists suspicious bastard under your hobbies."

Stupidly lent my Nook to a friend for the last six months, completely forgetting I hadn't finished this book. Started from the beginning again yesterday and definitely enjoying it more the second time around. It's the hardest to follow of the series (still not fully convinced I know what's happening) but it's hooked me into the world again soooo

If you are even the slightest bit of a geek you will love this. Besides the nth joke about Hogwarts, so far mentioned: The X-files, Quidditch, Ghostbusters. The last book had Doctor Who (naturally). Also appreciate the diversity of races/ethnic groups represented here. Refreshing to have something that goes beyond token black/Asian/gay friend.

O, Lesley, NO!

"He built himself a MANTIGER! How subtle do you reckon he is?!" Go on without me, DYING OF LAUGHTER.

I picked this off my to read pile because I needed an emergency book in case the battery died on my phone meaning I wouldn't have access to the ebook I'm currently reading. As always an excellent read and really enjoyable.

"I'm sure Peter here can be relied on to blow something up"

I'd forgotten how much I loved these books.

As far as I can see this is a successful and profitable series, which really makes me wonder why the publisher couldn't pay a competent editor. One who removed the dialogue tags, or knew the difference between a personal pronoun and a proper name. JFC. Also, I am half way through this and the plot is hopelessly limp and directionless. Author really not being well served by the publisher here, I expect better.

I Adore the Reader of these!!

That awkward moment when you don't realize you're reading a book ahead until you're halfway through, and only then because you were adding it to your goodreads >.<

Interesting addition to the series, with details on the history of the magical world, the training of new wizards, urban architecture, London lore, and a final twist I didn't see coming. I look forward to reading the next book.

The trick to spotting vestigia, or any of the..weird sensory impressions you get hanging around magic or magical folks, is separating them from all the memories, daydreams..randomly firing neurones...the background noise of your brain.You start by spotting things that couldn't possibly be related to your current situation--as when you think of a barking dog while examining a man with his head knocked off.

You do magic by learning formae which are like shapes in your mind that have an effect on the physical universe. As you learn each one you associate it with a word, in Latin because that's what a scientific gentleman of Sir Isaac Newton's time would... You make it so that the word and the forma become one in your mind. The first one you learn is Lux which makes light.

ah! fun to finally get back to this series (of course the book comes when I'm in the middle of lots of others) but I don't mind. The more the merrier, I guess.

This is a real grind...... what book did you all read??

Dont think we're gonna break even with this chpater...... summit needs to happen quick sharp like!

Not so rapt with this in the series.... so far....

80

"That which does not kill us ... has to get up extra early in the morning if it wants to get us next time."

The Old Yorkshiremen skit reference. Is Peter old enough to remember this? Maybe his father was a fan.

Sort of sorry I didn't catch the previous books in the series - not as relentless as some of the magical thingie books. Will withhold judgment tho' until we reach the climax which, I suspect, will be bloody and gripping. Enjoying the author's turn of phrase and the narrator's wry commentary.