Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Elizabeth Mostyn's "The Arc of Blood," the third installment in her Phenomenological Detective series, is less a traditional crime novel and more a philosophical excavation of the human condition, wrapped in the unsettling cloak of a mystery. It's a book that demands your attention, not with explosive action, but with the quiet, persistent hum of existential dread.

I enjoyed the way the commissioner was humanized and given depth with his family struggles.

As well as being a compelling entry in the Phenomenological Detective series, the investigation in this novel also adds fascinating insights into the art world.

I really enjoyed Commissaire Patrice Lanier, who is a master of perception, navigating the world not through forensic science, but through the labyrinthine corridors of consciousness. He doesn’t just solve crimes; he dissects the very fabric of reality, peeling back the layers of perception to expose the raw, often unsettling, truths beneath. In "The Arc of Blood," this introspective approach is pushed to its limits as he grapples with a series of seemingly disparate events that coalesce into a chilling exploration of inherited trauma and the insidious nature of memory.

The narrative unfolds with a dreamlike quality, a slow, deliberate descent into the depths of the human psyche. Mostyn's prose is a masterclass in atmospheric tension, painting vivid, unsettling landscapes that mirror the Detective’s internal turmoil. She masterfully blends the tangible with the ethereal, blurring the lines between reality and perception, leaving the reader perpetually questioning the nature of truth.

What truly distinguishes "The Arc of Blood" is its exploration of phenomenology. It delves into the subjective experience of being, the way we construct our realities through our senses and interpretations. The mystery at its core becomes a vehicle for examining the weight of the past, the way inherited trauma echoes through generations, shaping our present and haunting our future. The “arc of blood” itself, is not just a family lineage, but a metaphor for the cyclical nature of human experience and the way violence and pain can be passed down like a cursed heirloom.

Mostyn eschews easy answers, instead inviting the reader to engage in a profound meditation on the nature of existence. The ending, rather than providing closure, leaves a lingering sense of unease, a reminder that the mysteries of the human heart are far more complex and enduring than any crime.

"The Arc of Blood" is a challenging, rewarding read, a testament to Elizabeth Mostyn's unique voice and her willingness to push the boundaries of genre. It's a book that will prompts you to question your own perceptions and the hidden currents that shape your reality.

I loved the country hopping as much as I loved the art insight! I’ll be honest with you, I’m one of THOSE people who can’t read on if I can’t picture something, so I was referencing the author’s website each time a painting was mentioned. Mostyn has thoughtfully compiled a list of all the paintings mentioned, where to find them and links to view them!

I enjoyed the mystery and the investigation as much as I enjoyed learning about ‘sleepers’ and the three conditions that have to be met for a piece of art to be considered a sleeper.

I also appreciated seeing the ‘family man’ side of Commissaire Patrice Lanier. The struggles he has with his daughter add depth to his character and add to his relatability.

I’m still loving the fact that I can use my Kindle to reference the French I’ve forgotten. Patrice still has a distinctive voice that I hear when I read … and I love that! It’s kind of like anticipating how Columbo or Inspector Morse would react when watching either of those reruns.

I’m looking forward to book 4!

I was gifted this copy by the publisher through NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Elizabeth Mostyn uses Finland only as a place where a painting is found in a dump painted by Artemisia Gentileschi. Then you end up in France with Patrice as the main character, and Hôtel des Jardins, in Paris where an American preacher was killed by being thrown out of a 6th story window. And then at the same time men who are praying on young girls in a group with women trying to end this. Patrice is the main man who is trying to authenticate the Artemisia painting and at the same time trying to find the killer of the preacher with the help of Chloë who has been transferred to his Paris location by Interpol. His team finds out what the men were doing and works with the women who were trying to get the men arrested only to find out the women pushed the preacher out the window by mistake. It's mostly in France with many French words used.