Today I’m reviewing Equinox by Michael White
Here’s the blub
A BRUTAL MURDER. A THREE-HUNDRED-YEAR CONSPIRACY. A DEADLY SECRET.
Oxford, 2006: a young woman is found brutally murdered. Her heart has been removed and in its place lies an apparently ancient gold coin. Twenty-four hours later, another woman is found. This time her brain has been removed, and a silver coin lies glittering in the bowl of her skull.
The police are baffled but when police photographer Philip Bainbridge and his estranged lover Laura Niven become involved, they discover that these horrific, ritualistic murders are not confined to the here and now.
A shocking story begins to emerge which intertwines Sir Isaac Newton with a deadly conspiracy which echoes down the years to the present day, as lethal now as it was then.
Before long those closest to Laura are in danger, and she finds herself the one person who can rewrite history; the only person who can stop the killer from striking again…
Review
The book starts strong with a brutal murder. This is will be the first of many.
We soon meet Philip and Laura, Philip is a police photographer, Laura is a writer and when Philip is called to a scene Laura can’t help but take a peak..
It’s clear from the start there’s something strange about these murders, there’s something ritualistic about them.
Laura has the gut instinct to follow the story and does her own digging.. helped by Philip who is a little naughty to say the least sharing the information he’s privy to.
As the puzzle pieces slot together a connection with alchemy and astrology are found along with a striking connection to the past.. and a well known figure Sir Isaac Newton no less!
What I really enjoyed was the changing perspective when you were transported back to the time of Newton.. when a similar killing spree occurred. It breaks the chapters up nicely, keeping you interested. It was also a major plus that the chapters are short. Don’t get me wrong… I love any chapter length but since I read while commuting I hate when I need to stop mid chapter to get off the bus ha.
Now Laura, ah Laura.. I just didn’t gel with her personality.. she was annoying at times ha but whats great about her is she doesn’t give up and will use all the tools at her disposal to figure this one out! Luckily those closest to her have the skills between them to unravel the past… to save the day now.. but will they make it in time?
Plot wise I really enjoyed the idea, quite Dan Brown style, but I just didn’t feel the characters at times.. things were a little too easy for them but overall, it was a decent read. I think the story might have flowed more if the author hadn’t tried to build the relationship between the characters, as it just distracted from what was a promising plot.
3/5 Stars
David's Book Blurg 