The book is not a classic crime novel, but a personal account of the many forms of violence that a crime scene investigator experiences or deals with in his work. It emphasizes moral stance, legal actions, and also the advice that all violence must be documented – both visually and audibly – as this is often the only way to punish the perpetrators.
The author emphasizes that the purpose of the book is not just entertainment, but primarily a depiction of the attitude of bullies towards the vulnerable and a warning against the indifference of the majority society. He advocates a critical view of the problem of violence and believes that criminals alone are not enough to understand or solve it. He wants the whole of society, especially doctors, psychologists, educators and politicians, to think about these phenomena.
At the same time, the book encourages reflection on the importance of justice, morality, interpersonal relationships, and social injustice. Through Brest's character, the reader contemplates the role of the individual in facing challenges and maintaining integrity in an imperfect world.
"Inspector Brest, like the elm tree, is a symbol of firmness, inflexibility and inner strength, defying deception, intrigue, injustice and evil, which, regardless of time, too often become the main attribute of those who gain social power when they step into responsible positions. Brest is an inspector in the true sense of the word, revealing irregularities, but this is only what we see from the outside. In reality, the foundation for successful inspectorial work is the constant exploration of human nature, inclinations, the influence of a sense of social power, the concept of good and evil."- Domen Rob, Slavic scholar
