This is the third in a series of books by Patrick Taylor about two country doctors in Ireland. I enjoyed the first one very much, and also like the next two, but I found some of the repetition a bit too much. Not only incidents from previous books, but also referring to circumstances within each story became a little tedious. Readers know how much Barry misses Patricia - we need not be told over and over again. I was wanting things to move a bit faster.

However, I do enjoy most of the characters, and one gets a good feel of country living and its quirky, kind, close neighbors. It reminded me a bit of Jan Karon's Metford series, but I liked those stories even more.

I am looking forward to reading his fourth book, which appears to focus on the spunky housekeeper, Mrs. Kinkaid.