The middle book in the Diogenes sub-trilogy of the series doesn't have any of the supernatural elements of the other books in the series, rather it is a straight forward mystery, police procedural novel and perhaps the best book of the entire series. The book opens with D'Acosta, Constance and those close to Pendergast trying to come to grips with his death. Constance summons D'Acosta to Pendergast's home to give him a letter that was left for him asking D'Acosta to stop Pendergast's brother Diogenes plan from being executed, a plan that Pendergast feels will be as monstrous as his brother is evil. What follows is gripping and hard to put down as (this is not a spoiler since there are obviously books that follow in the series) Pendergast reveals he is still alive, saved from certain death by his brother who doesn't want Pendergast to die until the plan he has put into motion is finished, a plan that includes killing any and all people close to Pendergast in gruesome ways. We follow Pendergast and D'Acosta as they try to avoid a closing police dragnet and yet try to stay ahead of the twisted, brillliant Diogenes and prevent another murder. The book was engrossing with twists and turns that I never would have guessed and kept me turning the pages way to late into the night. Even though it ended in another cliff hanger (it was well telegraphed that it would) it was a cliff hanger with closure (and the fact I had the final book in the sub-trilogy waiting made it easier to bear).