I gave this two stars which I think is kind of generous, but it's not as awful as the last in the series, Port Mortuary. That was so bad. I keep waiting for two things to happen in this series; for the annoying "friend" Marino to stroke out and for the niece to finally just go over the edge and get into a shootout and die. Since Cornwell has been integrating those two characters more and more into the plotlines the books have gone downhill. They're the least likable characters in the series and yet she keeps pulling them more and more into the books. Lucy was barely in this book, thank goodness, maybe that's why I liked it more than the last. And seriously Ms. Cornwell, please please please please let your people say haven't, no one say's things like "I've not noticed..." "I've not felt...". It's so noticable to me that I lose track of what I'm reading.