Disappointing for the latest book from such a significant writer. I've never been much of a fan of Carey, but this book is is even more disappointing than I expected. I was hopeful I would love it, as the subject matter was right up my alley. The plot is wonderful, a gift for any author - following the death of her secret lover, a antique watchmaker and antiquities specialist at the British museum is forced to grieve in complete silence lest her secret be discovered, until she learns some friends already know and are her willing allies, whisking her away to a quiet warehouse where she may grieve in private and work on a mysterious new piece to take her mind off things. Great! I loved the character and wanted to know how she would survive. When she discovers a secret journal among the boxes in which her mystery object is packed, the mystery deepens and a wonderful new character is introduced to the novel. Unfortunately, this is where it all begins to go wrong! Had Carey focused on these characters, telling their stories and interweaving their private grief, this would have been a wonderful novel. But instead, Carey digresses and introduces a plethora of new characters the point of whom I still fail to fathom. The novel starts off wonderfully, but unfortunately, Carey loses his way. I hate to see a good idea go to waste - this one could have been great!