This was the first book I read in the series, and when I was done I started reading the others. Burning Down the House is by far the best of the series. Raphael's writing has gotten better with each new book, and his heroes have grown more human. As an escaped academic, I enjoyed the scenes of Byzantine intrigue among the faculty of the EAR department, and I appreciated Nick's ambivalence in dealing with his colleagues from his relatively powerless position. Raphael has a good grasp of university life and politics, and his wit is sharp and to the point. That he leaves loose ends at the finish whets our appetite for the next adventure.