Lev Raphael's first short story that I encountered, "Dancing on Tish B'Av," was exciting because it dealt with being gay and Jewish. From the first, I haven't liked his mystery setting, and this is the last one I will read. I am less than halfway through this one, and it is such a chore to read. I am sick of his characters and sick of their predictable behavior. He also gets way too descriptive; for example, exactly what people eat and drink (down to the brand name). It must be a technique to fill a page with words.