Cornwell is still a technically fine writer, but the plot, character development, and pacing are just plain awful. As I got close to the ending, I kept glancing at the few pages left, wondering how PC was going to tie this all together in just a few pages. She doesn't. In fact, there was more ink devoted to explaining blood spatter than to delivering a plausible ending. Too bad. This book was a real disapointment. In fact, I'm going to hunt up my receipt and return the darn thing. PC doesn't deserve to earn royalties on this turkey!