Characters in this book are developed only insofar as each is the same as the other. The dialogue is forced and is too often used to advance the story, which is difficult to find amid the writing gimmicks and the characters' frequent and distracting digressions into self absorption about the most minute topics. A skilled trout fisher must often create slack in the drift in order to make the fly look natural and believable to a fish. In writing, maintaining tension is just as critical. There is no tension in this book, anywhere, especially, of all places, after Alton gets hit with the beer bottle near the end.