While the mystery is carefully plotted and propelled me through the book, the extensive background work Jablonski has put into character creation is unmissable—it’s what truly makes this book a “novel.” The reader encounters characters and situations that are pleasurable for their own sakes, not solely as clue-delivery vehicles or puzzling red herrings. I was struck repeatedly by the care the author used in making choices. Characters are deeply considered and researched—nothing feels haphazard or convenient. You can sense that the author has lived and breathed these characters for years, and their appearance on the page was more summoning than invention. ~ Goodreads review excerpt