“One of Cleverly’s very cleverest puzzles…Clevery is a terrific writer, and she’s also wonderful at setting a scene…She supplies the glamour as well as the grime, and she’s one of the most adept puzzle-plot-makers now working. The clues are all there. But you won’t guess who it is until she gives you the final word.”

“Intricate, erudite, and witty…Cleverly is a terrific plotter, and her prose highlights a keen sense of place, character, and dialogue…Fans of P. D. James, take note: Here’s a worthy colleague.”

“Cleverly has perfect pitch for period and place, whether the hero is unearthing evil in India, England, or France.”

“In this puzzling, haunting mystery…narrator Simon Prebble is charming yet stern. His British accent is perfect for this brooding tale. Prebble’s character interpretations are subtle, yet accurate and believable; his acting chops and colorful pallet of tones and voices are on display from the get-go.”

“Suspenseful…makes the most of its intriguing setup…The surprisingly horrific truth behind the murder helps to make this one of the better recent installments.”

“Cleverly neatly captures the style and feeling of the period between the world wars and provides plenty of mystery, suspense, and danger.”