I had no idea this book was a part of a series, so I can only review it as a stand-alone.
It was difficult for me to read mostly due to the personality of the narrator. He came off as an uncharming, smarmy know-it-all. The characterizations of the suspects and investigators were basic and empty, which lessened my motivation to continue the novel. I assume the previous books build up the investigators and their relationships with each other, but without that as reference they feel rather flat. The mystery was interesting in itself, but I found lacking interest in the outcome of the investigation besides the reveal of who did it and how (I didn't care for the why). Multiple times, I found myself skimming over passages both long and short just to bypass the narrator's rambling-- which is something I usually enjoy-- and back to the stepping stones of the mystery.