My first subtle hint that Priest was phoning this one in:

Before long a sign came into view, announcing, RICHMOND REGIONAL AIRSHIP YARD. Beneath it, two smaller signs pointed two different directions. PASSENGER TRANSPORT was urged to veer left, while MERCHANTS AND CARGO were directed to the right.
She dutifully followed the signs, head up and shoulders square, as if she knew exactly where she was going and what she needed. Another sign pointed to ROWS A & B while one next to it held another area, indicating ROWS C & D."

Yes, let's talk about every sign you read, which is a game five year olds play in the car and authors play when they're paid by the word, apparently.

But this is what made me give up on the book:

"The local authorities--sheriffs, policemen, constables, or however the cities and townships are organized--they're given leave by the capital in Danville to pursue the moonshiners at a personal profit, provided they collect the unpaid taxes. It's been compared to privateering, and is approximately as popular as that old practice." He sounded as if he were reciting some passage of a newspaper's article, or a textbook's chapter.

Do you know what the solution is if your expository dialogue sounds like boring expository dialogue? Usually the solution is not to just call it boring expository dialogue and move on.

Sigh. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, despite its flaws. This I do not think I will be finishing.