Almost a four star, certainly for readability, pace, narrative and the evocation of place and milieu. What brought it down was the link between title and text, which depending on how harsh I feel seems either misleading or pretentious. The characterisation is good, but weakened by what seems, ultimately, like the padding of mysticism. I adore magical realism, but here it seems an unnecessary add on, a lack of faith in the strength of the story. I would have preferred it as a mundane tale!