A beautifully crafted tale that defies classification: historical drama, with a hint of the paranormal (or is it?), and a cast of characters each with layers of depth to be uncovered.
Burton has a gift for descriptive language, evocative without being florid. There is a languid quality to the story, even as secrets come tumbling out one after another, that serves to anchor the sensation of 17th Century Amsterdam. It's not a slow read, though. I found myself always eager to discover what the next page would bring.
There are adult themes, and poignant losses, for which I hesitate to post spoilers, because the story is that well-crafted, so that knowing ahead of time really could diminish the effect, if not the impact.