2.5 I have already read all of the Lloyd & Hill books, but probably 25 years ago. I did like the series a lot at the time. This does feel like a first novel. The mystery is okay, but lacking in scope, however this book is very short so it had to be. (I don't want to complain about something being too brief after i just complained about Tana French droning on for 450 pages.) We don't learn much about the lead characters here, but they do develop over the course of the series.