Well this took no time at all to read because the plot pulls you along in a manner that is more exciting than teaching a kestrel to play the cello. Thrills, intrigue and top Roman japes all move along so you can almost smell the city off the page. The mystery at hand is perhaps not the most fully developed of such but it helps to fill out the whole painting like a underhanded brush.

The supporting cast get their parts as Flavia's home life gets fleshed out to pick up any slack and give the pages more life and action so thumbs up all round with this series.