4.5 Ah, yes, another satisfying John Verdon mystery. I love his intricate plotlines and the way you really do need to keep guessing the whole way. I'm still unhappy with the relationship between Gurney and his wife, Madeleine. It's not like any relationship I can relate to.....and I guess it's because I don't really like her.....at all! I realized it's not a major part of the story, but it is a large minor part (ah, semantics!). This creepy killer reminds me of some of the characters that M. E. Kerr has written about in her fabulous YA stories a few years back - not at all "normal" or "average" in appearance. Which keeps me thinking about the evil in this guy - how much does odd appearance mold our personality?