This is a distinctly differently structured book to all the others in the series. Where as the other books start with a round of introduction to the village and it's residents, this starts with the discovery of a body by Carmichael while walking his dogs. I thought it was going to be a more enjoyable crime read.

And then it goes down hill. Very quickly there are a rash of bodies being discovered across multiple locations, none of them very recent. There is are cameo appearances of most of the previously mentioned villages and villagers. But the fact all these bodies are suddenly found it beyond a good story.

The character of Falconer has been firmly cemented in as a mix of a frigid old woman, repressed priest, horny teenage boy and petulant toddler. He is weird and not likeable at all.