This series has really hit its stride; the gradual change in the characters over the years is what really matters here. This book sees Nick in his mid-thirties; I find it a bit alarming that this is the start of the “autumn“ of his life! I was concerned that the military nature of this would take us back to the all male cast that annoyed me in the first book, but I ended up fairly satisfied. The characters are more varied & interesting now.