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Ann Cleeves has rock solid craftsmanship. This was a very satisfying and well executed read. But where as the Vera books are often A's for me, I would rate this as a B. I think it is really interesting to have a character who is recovering from a intensely religious childhood and being shunned as a young adult. But he simply doesn't have the vividness of Vera. Still went on to read and enjoy the next two books in the series.