I read this book for my book club, so I have to admit up front that this is not the sort of novel I normally choose when left to my own devices (although I had previous read The Magician's Assistant). But I felt that the characters were underdeveloped and ultimately left me cold, except for Sullivan, who probably receives the least attention from the author. The theme of good intentions (of Doyle protecting Sullivan after the accident, of Tennessee trying to save Tip but ultimately hurting her daughter, and of Sullivan trying to save the poor with crime) gone awry resonated with me, but the author barely explored it. At the end of the day, it was a somewhat interesting story but not a book I would recommend to friends.