Stiletto is long - there are a lot of new characters who weren't around in The Rook, and it feels like every time someone new comes in we get their whole life story. Sometimes, as in the case of Marcel, we also get their parents' life story. We also get the entire history of the Grafters, this timer from their point of view.

Along with the history there are some scenes that don't immediately advance the main story. These eventually tie together, but for most of the book it feels like they are extraneous.

This isn't quite as good as The Rook, but it is entertaining, and we get to see a little bit more of this world. It's especially nice to get a closer look at the Grafters.