Having finished the book, I don't think there is a dead man's hand in this book, or at least not one that isn't attached to an only-as-dead-as-usual vampire. A minor quibble, though.

I understand that a lot of people find the Kitty Norville books disappointing since Kitty hooked up with Ben (SPOILER) and those people would certainly not be placated by this one, where Kitty and Ben tie the knot.

To me, Ben and Kitty are an utter failure as a romantic couple, but, after all, I didn't pick this out of the romance section. I wouldn't believe that they are soul-mates, but then again, the book doesn't ask me to; it only asks me to believe that they are minimally sexually compatible, like each other most of the time, and capable of cooperating to get things done.

Of course, I'm cheering for them to break up, since that will free them both up for more interesting romantic commitments.

Possibly I'm reading it wrong, but it's working for me so far.