In the rating game, I moved between 1 and 3 stars, settling on 3 before it could fall back to 2 where it was headed. I almost abandoned it twice.

Before the Internet, I'd never known anyone not related to me with the same last name as mine but now I've discovered it's not so rare. Because of writers in my family, I've seen parts of my life and those of my family fictionalized to various degrees but this book was the first time I've run across a character who shared my last name. That may have been the narcissistic push that got us to 3 stars.

I enjoy a good mystery and a good puzzle. I enjoy a good game. I prefer books with actual humans as characters, though, rather than the chess pieces being moved around in this one. I say this as someone who enjoys playing chess. Also, I guessed some of the puzzles too early. I did appreciate some of the others. I could say more but they'd just be spoilers and, if you're going to read this, the fewer spoilers the better.