A slow book. Yes, the denouement was powerful, but the buildup lacked authority. The first three quarters of this book struggled to hold my attention and, given the elements revealed in the final few chapters, I think the author could have structured things more effectively. Still, conceptually this was masterful, and the writing had style and verve. I'll read other works by this author in the hope that hers is a developing talent which will blossom with time.