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I pride myself on being a relatively fast reader, so allow me to start by saying this book is very time-consuming. The book is a difficult read, but extremely worthwhile if you can persevere.Janes writes very well, with richly-detailed descriptions of the characters and settings. At times this borders on excessive, and tends to distract one from the thrust of the story. This may or may not be a strength in a mystery. It depends on the intent of the author - to prevent the reader from prematurely deducing whodunit, or simply as a matter of overattention to detail. Janes' prose is written in a European style, reminiscent of 19th century classics. This can be awkward to the experienced reader, and downright alien to the literary novice. Again, this may or may not be a strength. With respect to the story itself, it is very complex in its evolution and excecution. I found it extremely captivating, particularly in later parts of the book, to see the strands of facts begin to coalesce into webs and sheets of truth. At times, a real page-turner, and at others a real headache. Janes successfully re-creates the atmosphere and aura of WW2 France under the Nazis. The undercurrents of fear, terror, and conquest are interwoven throughout the book, particularly in the interplay between St. Cyr and Kohler - conquered and conqueror.All in all, these elements, while they may seem countercurrent to one another, come together to brilliantly tell a tale of murder and intrigue in Vichy France. The major detraction is, as I've said, the fact that this book demands one's undivided attention, and meticulous attention to everything that is written. Not for casual reading!