Crais writes from multiple viewpoints and voices. He give us Cole in his own voice and his own head, but lots of scenes from the viewpoint of other characters, or from a general narrative perspective. Some chapters are very short - just a scene flashing by. It makes for quick reading, although it reads more like movie treatment. The scenes from the serial killer's perspective make it clear that he has hasn't killed the tattoed man. They contribute a little horror-movie suspense, but they are generally a distraction.

There are some good narrative and character scenes. Cole discovers that the tattoed man had called for out-call prostitutes 3 times. He finds the pimp/dispatcher and the three women which provides room for some good writing about the women and their boyfriends and their views on life. He brings in Carol Starkey—the lead character of his novel Demolition Angel—as a hardboiled detective with a girlish crush on Cole, which also opens up some good character writing. On the other hand, the serial killer is just a caricature of a monster. Some of his characters seem real and human, and some strut across the stage declaiming large emotions, reeking of cheap psychological insights.

Crais seems more intent on creating atmosphere and emotion than in making his plot credible or mysterious. He leaves obvious clues, and spells it out in scenes from other characters' perspectives. It's a quick, violent adventure with literary pretentions.