What makes this book work so well is how it moves beyond genre, to illuminate a critical period in his hero’s life, showing just how the warmth and honesty in his family life have given rise to an integrity which makes him more than simply a clever detective. His character creates a theme that works throughout all of the Gus LeGarde books, and, I suspect, a theme that may well be present in all of Lazar’s work. This is a fast moving, wonderfully written book that will please a wide range of readers as it gets into the heart of what matters in life. It’s slight old-fashioned style and nostalgia are all part of the charm.