I think the plot of this crime mystery was ok. It's not stupid. But I think the author lacks writing skills, at least then his writing failed to engage me. The most interesting thing about this novel is the female character Thalia Drummond, she is actually very modern and seems to me like a prerunner to some of the female heroins we have come to know later, for example Lisbeth Salander. As far as I know this novel is written in the 20's. But the general feel of the novel is much earlier, I would have thought the 1880's. I don't know why, but the plot of this novel makes me think about modern art... So if you are an artist into modern art, you might actually be able to conjure something interesting up, by integrating the plot. Hm... I really don't know why I said this? Strange review, huh?