The supporting characters are interesting and well developed. Sense of place is well done and I even found the golf interesting. The side story was particularly effective. What put me off to the point of almost not finishing the book is the character is Skinner-he is just too perfect. He is the perfect husband, lover, marksman; he's an excellent golfer, physically strong, capable, and well respected by both his reports and his bosses. He only showed a slight in which relationship with his daughter and her boyfriend, but even that works out as you know it will. I don't necessarily need the angst of Rebus, but a character a little more human would be easier to take. And it's a same, but underneath it all is a very good police procedural. Get past Skinner and read this book, and the series, for the story.