The story is fits a vast amount of information into a small space. The complicated government structure is explained well too, which is essential to understanding the story. As usual, you follow the two or three different threads of story, and the author wraps it up perfectly in the end. But even after the case is solved, a major event happens in Akitada's life that will leave you drooling for the next installment.Because of the excellence of previous stories, readers who have followed the Akitada Sugawara series find more to complain about than a reader without any previous knowledge of Akitada. These aren't big issues, mostly small stuff.Which brings me to this: Can we please stop having Tora getting knocked out constantly in every book?? Last book, it was Saburo getting knocked out. The one before had Tora knocked out before waking on the pirate ship. The one before that, Tora gets knocked out saving Jirokichi, then Akitada also gets knocked out and put in a well. And I believe he's been knocked out in at least two of the earlier books. So please!! All these "knockouts" make the story seem a little "G-rated" and unbelievable.The back of Tora's head should either have brain matter exposed, or turned into steel hard bone from all the knockouts lol. Anyway, it really is a good book with vivid characters and places. I'm deeply appreciative of Parker and the hours of happy contemplating I've had reading this series.I do hope somewhere down the road, he gets proper recognition for his work that will give him at least a small sense of pride from the things he's done.