I like Rocky (and his wife Susan). I find that for the most part, unfortunately in this book I can't stand Gillepsie. Not sure why, but in this book she just rubs me the wrong way. Add to that the fact that Zim is actually growing on me as a character and this novel is full of firsts.

How Kate gets herself involved in the sticky, convoluted, nearly always IA-ish related cases is just interesting. This plot starts with a murder/suicide in the middle of the night and snowballs from there (plus, really, does Gillespie know everyone in San Francisco?)

It's not a bad novel, the dialogue is witting and fast paced, and the novel as a whole flows pretty well. There were only a few spots where the plot got so twisted that it was a bit confusing.

And then there's the Gillespie/Mike Torrence stuff. I'd comment on it, but I haven't yet formed an opinion, 'cause I'm horribly lost when it comes to that subplot, and I still don't get it. 1) Why they want to stay apart, 2) why they want to get together. Boggles my mind. ( )