content: This was my first Wolfe mystery, and I enjoyed it completely. It's a period piece, and the author created a definite sense of time and place, which added texture to the story. The story itself was unusual -- not your typical mystery fare. I agree that Paul Chapin was a fascinating character. His wife made me uncomfortable. Her character was unpleasant and I didn't ever grasp what motivated her to do as she did. Still, this was a lot of fun and I look forward to continuing with the series.