Where have all the editors gone?
This book needed one badly. I have liked Nevada Barr's novels in the past, but this one contained too many lengthy, descriptive passages about the numerous perils of Anna Pigeon, which did nothing but hold up the story line. I found myself skipping over long stretches just to get to the 'meat.' There were also basic grammar and form problems, and some sentences that simply didn't make any sense whatever.
However, the worst problem with this book was that the author assumed her protagonist was so lovable that any wrong-headed action she took was acceptable behavior. Here, Anna's middle-aged maternal instincts were supposedly stirred by a baby she rescued from a dire situation. However, her treatment of this infant -- dragging it around like a ragdoll from one dangerous situation to the next -- could only be perceived as child abuse. I kept hoping the authorities would come along to save the child from a horrible fate.
I hope that Ms. Barr will get back to the kind of great story telling that so distinguished her in books like Firestorm, Endangered Species, and Deep South -- and hire a good editor.