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The story, Sydney detective Carol Ashton investigating a grisly murder of a teacher at an elite private school, is compelling. There are suspects galore among the faculty, and even some of the students, and there is a second murder of the estranged husband of one of the suspects, Sybil Quade, thrown in for good measure. The mystery is good on its own merits.

However, the reason I give it only three stars, is the subplot of Ashton becoming romantically involved with Quade. An experienced detective such as herself, in my humble opinion, would never become involved in an affair with someone who has not been cleared of two murders. I understand that the novel is geared toward the lesbian fiction genre, but I would think that the lead detective in a very high profile murder case would have sounder judgement.

I have enjoyed the author's other two series, and I am more than willing to pick up the second novel in this one to watch the detective in action.