There were parts of this book that I thought were fantastic. Some of the plot devices were forced to make the story work. I also thought most of the other heroes were not so good and kept waiting for the villian to cackle. A good first book, I will probably give the next one a go. ( )

Fairly interesting set-up but too many small details not realistic and writing/characters/hook not quite enough to keep me engaged while constantly being annoyed at small things that ought to be picked up by editors (if not authors!)

I have a difficult time reading about excruciatingly lonely people and about love stories with very little hope of a happy ending, and so on the surface of things, this book should have had two strikes against it. And indeed, there were moments I wasn't sure I wanted to follow the story to an uncertain end, but the difficulties Joanna faced were so interesting that I couldn't help wanting to see how she dealt with them. Add a vivid sense of Las Vegas, a cast of characters who felt real despite how little I truly knew about them, and an intriguing twist on zodiac personalities, and by the end of the book I knew this wouldn't be the last Sign of the Zodiac novel I'd be reading. ( )

This was an altogether interesting read, such that I was unable to put it down. Certainly has its share of flaws, but like potato chips you just have to keep going once you've had a taste. Dead serious in one regard but totally absurd (think "Tiger & Bunny" if you've ever watched the show) in another. I rolled my eyes a lot at the dubious logic that the reader is supposed to follow. But in the end there was more to like than to disparage.

One thing I can say for sure is this book has one of the best hooks ever. The synopsis would have had me toss it aside as trite and ill done but for the fact I had come from Kim Harrison’s website and I knew that if she recommended it, it had to be good. SO back to that hook! I was at work when I read the excerpt and it was so good I had to rave to my boss about it. I rushed home to buy the book and devoured it just as quickly. That, ladies and gents, is how a book should open.

Reading the second book now and I have no regrets.
( )

Too much info. Too disparate a plot line. I read it, but it almost felt like two separate books. Characters need way more development. ( )