3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. This is the best in the series since book 1, and I was on track to give it the full 4 stars (as with book 1) until the end. Starting with the confrontation with the church, it all got a little silly. Really melodramatic, I mean - just too much piled on too much, bombs and secret daughters and explosions everywhere. Plus, I know that there are a lot of serial killers out there, but the ease with with Gretchen Lowell manages to turn other people to the dark side is becoming frankly unbelievable. I'm at the stage now where I'm waiting, in each book, for the murderous sidekick to show up.

On the bright side, however, Archie finally grows a backbone when it comes to that murderous bitch. Finally. It's taken five books too long, but he does, and all this is missing is his realisation that the number of people she's about to kill again is just as much down to his refusal to put her down like the rabid dog that she is as it is to her horrible nature. Which has been my continual complaint about this otherwise enjoyable series, so I'm very glad the corner seems to have been turned. Just in time for the last book... and I'd like to believe it'll stay that way, but part of me is waiting for the backslide on his part.

I continue to find Bliss deeply entertaining, however, and I'm far more invested in her relationship with her daughter than I am in that daughter's relationship with Archie Sheridan, who even with this recent improvement is not fit to be with anyone.