I did enjoy this, just not as much as I expected. The setting was fantastic, very original I thought (have never come across something similar) and I was really interested in the way the two cities interacted, and how the citizenry of both coped with what is really a very odd situation. When I read about the setting in the blurb on the back, I knew straight away that this was a book I had to try. And yet, and yet...

I've spent the last hour or so since I've finished this book trying to figure out why I don't rate this very original, very competent work higher than three stars. And the simple, unkind fact is that, aside from the marvellous setting, there were times I thought this a bit dull, really. Part of that is inescapably genre: murder mysteries do not fill me with the joys of spring at the best of times, and this is no exception. But also it was character, for it seemed to me as if all the character building went into the cities, leaving none for, well, the actual people populating them. Who were a bit bland and cookie cutter - I feel as if I've read all these people before. An hour later, for instance, I cannot remember a single one of their names or identifying characteristics, past basic roles like "cop".

I'm going through my bookshelves at the moment, trying to whittle them down so that some books can be sent off to better homes. I'm keeping this one. I'll certainly read it again... but probably not for a while, and then only for the setting. Which, if I haven't said it enough, is wonderful.