This is my first book from this writer and overall I really liked it. Nicely built mystery with all the proper clues and red herrings, such a typically British Inspector. I am sure when I will read more stories with him, his character will built up more in my head, but even after one book I liked him.Some reviews built the ending as shocking, I have to say maybe I have read too much about darker side of human nature, but I did not find it particularly shocking. Unexpected, yes, properly foreshadowed, but unexpected, not shocking. On the other side, apparently it was published for the first time in 1970 (this is book number five in the series and she is up to book 23 if I am not mistaken?) so maybe it was shocking for 1970.