I always look forward to reading books about Stone Barrington and his gang， but this is a departure。 Usually we see Stone gamboling about in beautiful houses with beautiful women， but this book is quite a departure。 Within this multiple murder plot， the reader has to examine many questions of morality。 The lack of ethics demonstrated by the characters did provoke an examination of motives for murder。 Is there ever justification？ Stone’s total lack of discrimination in selecting sex partners， and I always look forward to reading books about Stone Barrington and his gang， but this is a departure。 Usually we see Stone gamboling about in beautiful houses with beautiful women， but this book is quite a departure。 Within this multiple murder plot， the reader has to examine many questions of morality。 The lack of ethics demonstrated by the characters did provoke an examination of motives for murder。 Is there ever justification？ Stone’s total lack of discrimination in selecting sex partners， and even the role of a fictitious police commissioner during these days of political corruption can also be discussed。 This is not your frothy Stone Barrington novel， rather a morality tale。 When does the good guy become the villain？ When does friendship become a total ethical lapse？ Yes， I enjoyed this thinking man’s book， a departure from all the earlier novels。 Thank you Netgalley for this unusual book。 。。。more