How does the puzzle work?

You use 18 clues to eliminate suspects from a pool of 30,000 until one remains. It is a process of deduction, not a story you read through.

Is it a novel or a puzzle book?

It is a logic puzzle book. The murder of Lavinia is the framing, and the solving is done through clues rather than chapters.

That depends on how methodically you work the clues. The large suspect pool means careful tracking matters more than speed.

Pen and paper help for tracking eliminations. The book supplies the clues; the deduction is yours.

Yes, for someone who enjoys logic grids and whodunits. It is a weaker fit for readers who want a full mystery novel.

2 stores we checked sell it, including Barnes & Noble, Books Kinokuniya USA.

At Barnes & Noble, for $12.99, as of our latest check.

$12.99at Barnes & NobleChecked Nov 10

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.