I rounded this UP to 4 stars because the ending is really very good and well written so you finish the book with satisfaction. The first half is very confusing - the time line of events is something you have to work out yourself from hints and bits and pieces scattered around. It's not the first time I read the book so I took a pen and paper and still had to make about 3 attempts before I got it straight. However it is worth keeping at it because once he has set the scene it's inventive and the plot keeps rolling.