After some confusing early chapters, and a myriad of characters that never developed, the plot twist was obvious. I kept waiting for the page-turning excitement, so typical of Sheldon, to start, but it never did. The middle of the book bogs down in an incredibly slow-moving trial and many events are just unrealistic. The author tries to write a scientific-based story about a medical condition, but it comes off as shallow and pointless. A very disappointing novel from a great writer.

And then the murders start. The prime suspect, however, turns out to be something more than a single person. The prime suspect shows signs of Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) - on the surface, an innocent who would harm no one, but beneath the surface there lurk other personalities who can seize control and commit murder and mayhem.

This is hardly a sophisticated exploration of MPD. Given that the very concept of multiple personalities has the psychology community at loggerheads, the law enforcement world tearing its hair out, and partisan proponents on both sides insisting that the condition does or does not exist, Sheldon tends to make some assumptions in the name of a good story. Apparently based on real cases, some greater depth might have been expected. In fact, the handling of the issue becomes over-simplistic in places. The book divides into three phases - crime, conviction, treatment. The latter phase is seriously unconvincing.

Sheldon writes in a direct, uncluttered style. The plot is simply paced. This is not a challenging read - which, given its subject matter, it might have been. In places it is over-simplistic in its plot and characterisation. The whole piece is quite cosy and coy - there is nothing here to make your maiden aunt blush.