Lawrence Block is such a good writer, that he can make even this unpleasant character, who commits a despicable and unforgivable act at the beginning, then spends the rest of the book in hiding from his past, into a someone you can reluctantly accept as human and almost decent. Still, this is not a fun read. It's not without its rewards -- there's a lot to ponder on here, especially on the implications of DNA technology -- but it's not a pleasant journey. Honestly, the tone of this novel (or at least the audiobook narrator's tone) sounds a lot like a Thomas Perry novel, with the no-nonsense, amoral, opportunistic, and brutally efficient character and plot to match. So yes, a good read, but not at all a light read. ( )