This was a great read and I enjoyed it. The beginning grabs you right away with unanswered questions and mystery. After the initial introduction of characters I did find the story a bit slow, but it picked back up again after a couple 100 pages. The story was so sad and some parts so frustrating that it makes you wish you could just jump in the story and strangle someone! The characters were so strange and some of the revelations at the end made for some very good drama indeed! I hated a few characters in the beginning (like Percy!) But by the end I had developed an understanding and respect for them. The sisters Blythe were done very wrong to by their father and after discovering the true history of the Mud Man I felt so sorry for them. The ending was happy as happy could be, three lives lost, one saved and one to go on and remember the others....left to remember the distant hours.