This was a fun read and I enjoyed learning details about contemporary police procedures. There were several cases in this book: one major, one important, and one minor. This didn't bother or confuse me at all. I appreciated the realism because I'm sure that police are often working multiple cases at a time. 
 The second quarter of the book (from around 25% of the way in until about 40% of the way through?) was the weakest part of the book, because Ballard makes some pivotal decisions but it is not clear why she is getting so deeply involved with a case that isn't hers. 
 However, it picks up from there for a good ride the rest of the way through, and each case ends in a satisfying way. The story included an arc which I enjoy which is: a cop with integrity who has to buck the system in order to uphold true justice.