I loved everything about this book! For a Strike plot it's a slow burn with even more internal conflicts for the characters driving the story. Fortunately Galbraith is very good at that. I probably shouldn't compare this to Harry Potter book 4 but who can resist? Longest book yet of the series? Check. Major events shifting the orientation and relationship dynamics of main characters? Yep. Gauntlet thrown down by big bad? Definitely.
This book is filled with exciting and inspiring tales of 4 women, 2 confederate and 2 unionist, who were spies during the Civil War. Elizabeth Van Lew of Richmond is now one of my favorite Americans. She spent her family fortune leading an underground network of spies and helping union POWs escape the city. She gave everything to save the Union.