The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog

By this point, the seventh book in the series, I would assume anybody reading these books is already a fan, and this one will not disappoint fans.

The characters live up to their usual lovability, there are more ridiculous devices typical of the genre, and the plot and mystery are cleanly thought out, more so than some of the previous books.

I have read some reviews where people seem to think you can read these books as stand-alones or out of order. I have no idea why the publisher would recommend that. Read them in order. Or don't read them.

Also, if you didn't like the mystery, length, characters, genre, or plot of the first ones in the series, you won't like this one either. They are very formulaic and more than anything offer escapism. You aren't supposed to find them believable or be stunned by the genius of the mystery. The characters and setting carry these books, and only if you are a fan of the romantic adventure genre.