Publishers Weekly stated in its review of the novel: "The skill with which Graham evokes these characters and explores their individual, often damaged, emotional histories rings of
Rendell and
P.D. James. The few too many coincidences in the plot will be forgiven for the crisp pace and satisfying twist at the end."
Kirkus Reviews noted: "Graham, who deserves a wider US readership, starts out as astringently amusing as
Christianna Brand in her classic
Green for Danger, and then gradually broadens and deepens to P.D. James territory. What more could you want?"
Gail Pool in the
Wilson Library Bulletin wrote: "Revolving around the lives and relationships of group members, this is a complicated, satisfying mystery. For all her humor, Graham makes us feel the pathos of these individuals, some struggling to succeed, others enduring lives of 'quiet desperation,' and one of them dead." Emily Melton in
Booklist remarked that Graham "effectively juxtaposes the darkly malignant aspects of human behavior with the … trivialities of everyday life." == Publication history ==