JJ Marsh's writing strengths are her great characters & dialogue. This time she also gives us an unusual, atmospheric German island setting - Sylt in the depths of winter - and 2 interwoven plots, both of them mercifully free of sadism & gore. HUMAN RITES is also a treat for dog-lovers! It's #5 in the series and I'd already read & enjoyed #1. The books are supposed to be stand-alones but I think I would have preferred to read them in order to appreciate how the characters develop.