I thought it was OK, hence the two stars. (Revised this to three on reflection.) It's interesting to write a linked history of Venice, Lisbon, and Amsterdam through the lens of the spice trade. Particularly given how complex and international that trade is. The touches of modern life interjected kept the book moving along.

But the history parts were pretty thin. Or rather very thick, but not very dense, a lot of words to convey not very much in the way of historical facts or analysis or synthesis. It was a little disappointing.