I'm grateful to have read this, however...

While it seems very well researched and well-enough written (could have benefitted from a stronger editor), the tone is off—Fletcher too often takes the voice of a fan or a critic rather than a historian.

Major content criticisms: The dismissal/diminishment of Rourke and Joyce vs M&M just feels churlish. And I think it would have been quite appropriate to cover more of the post-1987 story—the lawsuits, the repackagings and remasterings, future performances of Smiths songs by the band members and others, etc.

All that said, it feels reliable and trustworthy, which is definitely not always the case in Smithdom.

(Btw, confirms and repeatedly demonstrates what horrid person Morrissey is.)