This book was such a disappointment. It was recommended to me by its publisher (Melville International Crime) as an alternative to the Duca Lamberti "Milano Quartet" of novels- of which MIC disappointingly decided to only publish the first two (very good) volumes. This book (also a series of novels) was extremely slow-paced and unfocused. There were long sections where I was forcing myself onward despite no actual interest in what was going on. While labeled as an Inspector Mock Investigation, most of the time I wasn't sure he was remotely the main character in the story. In fact, even after the book was completed, I knew very little about Inspector Mock and his motivations, background, etc. Detective Herbert Anwaldt, the other (main?) protagonist of the story, is newly transferred from Berlin to Breslau on account of his drinking problem. Coincidentally (or not? - no clue) ** spoiler alert * Det. Anwaldt is unknowingly connected in some way to the lurid murder victim whose demise, and its peculiar circumstances, are the central idea of the plot. Apparently the motivation for this scorpion-involved symbolic killing goes back hundreds of years, and we are asked to believe that rival cults are following each others' lineage for generations waiting for the moment when precisely the right conditions exist to exact a symbolic revenge. What a colossal waste of time for these sect members- talk about holding a grudge! While the centuries-old original murder is in fact heinous, it seemed preposterous to me that the horrible crime could only be avenged under exactly the same circumstances no matter how many long years would transpire before they arose. I guess it is irony- the book felt like it took centuries for me to read. I will not wait so long for my revenge- I will not be reading any of the other books in this series- take that!