Thunder Valley Book

YAWN. Ok, some of this is my fault for thinking that even as part of a series, this book may stand by itself. It doesn't. It slumps. It starts upright, then slowly keels over, puddles and leaves a mess.

Most of the time you are in this woman's head thinking about what other people are thinking, and rating smiles. Now I got this book free (thanks, it wasn't worth half that) and used it on my nightstand as a sleeping aid - and that it did most successfully. Until I finished it and wondered what I had just read. Why would I care? There was no one to root for, care about, or feel anything for - it didn't matter. Mostly old men talking, showing off their Latin and Greek and other language skills. All were somehow in the spy game, but none of that seemed to matter. An important source dies, and the investigators go off to have drinks with some old geezer at a cottage. Like - WAIT - what?
And what is the whole: Ask so-and-so about it, about? Just state the case already. Instead of getting information from the horse's mouth, the woman and the old guy traipse all around talking to people that aren't important, and have really nothing much to say anyhow. When a source dies they just go ask someone else who is not involved. Nobody answers any questions. The woman worries all the time about her dead father, who was some sort of naval asshole. (Two separate things, he was an asshole and former navy.) Weird things I will retain: It was uncommon for a woman in the 1980's to know how to type?, you had to wait for approval to buy a car in the 80's in England?, hock and seltzer is a wine spritzer. Sorry if that spoils things for you.
I do wonder about the high ranking of this book - 4 and 5 stars, and no reviews. Please have mercy and explain.