This is the first Helen Black story that I have read and I find it quite a difficult one to call.
After a pretty slow start it then becomes quite a page-turner, tackling nasty subjects throughout. However, I thought the sub-stories that run concurrently with the main were an unwelcome distraction . As it turns out, they were rather superfluous, having no real impact on the outcome, but merely a way of filling pages!
The plot was heavily flawed and easily transparent to the reader. But I do like Lilly Valentine. She is feisty, very funny and a convincing heroine. So, because of her, I would probably try another in the series.
All in all I would say 'give it a go'