The third, and so far final, Drake Maijstral book. I got my hopes up recently when I saw a listing for “Ten Points for Style” (a catch-phrase in this universe about the necessity to pull off one’s capers with flair) but it turned out to be a book club compendium of all three novels and not something new. As mentioned in my writeup of House of Shards, it’s clear that Williams had a plan of these three right from the start and they form a satisfying complete story spanning all three. In this one, Drake is supposedly on holiday on Earth (which he’s never before visited). Now that he’s the top-ranked burglar in the ratings (following his successful contest in House of Shards) Earth’s authorities are understandably concerned about him practising his profession there. A minor comment on “crying Wolf” here in that Drake really is on holiday but he always claims not to be working for plausible deniability reasons so few believe him. When someone takes advantage of this to frame him for a series of thefts from his aristocratic hosts, he’s forced into working to clear his name. His own and his family’s past (including the details of his grandfather’s sordid past) mix together with Duchesses, superstars, alien (and human) Elvis impersonators (and clones of the King beisdes). Duels, marriage proposals and epiphanies of insight into one’s personality are added to the mix of slapstick humour and wry commentary on the human condition.

Still highly recommended. This sequence doesn’t jump the shark anywhere, and though I’d still like more in this vein, these three books make a nice short collection for raising one’s spirits.