The biggest flaw is that the lengthy discussions of intramural squabbling among Mafia families doesn't tie in well with the pursuit of Jane and her charges. Perry should have either had Jane take advantage of the mutual mistrust among the families, or made it the central thread of a separate book. Instead, we bounce from the usual cross country hide-and-seek with a series of scenes involving Mafia guys arguing.
Perry's shows his strengths in his descriptions of settings, and of some of the characters - notably Bernie Lupus (I can't get over the name) and the young girl Jane is protecting. But, for the first time, he makes the bad guys seem dull.
Having produced so many great stories, I'll forgive him for this one and hope that he returns to his usual form.
A good summer read. Or read it on a plane. Buy the paperback.
As far as the presentation of the Mafia as a powerful, efficient machine, well, just suspend your disbelief and you'll do fine. It's certainly more interesting than the myth of the invincible US military we are subjected to in countless boring novels.
I'm looking for more Thomas Perry right now...
Bernie "The Elephant" Lupus has just died. He worked as a mob banker who does not use paper. He relies on his expansive photographic and eidetic memory to remember bank accounts and passwords. The mob is panicky because the only person Bernie ever trusted was Rita and they want to know what she knows and try to get some of their money back. After some false starts, Rita finds Jane and asks for her help. Unfortunately so does Bernie. News of his demise was greatly exaggerated.
Jane travels all over the country trying to hide Bernie and Rita. They also came up with the plan to take all of the mob's money and give everything away to charity. Once the mob finds out they will do whatever it takes to protect their interests. There is a lot of suspense and action in this story. You do not have to read previous novels to understand this one but I guarantee that once you read BLOOD MONEY you will try to find her other adventures. Thomas Perry's other novels are just as good and I suggest you give them a shot.