I liked this one marginally less than the others, since the plot is basically a standard whodunnit without the same evidence of Bujold's kickass gift for stunning plot developments. However, the book is crucial for understanding the Cetagandans, who are admittedly pretty fascinating, and totally original as alien (though human I suppose--it's complicated) species go. Not a bad read by any means, just not as superlatively stupendous as the first four books in the series.