When I did a poll asking which book series I should start, this won hands-down. It was definitely an adjustment to what I had just been reading (Scarpetta series), but once I got in to it, I really enjoyed it. It is by no-means an "intellectual" book. Going in with that mindset, I thought it was quite humerus. It was definitely over-the-top at times, but that just added to its charm, imo.