Instruct: Classify the given review as either positive or negative.
Query: A fun, smart ride!

I read a lot of mysteries. This one--my first by these authors--was definitely a cut above. Why? Without going into details (find those elsewhere) the characters were great...the plotline nearly epic (from Long Island to NYC to, eventually, Italy)...the writing was tight and intelligent...the mystery was good (even though--moot point--I kinda had a sense of the villian)...and the ending left things somewhat unresolved in a not-bad way. I liked it so much I'm now reading their two preceding books featuring Agent Pendergast--and I look forward to the follow-up to Brimstone when it comes out in paperback. Hey, I was skeptical about what kind of mystery would hold my interest at 700-plus pages. I mean, most mysteries are fairly formula. But, this one did!