Although this is book 3 in the series the opening pages do a good job of catching you up on the first two so you aren't at a disadvantage. Book 2 left us in a cliffhanger where the main character had just been kidnapped by the killer, so obviously i need to read this one to find out how it goes from here. The remaining members of the amateur sleuthing troupe are also given a new case to work on at the same time as trying to track down their friend, so we will be getting at least two story strands to follow. Going by the second book (i haven't read the first one) this will be a fast paced story and probably keep you guessing right to the end (hopefully without another agonising cliffhanger).