The Silk Road

Readers will pleased to know that Mycroft eventually finished 'The Silk Road'.  They may be less pleased to note that at the end of 459 pages I wondered why I bothered.  The book, like the plot, just seemed to end with a whimper.  It was perhaps meant to be a 'bang', as some of the characters died in what seemed to be episodes of pointless violence, but to this reader it seemed that the book just trailed off.  A death bed confession tied up the loose ends and made the whole narrative seem even more pointless.  It's a pity, as some chapters were genuinely engaging.  Others may enjoy it more but this reader was left somewhat disappointed at what might have been.  I saw the book reviewed on some other sites.  One claimed the novel had a 'deeply satisfying ending'.  They must have read a different book.