You do not have to have read the previous books to understand what is going on in this one although it will help. Harrison does enough summarizing of the major previous plots so you won't feel left out. So, whether you've not read the previous five or just can't remember all the details you can move forward without feeling like you're missing some major points of information.

The writing is once again, clear, directed and focused--producing a novel that is both thick but fast paced. Harrison populates this book with nearly all of the major characters from the previous five so there's a lot going on all the time on almost every page. There are also some wicked plot twists to keep things interesting.

I've enjoyed this series, which is filling that supernatural/horror/thriller niche quite nicely. Each book is better than the previous and the characters are interesting while doing interesting things. Harrison has produced another fine effort here, weaving a very rich story line and moving through it with skill and grace, creating a very entertaining package. Highly recommended.