The pacing is good, though it probably won't have you rooted to your seat. Yet I found that I cared about the story - the story much more than the characters; you'd have to be a sociopath to get emotionally involved with many of these. They are gleefully and tragically far too self-involved to welcome the distraction of admirers. They like themselves very much - though certainly not each other. One thing this longish tale does quite extraordinarily well is explore the link between excess wealth and narcissism without moralizing. Or even paying attention to it. You notice it in almost every scene where a member of this fabulously wealthy family meets someone not their fiscal equal. They will always mention that, but seldom acknowledge the existence of the other for long enough rub it in. Though occasionally.... In short it is a good tale that lives up to its billing, yet provides worthwhile surprises.
Review of The Fall of the House of Usher
