This book offers some interesting insights into the Vulcan mind and bonding. It's also a nice continuation of the TOS episode "Journey to Babel", and also to SNW's "Charades", regarding Spock's relationship with his parents.

Other than that I find it pretty boring. The dialogues and rest of the prose often did not convince me at all, unfortunately. From the beginning I knew who the murderer was and what her motives were. The possible suspects that were introduced later did not convince me in any way at all, which sadly made for a very boring mystery. I am usually very forgiving when outdated tropes are employed, but the hysterical, love mad woman was never one I particularly liked, and I'm sad to see it used here.

Kirk's visit to T'Pau's office was a fun little sequence, I enjoyed that. This book takes the edge off her a little.