My first Harpur & Iles, although not Bill James' first. The quality of this series is so strong that it's hard to go wrong no matter where you start with it. The only downside to beginning acquaintance with this one is that Colin Harpur has a minimal presence, in terms of page time. (He comes into his own, though, when he does get a chance to dip in his oar.) Iles is particularly nasty. The secondary plot with Panicking Ralph practically steals the show. The ambiguous outcomes are nearly perfect. ( )