The opening chapters have pace and enough questions floating from each perspective that it leaves the reader wanting to follow the story further. While I am not always a fan of a glimpse from the future to start a book, it is really effective in introducing Beatrix before moving through the other perspectives in the next short chapters. I appreciate having that grounding detail before being shown the different characters that contribute to the opening send off, setting up a pace and tension. The opening suggests this novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction.