This is book 10 of the "Vlad Taltos" series.

This note contains spoilers for the book.

In which we confirm that Mario exists, when he walks up to Vlad's table at Valabar's. And discover that Kragar has been his contact man for 90 years. Because Aliera introduced them.

Yeah, something bout spoilers. Also, Vlad teases Sethra about what Kiera knows that she doesn't, or vice versa.

A very nice demonstration of Mario's skill. Word on the street is that he killed the sorceress by being standing behind her when she emerged from a teleport. Of course, word on the street may be wrong. But the sorceress is nice and dead. Somehow "The Phoenix Guard will investigate, not find anything, and no doubt conclude that Mario did it" sounds different coming out of Mario's mouth.

Always assuming that guy really was Mario. But he did pull off the hit very quickly and spectactularly well, and Kragar admitted to being Mario's contact (agent). Besides, as Vlad points out to Loiosh, pretending to be Mario would be a rather high-risk proposition; if word reached the real Mario, he'd pretty much have to kill you.

No sign of Mario being a "Dread Pirate Roberts" situation, for which I am thankful. And with Vlad's life so short compared to Dragaerans, it would be hard for him to know about it.

Vlad may actually manage to sort out Cawti's troubles with South Adrilankha. He does not sort out his own with the Jhereg (or the Left Hand). And he does not wake Lady Teldra up.