This book is a companion to the author’s  Mastering Chess Tactics, and is primarily aimed at club and tournament players.  The author, Neil McDonald, is a grandmaster and a recognised British Chess Federation Coach.

The book itself is well presented with each chapter organized in the same manner.  Neil provides an introduction to the ‘motif’ in consideration, then further outlines these ideas with examples taken from grandmaster play, before concluding the chapter with some well chosen puzzles.

Neil’s preamble at the start of each chapter makes it easier to understand the examples that are to follow.  However, on first reading there were occasions where I have to confess the examples he had chosen appeared to be too complicated.  On a second, and on most occasions a third and more reading, some of the ideas do sink in. 
Nevertheless, I was often left with a sore head.  It was not an easy book to read casually.  In hindsight, that might have been a mistake on my part.  This book is obviously aimed at a chess player who is prepared to sit down and work through the book, check the examples and then go back and re-read the chapter again.