I think it came at the end of a bunch of later yet similar novels and I read it in one sitting on the train last summer...and it just felt...too short? Like I couldn't really get into any of the motivations?

I've actually LISTENED to a large number of these, and I think having to wait for the reader gives me no opportunity to skim, and I spend more time with the characters (and thus their motivations aren't as shortchanged maybe?)