This is the Iain Banks that I like the best.

His works are renowned for their clever plots that are executed with great precision. The protagonist in this particular story is highly likeable, which makes it easy for the reader to become invested in the narrative.

One of the most interesting aspects of this book is the use of the second-person narrative to describe the murders. This is a clever device that engages the reader on a deeper level and makes them feel complicit in the crimes.

By using this technique, Banks is able to defer identifying the murderer until it is absolutely necessary, adding an element of mystery and suspense to the story.

Overall, this is a masterful piece of storytelling that showcases Banks' talent as a writer. His ability to create engaging characters, develop a complex plot, and use innovative narrative techniques makes this book a must-read for fans of mystery and crime fiction.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

This book is very graphic, more so than what I usually prefer. It was recommended to me, so I ended up finishing it. The identity of the serial killer wasn't difficult to guess at all. I had already figured it out halfway through the story.

The use of the second person point of view for the serial killer is well executed, but the descriptions of rape, torture, and murder are extremely graphic. While they do serve a purpose, I'm the type of reader who believes that less graphic description and allowing the reader to form their own mental images of the actions, when the writer does it skillfully, is far more frightening and effective than providing a raw, detailed, almost step-by-step account of the action.

The lead character has very few redeeming qualities. I found him annoyingly dull and uninteresting. The serial killer, on the other hand, is nothing more than the result of his actions. There is very little depth to his character, aside from the fact that he hates the bad guys and sees himself as an avenging angel. I understand that insanity doesn't always require an explanation, but the explanation given for his was rather weak.

Overall, I don't think I'll be reading Iain Banks again anytime soon.

It took me a little while to truly engage with this book and become immersed in the story.

However, as I delved into the second half, I was completely won over and thoroughly relished every moment.

I appreciate the way Iain alternates between the first and second person perspectives. It adds an interesting layer to the narrative and makes it more engaging.

I also find it quite charming how the main character sometimes rambles on in extremely long sentences without any punctuation. It gives the character a unique voice and makes the reading experience more vivid.

Nevertheless, I wasn't a big fan of the rather 'gratuitous' descriptions of violence and torture. But perhaps that's just because I'm a bit of a softie.

On a positive note, I really liked the diverse motives presented in the story and the rather tragic ending. It added depth and complexity to the overall plot and left a lasting impression on me.

Overall, despite a few minor drawbacks, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

The point is, there is no feasible excuse for what we have become. We have chosen to prioritize profits over people, money over morality, dividends over decency, fanaticism over fairness, and our own trivial comforts over the unspeakable agonies of others.

This book centers around Cameron Colley, an Edinburgh journalist. Colley is far from being a nice guy. He smokes and drinks excessively, takes hard drugs, is addicted to computer games, and is even cuckolding one of his best friends. He is pursuing a story from a mysterious informer, believing it will lead to a big scoop and keeping him constantly on the move across Scotland.

Simultaneously, there is a series of extremely grisly and imaginative murders of people who, one could argue, fully deserve to be killed. This means that the reader may not feel overly sympathetic towards the victims. In fact, the victims had been named by Colley in a previous editorial, implicating him in the murders. Both Colley and the chief investigator on the case become convinced that the killer is someone close to Colley. As Colley contemplates the vigilante's identity, we are given insights into his past and his personality. Thus, we have a rather engrossing thriller.

That being said, it had a few drawbacks for me. I was able to figure out who the murderer was relatively early on, although perhaps not his motivation. So, when his identity was finally revealed, it didn't have much of an impact. I found the central character, if not likeable, at least interesting. I must admit that I liked the idea of some of the murder victims getting what they deserved, which made the ending rather satisfying. The plot was well thought out, and I liked the concept of an anti-hero. I enjoyed the author's writing style, although some of the political aspects within were not necessarily to my taste. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but in my humble opinion, it lacked that certain something that would have made it truly special.

Cameron is truly an interesting character, a journalist always on the hunt for a scoop. He indulges in drinking, drugs, video games, and even sleeps with his friend's wife, including some rather kinky S&M activities. He lets down his best friend and even seems to be a murderer at times. When I say he's interesting, that's really putting it mildly. In fact, he's a bit of a jerk. He's the kind of guy you meet and just feel the need to wash yourself after being in the same air as him. The deterioration of his character is slowly woven throughout the book, and towards the end, when you discover the real inciting incident behind it all, you completely understand why he is the way he is. I can honestly say that I don't have much sympathy for him and don't like him much, but I do understand him. And through him, I found this book absolutely captivating.

The murders in the book are inventive, and the victims all seem to deserve what happens to them in some way. In a sense, this can be seen as a book about vigilantes or justice, depending on your perspective.

This book also takes an interesting step back to the late 1980s, the era of Thatcher and Trident, and all the worst things I remember from that time when I was growing up.

Banks presents us with an unflinching portrayal of the frailties and failings of human nature. All the characters he creates feel real, well-developed, and above all, human. There is a scene towards the end of the book when Cameron thinks about the time spent with his best friend, Alan. It's an intimate and unusual scene, written without excessive emotion. It gives no false meaning to what occurs, and it's almost matter-of-fact in the way the action is presented, and that makes it all the better. The scene makes a lot of sense, and what happens immediately after explains a great deal about Cameron and Alan.

Like most readers, I enjoy trying to figure out who the murderer is while reading. I guessed it about halfway through the book, and in some ways, that actually enhanced the second half of the book as I was looking for something to prove me wrong. For once, I didn't want to be right. Although, of course, I was, but I was still surprised by all that happened and the reasons behind it. There is a lot of meaning embedded in the narrative, and that's part of what keeps the reader engaged and reading, even though Cameron isn't the most appealing individual to follow.

As a writer, I also found this book fascinating for its writing style. The first scene is written in the second person, and every time the murderer acts, we return to the second person. The rest is written in the first person from Cameron's perspective. This distinguishes the two points of view, right up to the very last scene when... well, I'm not going to spoil it for you because it's really good.

I would highly recommend this book. It will keep you guessing and surprise you along the way.

Deliciously dark and sinister with a steady beat of irony and anger at modern humanity

This book is truly a remarkable piece of work. If only I had my old reviewing energy and time, I would be able to do it more justice. It presents a very clever and cynical portrayal of a drug-snorting hack journalist and a hyper-efficient and sadistic serial killer, and shows how their lives become intertwined. The non-linear structure of the book, told in parallel stories similar to that of "Use of Weapons", is executed extremely well. Set in Edinburgh during the Thatcher and Tony Blair years, it adds an interesting backdrop to the narrative. You will find yourself both entertained and horrified, and will be forced to think deeply about various aspects such as morality, capitalism, sex/violence, revenge, and most importantly, complicity. It makes you question the society we live in and the choices we make. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging read that will stay with you long after you have finished the last page.

It is not the "new Dexter" as they advertise it, but it is pleasant to read.

There is a lot of cynicism, which is absolutely in place. There is a bit of overemphasis on politics, but that is also forgivable, as well as a rather mentoring tone in places... Overall, it is a likable read.

The story may not have the same level of excitement and shock value as the original Dexter, but it still manages to engage the reader with its interesting characters and plot twists.

The author does a good job of exploring the themes of morality and justice, and makes the reader question their own beliefs and values.

While it may not be a literary masterpiece, it is definitely a fun and entertaining read that is worth checking out.

It's torture porn for lefties.

Lots of bells and whistles are added, but fundamentally, that's the essence of it.

To determine if you might enjoy this book, there are really only two questions you need to answer.

First, are you left-wing or able to endure extended political diatribes?

Second, if the answer to the first question is yes, do you have a strong stomach for violence?

Personally, I found the politics to be juvenile, but I endured it because the prose was enjoyable and there were frequent digressions on topics I like, such as video games and sex.

I don't think it's necessary to remove the politics to make it a good book, but for goodness sake, at least make a sincere effort to strengthen your opponents' arguments and critique yourself.

Don't expect much in terms of character development. There are exactly two well-developed characters in the novel, and everyone else might as well be a cardboard cutout.

The plot is somewhat muddled and doesn't really make much sense when you think about it.

Basically, it's a victory of style over substance, but the style is great, so take from that what you will.

This is precisely the kind of thing I anticipate from Banks - a peculiar little tale centered around a small group of individuals, many of whom aren't even particularly likable. However, you find yourself drawn in, and it becomes incredibly difficult to cease reading as you simply have to discover what on earth is happening!

We trail Cameron Colley, a journalist with a penchant for mild drug use, excessive drinking, and gaming. He doesn't actually appear to accomplish much work, but instead chases after an anonymous source named Archer, who is intimating at connections between the deaths of nuclear scientists and related individuals. But what is truly transpiring is far more menacing. There is a series of brutal murders across the country, and suddenly Cameron is arrested. He knows he didn't commit them, but can he be certain he isn't complicit in the crimes!

I didn't have any affection for Cameron whatsoever. But the book progresses at a rapid enough pace that whether you like him or not becomes immaterial. As the story alternates between his memories and his present, interspersed with the actions of the serial killer, the layers begin to accumulate until the sudden revelation. You then start to feel sorry for him instead - everything goes horribly wrong very, very swiftly, and although a great deal of it is self-inflicted, there is clearly something out there attempting to get him.

As always, the writing is outstanding, and the language is brilliant - raw and vulgar when necessary, and poetic and calming in other instances. Perhaps not my absolute favorite Banks book, but I would say it's extremely close.

Three and a half stars.

At the very beginning of this book, I was truly dismayed. It seemed so dreadfully boring, and the narrator was extremely unlikable. In fact, I came perilously close to abandoning it altogether. The story took an annoyingly long time to really start to gain momentum. However, I stubbornly persisted, and to my surprise, I ended up devouring the entire book in one sitting. By the end, I had developed a significant amount more respect for it.

It is indeed violent and unflinching when it comes to the gory details. But in my view, it is no more so than what is essential for the story to unfold. What truly impressed me was the remarkable way in which the author managed to deftly avoid every single opportunity for sexism and other forms of bigotry. It is a sad state of affairs that such a thing even merits comment, but this particular genre has a tendency to rely lazily on objectifying and killing women simply for cheap shock value. Fortunately, Banks is clearly above such tawdry tactics. Hats off to her.

It is also truly wonderful to see kink/BDSM portrayed with such respect and accuracy. The inclusion of elements like safe words and aftercare adds a layer of authenticity that is deeply appreciated. Thanks to these positive aspects and the absence of misogyny, I have decided to round my rating up rather than down.

Admittedly, the detailed and extensive recitations of the substances ingested did become a bit repetitive after a while. However, the political sections of the book were so outstanding that they more than compensated for this minor quibble. Overall, this book turned out to be far better than I had initially anticipated based on the first few pages.

Too much violence, sex, and profanity can be a major drawback in any work, yet this piece manages to shine in other aspects. It is a very violent thriller that weaves together the lives of a gonzo journalist and a pathological killer. The story is filled with intense moments that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. However, the excessive use of profanity and the overly detailed descriptions of violence and sex can be quite off-putting. While the author shows great writing skills, these elements could have been toned down to make the story more accessible to a wider audience. Overall, it's a great job of writing, but it needs some refinement in these areas to truly reach its full potential.

Novels. Don't you just love them! This particular one was like Vincent-Price-in-Theatre-of-Blood (ha ha - you worm!) combined with the collected Marxism Today editorials of the 1980s and crossed with Carry On Camping. In fact, it was just like Jonathan Coe's What a Carve Up! which came out around the same time, similar to when Hollywood releases two suspiciously alike movies simultaneously (A Bug's Life & Antz, Capote and Infamous).

I didn't have a liking for it and I doubt it would hold up in today's times. However, there should be more political novels. I had the thought of writing one myself, set during the Cuban Missile crisis. In it, a doo wop group infiltrates the CIA and engineers a coup d'état based on the alluring properties of the standard three chord progression. They seize control of the TV stations and proclaim: "We have come to harmonize international relations." But perhaps not. Politics is rather crappy and shoddy these days. We've witnessed that all these idiots we vote for (well, not me, it must be YOUR FAULT these goons are there brandishing their private parts and their smart suits on behalf of the common good) are just masters of slime. You know, TAKE NO NOTICE OF THE SMALL MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN, we know they can't do anything and they're all like nattily suited private-parted corks bobbing around on the vast and tumultuous seas of international finance. They haven't got a clue. This is where all the conspiracy theories originate - the desperate hope that SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE is pulling the strings - that there ARE STRINGS - I mean that's probably absurd right there. I mean WHAT STRINGS? And are they tuned to a natural E?

You know it really is high time for that alien invasion we were promised in 1957. They're late. I want my aliens!