There's a bitter moral conundrum at the heart of this often ghastly book.

It offers a serious and compelling description of our place in the world as it exists, cunningly interwoven within a complex tapestry.

The story combines a slick serial-killer thriller, seedy fast-living gonzo journalism, right-on political ranting, the increasing nastiness of fates for deserving targets, transgressive sex (where sexual fantasies are consensual and murder fantasies, obviously, are not), and the secret personal history of failure and betrayal.

All these elements wind together to one climactic choice. If inaction allows all the evils in the world, why not a conscious inaction to let a retributive force run free?

For all that, there's a strong sense that this force adds to the world's suffering rather than subtracts from it.

Some parts of the book may seem gaudy, sensationalist, even adolescent in its attempts to shock, but they all serve this serious question.

The slick, attractive superficiality of power fantasies, poetic justice, and screeds about the corruption of commerce and politics seduces the reader with its garishness, confronting them with the choice at the end and the personal corruption within all of us, including the author.

This ultimately makes it a difficult and uncomfortable read for many reasons, yet I simply couldn't put it down.

A Decent Mystery with Pacing Woes

This mystery is, overall, a decent enough offering. However, it does suffer from significant pacing issues. For a large portion of the story, not much of consequence seems to occur. In fact, it isn't until the halfway mark that things really start to heat up and the action commences. The initial setup simply isn't engaging enough to maintain the reader's interest throughout the first half. It feels a bit slow and drawn-out, almost as if the author is taking their time to build the foundation but perhaps going a bit too far.

Thankfully, once the story finally gets going, it becomes quite good. The twists and turns start to unfold, and the mystery deepens, captivating the reader and making them eager to discover the resolution. But those first few chapters can be a bit of a slog to get through. It's a shame that the pacing issues detract from what could otherwise be a really great mystery. With a bit more attention to keeping the reader engaged from the very beginning, this story could have been even more impressive.

Another item on the "1001 Books You Must Read" list is this particular work, and it is one of only two of Iain Banks that I had not read.

This book centers around a serial political murderer. Given that the philosophical underpinning of the book is, to some extent, horror at man's inhumanity to man, it is understandable that the surreally ghastly murders are recounted in some detail.

However, the cumulative effect of the gruesome descriptions, which is quite characteristic of Banks' oeuvre, could make this a difficult read for some.

It seems that Banks has mellowed a bit in this regard in the past decade.

Nonetheless, this book still offers a unique exploration of the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of political violence.

The detailed descriptions of the murders, while perhaps disturbing, serve to heighten the sense of horror and moral outrage that the author wishes to convey.

Despite its potentially challenging content, this book is a must-read for fans of Iain Banks and those interested in exploring the complex themes of human nature and politics through the medium of literature.

A rather plagiarized criminal thriller, slightly overweight aesthetically - it was first published in the distant evening of 1993.

It was going well for me, but this year I had already read a book by Lawrence Block with a somewhat similar plot, so I wasn't overly enthusiastic. Separately, I uncovered the "bad guy" too early and somehow wasn't charmed by his motives and overall by the end of the book. However, I liked the erotica skillfully woven into the plot.

My rating - under 2.5*.

Still, the author is world-famous for his sci-fi works, and surely there is a reason. It should be read in English, as only two randomly selected of his books have been translated into Bulgarian so far.

A solid book indeed. It is not like any other thriller I have ever read. In a sense, it is not really the storyline that keeps you engrossed in reading, but rather the attempt to understand the characters and their motives. Does this imply that the overall plot is actually not very good? However, this doesn't really matter in the case of this book.

I like the way the constant first-person monologue gives you a sense of how depressing life is for basically all the characters. It also makes some poignant political points. The sadistic murders and weird sex plots further enhance this. It is a weird yet perversely enjoyable reading experience. And I can definitely say that I will be reading more of Ian Banks in the future...

Banks's simple yet descriptive imagery made this book increasingly addictive as I read through the chapters.

At first, it was a wee bit confusing because Banks alternates chapters and the subject of narration to switch between the two main characters: the murderer and the journalist.

At one point, he merges the style in order to confuse the reader and make you think the journalist is a highly probable suspect.

Especially intriguing was the contrast between the explicit sexual scenes and the detailed torturing and gory scenes.

The investigation and thriller dynamics just add more texture to this attractive, blood-stained fabric.

Threads of humor and witty verses add the luxury detail to the whole cut.

Recommended by a Scottish friend, he assured me the places and buildings mentioned in this book (which are mostly in Scotland matter-of-factly) are real and existing.

I'm officially an Iain Banks fan now and reading one of his sci-fi books for the first time as well.

It's interesting to pass on the famous Iain Banks cliche: his published sci-fi works are presented under the name of Iain M. Banks whereas thriller/horror works are shown written by Iain Banks.

His very first published book is "Wasp Factory", which I just received by post today and I'm tingling right through to death to start reading it!

The story presented is quite reasonable, yet it does have a certain degree of predictability.

At the beginning, the events unfold in a rather typical manner, and as the narrative progresses, it becomes somewhat easy to anticipate what might come next.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the story is without merit. The predictability can, in a way, provide a sense of comfort and familiarity to the reader.

It allows them to follow along with ease and perhaps even engage in a bit of speculation as they read.

Nevertheless, it would have been more exciting if there had been a few unexpected twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes.

Overall, while the story is reasonable and enjoyable, the predictability does slightly dampen the overall impact.

It leaves room for improvement in terms of adding more elements of surprise and intrigue to make the reading experience even more engaging.

"Complicity" - the very title holds a clue. It makes us wonder to what extent we are complicit in the events that befall us.

This is an atmospheric, compelling, and intelligent Scottish crime thriller. Just like the best in the genre, it has a lot to say about our messed-up world and the human condition.

I devoured this satisfying story about how the dysfunctional local journalist Cameron Colley might have set off a series of horrific revenge incidents, including murder and torture. The two narrative voices maintained the tension and interest throughout the tale as the police come to the conclusion that Cameron knows far more than he is revealing.

The question that lingers is just how complicit is he? Is he an unwitting pawn in a larger game, or does he have a more sinister role to play? This thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you question the nature of guilt and responsibility. It's a must-read for fans of the crime genre who are looking for more than just a simple whodunit.

This is a fine and fun read that unfortunately rather falls apart at the end.

The gonzo elements are truly outstanding. The addictions such as cigarettes, video games, excitement, and sex add a unique flavor to the story. They draw the reader in and keep them engaged for a significant portion of the book.

However, the murder killer mystery investigation that is layered on top is not as engaging as one might hope. The reveal towards the end is quite a lot to take in, and the post-reveal denouement is not particularly great. It feels a bit rushed and lacks the depth and satisfaction that one would expect.

On the other hand, the time that the protagonist spends in lock up being interrogated is really great. It adds an element of tension and drama that is quite captivating.

Overall, this book is recommended for fans of Banks and readers of gonzo adjacent literature. While it has its flaws, it also has many redeeming qualities that make it worth reading.

3.5⭐️

This article seems to be rather concise. Let's expand it a bit.

We can start by adding more details about what the 3.5 stars represent. Maybe it's a rating for a product, a service, or a particular experience. For example, if it's a product, we could describe its features, quality, and how it compares to similar products in the market.

If it's a service, we could talk about the level of customer service, the efficiency of the process, and any unique aspects that set it apart. We could also include some personal opinions or experiences related to the rating.

In addition, we can use more descriptive language to make the article more engaging. For instance, instead of simply saying "good," we could use words like "excellent," "outstanding," or "superior."

By expanding the article in this way, we can provide a more comprehensive and detailed account of the 3.5-star rating, making it more interesting and useful for the reader.

This is the first book in ages that I have felt an intense compulsion to read and complete. It doesn't necessarily mean that it is better than the previous few books I've read. Instead, it is the kind of book that is simply captivating.

I especially adored the utilization of the first and second person perspectives and the seamless switching between them. This was done with great skill, especially towards the very end of the book. Additionally, I loved how well-balanced the book was. As a reader, you truly have no clue what is happening. You are aware that you don't know, yet there is just enough information provided to prevent you from feeling lost or frustrated.

The combination of humor, horror, emotion, and unflinchingly graphic scenes creates an incredibly vivid story. The plot is complex enough that even if these elements were toned down, it would still be an excellent book. As it stands, however, it is something truly special. It is the type of book that Irvine Welsh appears to be striving to write but somehow fails to achieve.

This is only my second Iain Banks book, after The Wasp Factory. I have no doubt that I will be delving into many more of his works in the future.

Full review on Instagram @myyearofrereading.

Fav quotes:

I sucked that smoke in and made it part of me, joined mystically with the universe right at that point. Said Yes to drugs forever just by the unique hit I got from that one packet of fags Andy liberated from his dad. It was a revelation, an epiphany. A sudden realisation that it was possible for matter - something there in front of you, in your hand, in your lungs, in your pocket - to take your brain apart and reassemble it in ways you hadn't thought of previously. This was better than religion, or this was what people meant by religion! The whole point was that this worked! People said Believe In God or Do Well At School or Buy This or Vote For Me or whatever, but nothing ever worked the way substances worked, nothing ever fucking delivered the way they did. They were truth. Everything else was falsehood. - page 47 (smoking)

The point is, there is no feasible excuse for what we are, for what we have made of ourselves. We have chosen to put profits before people, money before morality, dividends before decency, fanaticism before fairness, and our own trivial comforts before the unspeakable agonies of others. We live in a world where the pursuit of material gain seems to overshadow all other values. We often turn a blind eye to the suffering of others in the name of our own self-interests. It is a sad state of affairs that we need to反思 and change. We should strive to find a better balance between our desires and the well-being of others. Only then can we hope to create a more just and compassionate society.