The book’s ‘hero’ is Ken Nott – a Scottish ‘shock jock’ who works in London for Capital Live. He’s very much a liberal who doesn’t believe in religion; having said that, he isn’t about to prevent someone from going to church. Ken currently lives on the ‘Temple Belle’, a very cool houseboat on the Thames. His home, however, is actually owned by Sir Jamie Werthalmey, Capital Live’s incredibly rich owner, and is rented by our hero at a very reasonable rate. Ken also appears to be a very prolific lover. Divorced from Jude, his current official girlfriend in Jo. A PR agent for a record label, Jo’s main project appears to be pandering to the every whim of the label’s current ‘hot’ band, Addicta. Unofficially, Ken’s also been spending quite a bit of time with Celia. This is something he has to be very secretive about – not only because of Jo, but also because Celia is married to John Merrial. Merrial is not only an acquaintance of Sir Jamie’s, but is also a noted ‘businessman’ whose imports and exports include drugs and people. Although, apparently, he isn’t personally violent, crossing him will leave you – at best – VERY injured.

The story itself jumps backwards and forwards, which may put some off – for example, its established very early in the book that Ken and Celia are lovers, though the history of their relationship is told only gradually as the book progresses. The biggest factor on how much someone’s going to enjoy this book is Ken himself. He holds very definite opinions about things – notably politics and religion – and won’t hold back when he wants to make a point. Given that the book opens on the 11th of September, 2001, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that part of what Ken has to say touches on America’s response. I’m also pretty sure there’ll be people who won’t like what he has to say or how he says it – as a result, I suspect the book won’t be enjoyed by the pro-war, anti-liberal community. However, this isn’t a book about the Twin Towers or the ‘War on Terror’ : it’s about Ken’s ability to get himself in trouble. Despite what I felt was a slow start, I enjoyed it a great deal.