I've had a somewhat rocky relationship with Brookmyre's books recently. Back in the day I absolutely tore through them and enjoyed every one. Then I read a couple that I really didn't like and a few that were okay and the foundation got a bit shaky. I've had read two in a row now that I really liked so I think we're back.

This book is ostensibly about computer hacking but it's really about relationships and about expectations; both in the way Sam is able to use social engineering in her hacks and in the dynamic between her and her mother and her younger sister. I felt like Parlabane wasn't as much of a main character in this as he has been in the others but what we got of him seemed in character for what we know. Other than the super random sex scene between him and a new colleague, which was weird and felt a bit shoe-horned into the book for reasons I couldn't really fathom.

I will continue reading this series and enjoying the characters and I hope the few books I didn't enjoy were an aberration.