Based on the book description, readers could expect a funny espionage tale set in Scotland, but what they get is a violent and sordid story with little humor. The novel, centered around the salmon industry, is glacially paced (perhaps in keeping with the oft-mentioned low temperatures), and a lot of oddballs weave in and out of the narrative, which makes it hard to keep track of the action. Some characters are villains, others good people, and some are downright confusing. Most of the violence is so pointless that it seems Farrer included it simply for shock value. The comparison of Pulp Fiction in the synopsis serves as a warning to sensitive readers that a novel revolving around a sadistic Russian multi-millionaire and his crew of thugs isn’t the book for them.