What is rule 34? It’s a popular internet in-joke that decrees that if you can imagine it, there’s pornography about it on the internet.
Charles Stross’ cyber-thriller is a cracker of a book. In his near-future world, there is the Rule 34 Squad, or the Innovative Crime Investigation Unit. It is headed by jaded 38 year old detective inspector, Liz Kavanagh, whose job it is to police the murkiest depths of the internet.
Thrown into the mix are Anwar Hussein, an ex-con, and the Toymaker, who works for an international criminal enterprise.
Bizarrely yet brilliantly combining domestic fatalities, dodgy downloads and a European spamming network, this story will hook you in from the get go and leave you awed.