Stross serves up another cracking good high-tech mystery set in the not to distant future when a dramatic heist can be pulled off entirely on line. The U.S. has largely receded from the world picture while China, Russia and the EU have emerged as the dominant nations. Against this backdrop Edinburgh detective Sue Smith responds to a robbery case and quickly comes to realize that the theft was perpetrated through a virtual reality computer game, a crime that could have major, worldwide implications. Insurance accountant Elaine Barnaby begins looking into the case, hoping to find a loophole that would allow the insurance company to get out of paying up and realizes she is out of her depth. Elaine hires ex-game programmer Jack Reed to decode the program, little realizing he has his share of secrets. The three investigators discover robbery is only the tip of the iceberg in this fast moving thriller lightened with liberal doses of black humor.
A fun romp through the world of computer geeks and role-playing games that is certain to provide plenty of food for thought as it entertains. Surprisingly this is told entirely in the second person while Stross allows his three main protagonists to narrate the action that includes a character roster reminiscent of World of Warcraft.
USA
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