The Raw Shark Texts - Steven Hall

The subject of much hype, this is a highly readable sci-fi-ish thriller packed to the gills with references to movies, books and other cultural ephemera. The prose style favours immediacy over elegance - think Iain Banks or David Mitchell (who is thanked in the acknowledgments).

There are plenty of clever ideas (some a little too clever, vis the doubly punning title) but some flat characterisation lets things down a little.

I did enjoy the running gag about the cat being called Ian.