In this debut novel from British writer Warren Ellis, we join private detective Michael McGill on a journey through America's sexual underworld in search of a secret, lost government document. On his journey, he is faced with many questions about what is "mainstream" and what is not? What constitutes the absurd? What role does the Internet play in determining the acceptance of various activities?

The book is entertaining from the get-go in its absurd scenarios and outlandish situations. McGill encounters a number of ridiculously odd and sometimes frightening characters during his search which keeps the book moving at a very fast pace. Our club had plenty to discuss, and no one walked away from this book feeling disappointed (though most of us were skeptical when the book was initially chosen). The writing is very simple and to the point. And always entertaining. This one is definitely not for the faint-at-heart as the fetishes and sexual interests discovered are pretty far out of reach for the average person's mind.