This is an unusual, different and interesting novel. It's a dystopian society where capitalism and consumerism dictate everything in life. You are your job, the people don't even have a last name anymore, they take the name of the company they work for. To be unemployed is a disgrace greater than being a murderer.

All is moved by money. You have to pay the government if you want justice, you can hire the police to make a contract kill, if you don't have money you can't get an ambulance. This is an example that had me thinking that today's healthcare system is certainly (and sadly) coming to this:

"Sir, I need to know if the victim is part of our register. If she's one of our clients, we'll be there within a few minutes. Otherwise I'm happy to recommend-"
"I need an ambulance. I'll pay for it, I don't care, just come!"
"Do you have a credit card, sir?"
"Yes! Send someone now!"
"As soon as I confirm your ability to pay, sir. This will only take a few seconds."

I also think this book reflects the lost of ethics, roughness and savage politics of some corporate environments, where talent and hard work have little to do with success, and people are often used, manipulated, exploited and then discarded when they aren't needed anymore. People are just products.

The novel raises interesting ethical and moral questions that makes you think about the extreme consumerism that governs our everyday life. It has an ensamble of characters with storylines that interweave between them. The chapters are short and that makes it very fast paced. I liked it, I'll probably try another book from Barry.

Bingo #25, Protagonista con tu misma carrera