I began reading this book with the impression that it was going to be some kind of murder mystery thriller. What I found was so different and both intriguing and disturbing all at once. The book opens with Isserley, a woman who appears to pick up hitchhikers for sex. But we quickly learn that sex is the last thing this woman wants with these men and their fates are so much worst than I expected. Without giving to much away, the twist in Isserley's true motives seem to echo a call to arms against something, but what exactly is a question I could not see the answer to. Whether it was class warfare or animal cruelty, I can't be sure. 
 The slow revelation of what went on with the men once Isserley brought them home was brilliantly paced and I found Michel Faber's descriptive language excellent in that it generated an ambiance and visuals that were truly nightmare inducing. While I did not like or understand the ending of this book, the read is short and what's in between the beginning and the end was fascinating and certainly worth a look.