I finished it within the day. I had this from the Kobo store (I have a Kobo app on my Android tablet since the demise of my old faithful Kobo reader. I could have a Kindle app as well, on the same device. It's Betamax vs. VHS all over again ..... Also, you can lend one paper book to a friend amd keep all the other ones. And walking into a bookshop, smelling the books and handing over real coins to receive a neatly-wrapped hardback is an experience in its own right, which cannot be replicated on a touch-sensitive screen. Also, it doesn't feel like real money, and I can imagine some people could potentially become addicted to e-books. [Unless the online e-bookstores won't let you make any more purchases, if you have too many books downloaded but not yet marked as finished reading. I have so far managed to avoid testing for any such limit. It would appear contrary to their interest to do anything besides sell more books, but perhaps they figure that being signed up to some sort of Responsible Retailers' Code might enhance their public perception, particularly among those who might be sceptical about making purchases online.]) Anyway, I don't know how big the hardback edition is, but this felt about half the length of Mr Nice.
I enjoyed it, perhaps not as much as Mr Nice. It is certainly an interesting story with a few unexpected revelations (anything else I said would be a spoiler). I am fortunate enough to have seen Howard Marks performing his live show, and was able to imagine his voice in my head as I read.
Rating: **** A fitting last shout from the lovable drug-smuggler and raconteur.
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