Funny, charming, and terribly creepy- a unique little story about voyeurism and family dysfunction. ( )

I picked this book up out of curiosity after seeing the film starring Jamie Bell and seeing a review which stated how different the film was. I did like it (more than I expected after the first chapter), but it did not resonate with me. However, I was rather engrossed at times -- just detached. That may be due to the style and subject matter, as Hallam Foe is a loner who "observes" people by spying on them. He tries to keep himself at a distance from human interaction and emotional entanglements. Meanwhile, he is at odds with his aloof father and wicked stepmother which leads him to another journey in his life.

The story was rather rich and interesting, so I would recommend this book if you had a vague interest in it. However, like I said, I really did not connect with it, so it stops me from giving it a higher rating. ( )

The eponymous character is a voyeur who is convinced his stepmother killed his mother. Forced out of the family estate, he moves to Edinburgh where he uses his spying skills to give him an advantage in fundraising! It is dark in places and vaguely amusing in others, and reminded me of Iain Banks' novels. I was disappointed by the ending. ( )