But the humanity is on every page. The characters have layers and layers. The main character, Charlie Halifax, is a cool customer - a bit unfeeling at times - but highly intelligent. The scenes where he flies across the desert are fantastic. This book puts 'The English Patient' in its place.

Watkins is simply one of the best writers alive just now. His visual descriptions are amazing and it's small wonder this book has been bought for movie rights by some guy called Tom Cruise. It'll be a disaster no doubt - so read this book first. You'll taste the furnace heat of the desert, feel the sand with every moutful of food, and sense the claustrophobic desperation of the characters. It's not so much a story as a full-blown experience. It transports you - what more can you want?