The 'sex' is about as bad as it comes (sic). But otherwise quite a good plot and the blood, guts and brains are quite unemotional as ....[SPOILER].... he does a good job of protecting any characters that you might get to like! And just because it was written in 1994 that does not mean it should be out of the question for any women to do violence. In fact it was quite an enlightened time for a feminist! The women in this book are only allowed to be victims, lovers, mothers, wives and daughters. However I did enjoy it - especially as it was set in Edinburgh.