A quirky book, certainly, but I found it most engaging. The core of it is a sad tale set within the precincts of an agrochemical plant in Leith, the port of Edinburgh. The story unfolds through the identification of a collection of everyday objects found with a body. To understand how the plant operated the reader is gently provided with a fair amount of Chemistry and chemical engineering, and also learns the responsibilities of individual members of staff, individuals drawn with affection and respect. The dangers of the industrial processes within the works are disturbing, but so too is portrayal of de-skilling and an industry in decline, albeit an industry we are increasingly aware has contaminated the planet. ( )