Patchy and some of the exchanges are overlong, but when its funny it really hits the spot - had a couple of moments of proper uncontrollable belly laughs whilst reading. ( )

My son gave me this and I quite enjoyed it. The idea of playing spammers at their own game is very funny and the first one or two are indeed funny. However I found that it became very sandy and there wasn't much development.

Bob Servant lives in a small town in Scotland, is in his sixties, and seemingly has a lot of time on his hands as he engages in funny bizarre and outright weird email exchanges with spammers.

The very first page made me laugh. It was his reply to one of those African schemes where the sender is the son of a famous leader and he needs help shifting millions of dollars that his father left him out of the country. For the simple exchange of your name, address, bank account number and your help, they will offer you 20% of the total sum. Bob's reply: "Good morning your Majesty, I want 30% and not a penny less.'

As we go through the book we learn a lot about Bob's life in Broughty Ferry, his various work schemes and his good friends, especially Frank (the plank) who he refers to in all emails as Frank Theplank. He is constantly ignoring the requests for his details to ask for favours of his own and almost ended up with four gold lions, a small zoo of african animals, 2000 terracotta pots and some unusual nigerian recipes to name a few.

His emails were quite witty and inspired at times if not a little repetitive (there are 8 exchanges in all), and these spammers were taken on a very merry ride, one they thoroughly deserved. One guy when he realised he was being had sent a couple of truthful emails about his scheme which was quite interesting, but the rest weren't that amused.

A nice light and quick distraction. ( )

Quick read, amusing, droll. ( )