I had a very good time with this, and it earned the rating by keeping me properly invested. The strongest parts are the atmosphere and the sense of momentum; it kept giving me reasons to continue. Brian Johnson gives it enough control and personality that it feels like more than just a premise on a page. The pacing, mood, and central ideas all came together well enough that I was happy to keep turning pages. It had the right mix of substance and entertainment, which is always the sweet spot for me. Five stars because it was absorbing, memorable, and exactly my sort of thing.