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For anyone not familiar with Ken Bruen's compelling admixture of wit of violence, Vixen may come as something of a shock. But for those of us who know what to expect, Bruen's latest offering is as satisfyingly bleak and punchy as his earlier ones. There's an extra ingredient this time around though, with a September 11-style terrorist in the form of female serial killer 'The Vixen' letting off bombs left, right and centre -- and what makes it worse is that it's happening right on DS Brant's patch. Yes, this is another novel following the exploits of south-east London's dodgiest police squad, an organisation that makes The Sweeney look like The Thin Blue Line. Brant is up to his usual tricks, Porter Nash has been diagnosed with diabetes, Inspector Roberts can't get a handle on the crimes (so what's new?) and new recruit WPC Andrews draws the short straw in her choice of mentor. If there's a fault with all this, it's that there's not a single attractive character to be seen. But if it's straightforward entertainment you're after, Bruen's typically simple plotline and briskly sketched chapters (complete with a raft of eclectic quotations) will do the job nicely.