What do a lost cat, a time traveler, a software engineer, a stuck sofa, and an Electric Monk have in common?  Well, it's hard to say unless you read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Then it becomes clear -- almost. Adams' style, first shown to the world in his Hitchhiker's Guide series of books, is hard to describe.  Not because it crosses many genre boundaries but because it's hard to make words like irreverent, zany, witty, and clever combine in such a way as to give an accurate picture.  It's best just to read the books. But be warned, if you have even the smallest of religious bones in your body, be sure to wear your thick skin while reading this book.  His pokes at religion and belief systems are not mean-spirited but could be irritating if you're not expecting it.