Inherent vices and scalpel-sharp jokes vie with a very human concern for those least garlanded in the rat race of life. Chilton said that Meantime "blazes with the sort of edgy, near-the-knuckle humour that has made Boyle such a popular comedian", with "spiky, challenging" social commentary and many "thought-provoking reflections". However, he praised Chong's dialogue on Chinese stereotypes and British imperialism as the best monologue in the book and found the history of Felix's addiction "remarkably moving" as it provides "pathos that overrides the usual sarcasm and snarl".

Marina was involved in Alternative Independence, a left-wing movement for Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum. There is a lot going on in the blurb and it was a perfect indicator because there was a lot going on in the book; in a good way. There are no sleuthing pensioners or vicars here: our amateur detective/narrator is Felix McAveety, a Glaswegian junkie. The most boring aspect though are pages and pages of Felix lying in bed or in the bath or many places sharing his tedious memories of past trips on various drugs. When Valium addict Felix McAveety’s best friend Marina is found murdered in the local park, he goes looking for answers to questions that he quickly forgets.The book, according to Dugdale, had elements of whodunit fiction and some content resembles a stand-up comedy monologue.

She reviewed that "Felix's gimlet outlook on life is brilliantly off-kilter" and changing emotional tone when his life history is unraveled is handled well. Felix and Donnie, with the assistance of Jane Pickford, a celebrity crime novelist, end up out of their depth in a world of nationalist politics, artificial intelligence and espionage.Felix's lack of confidence in his views, Boyle said, allows detours into commentary on society and culture. Even now I'm finished I'm not entirely clear if Marina was murdered, who killed her or if Felix even unravelled it (it seemed much more likely to be the work of the ex-cop who seems ridiculously willing to help a man who can't keep his eyes open half the time.