When I heard the title Software by the Kilo, I was not sure to what, exactly, author Larry Ketchersid was referencing. As a programmer myself, I know that isn't how one sells software. In short, Ketchersid, showcasing some of his humor, gets his title when two of his characters align their very disparate businesses together. How else should the mob, who generally sells their product by weight, sell software?

The title is a little disingenuous. And, if you bear with me, I'll tell you why. Two Austin-based entrepreneurs, Jason and Kenny, are taking a break from trying to find investors for their latest venture. While software is involved, they are focused on a device that searches for all network connections whether they be cell-based, wifi or whatever. In other words, there technically is weight involved, not that you would sell it by the kilo regardless.

Jason and Kenny have had success with only one of their prior startups. With more failures than successes under their belts, finding investors has been very hard on the pair this time around. They have escaped to a Greek island for some R and R. Kenny's girlfriend Shelly has joined them. What Kenny doesn't know is that his "girlfriend" is actually undercover attempting to catch him for some hacking he has done in the past.

While on the island, the group finds some willing investors who are more interested in the new business's ability to launder dirty money than in some new technological device. But then, if this new gadget is a goldmine as the Americans are claiming, who knows, perhaps it is time for these Italians to get out of the Mob business and go legit. When asked, "Think you can sell software by the kilo?" Jason responds, "I'll sell it any way they'll buy it."

Mob boss Roberto was the reluctant inheritor of his father's empire after his dad and brother's untimely deaths. He has two lieutenants. Luca is a big thug who idolizes Clint Eastwood and all his spaghetti westerns. Carmine is a brutal miscreant who thinks he is due more than his current lot in life. And as far as he is concerned, the time has come for him to take over operations.

The connection runs deep as this mob group's roots can be traced back to World War II when their ancestors, Marco, Aldo and Massimo, started their illicit business venture. These three Italians had fought together during the war -- in North Africa as well as in their homeland. They had fought on the side of the Germans and later on the side of the Americans. But their hearts weren't in the war -- especially as they saw their homeland destroyed and knew the end of the fighting would one day come. Together, they started a smuggling operation to sell black market goods with their North African connections. Over time, the business grew and this mob empire was born.

Proving that the world is a small place and that, perhaps, "six degrees of separation" is a true phenomenon, while reading the story, you will find a connection between the mob and Shelly that dates back to the war in Italy. Yes, it is a little convenient and a little contrived how all the pieces in this puzzle fall in to place. But it is still a fun ride. The book is not very deep. But I don't think it is intended to be. There is enough story here to make a two-hour popcorn movie.

Larry Ketchersid is an interesting character in his own right. He has degrees in computer science, mathematics and physics. Similar to his characters Jason and Kenny, Larry has had various degrees of success with several technology startups. He is a 2nd-degree black belt in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan and practices a few other martial arts as well.

I found Software by the Kilo to be a very amusing, highly entertaining novel. I have a like of all things WWII from a historical perspective. (I'm glad I was not born to experience it personally). So I can easily say that my favorite parts of the story take place during the war. I enjoyed the more modern parts of the book as well. It was in these sections that Ketchersid demonstrated his sense of humor more often than not. While the story was predictable and you had to suspend your sense of belief a bit, if you simply want a light diversion then Software by the Kilo might offer some pleasurable reading. Ketchersid's writing style is quite accessible. The sections are generally quite short, so even if you have to break the tale in to bite-sized chunks, it is an easy book to get through.