Maura (maura853) - , reviewed on 6/7/2022 + 542 more book reviews

A book I admired, but felt it was written more with an eye toward the judges who would shower it with awards rather than the ordinary reader.

So much of this is so good -- the milieu of the Glasgow auction house, the local colour of Glasgow itself. Welsh's sharp descriptions, and jagged, rapid-fire dialogue.

I also rather liked the fact that the protagonist, Rilke, doesn't really understand why he carries on with his dodgy, dangerous amateur sleuthing. I like it when authors have the courage of their convictions, and risk antagonizing readers who want answers, NEAT ANSWERS, when we all know that everything in this world can't be parcelled up in a neat epilogue.

What I did not like was where Welsh went too far, for effect. This applies to the two scenes of quite graphic sex. QUITE graphic ... as in, ewwwwww .... As in, ok I get it, the man likes rough sex with strangers. Only two scenes, but scenes that, for the rest of the novel, leave the Gentle Reader a little nervous about what might happen on the next page.

I wonder if Welsh's objective was to hammer home the fact that, in this mystery about voyeurs and sexual exploitation, the reader is a voyeur and sexually exploitative, getting "enjoyment" out of the suffering of others. Fictional others, but ...

But too far also with being unnecessarily poetical, and over the top with descriptions and "precious" character studies that put the plot on hold for quite long pages. Occasionally (and oddly, only very occasionally) going too far playing with graphics and text layout -- stealing a march on "Tristram Shandy," with wonky text, and odd fonts and split screen to suggest state of mind, confusion, pandemonium ...

Ms Welsh is a very talented lady. It was worth reading.( But be warned)

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