Overview

We meet Rilke, a gay auctioneer working in Glasgow, who is hired to clear the contents of a dead man’s house. Among the furniture and valuables, he finds a collection of disturbing photographs that appear to show real violence. What starts as a routine job quickly turns into a dangerous obsession, pulling Rilke into the darker corners of the city, where money, secrecy, and exploitation overlap.

Writing & Atmosphere

We found the writing sharp, controlled, and steeped in mood. Glasgow is not just a backdrop but a presence, full of wet streets, closed rooms, and uneasy transactions. Welsh keeps the prose tight and precise, letting unease build through suggestion rather than shock. The result is a noir atmosphere that feels grounded and unsettling.

Characters

Rilke is a standout protagonist. He is observant, cynical, and quietly principled, even when his curiosity leads him into risky territory. Characters around him, including his boss Rose Bowery and a network of dealers and collectors, are sketched with economy and purpose. Everyone feels capable of harm, but also recognisably human.

Themes

This novel looks closely at desire, power, and the cost of looking away. We see how exploitation hides behind wealth and respectability, and how easily people become complicit when profit is involved. It is also a story about belonging and identity in a city that rewards secrecy and silence.

What Worked

• Striking atmosphere: The city and auction rooms feel lived in and uneasy.
• Memorable voice: Rilke’s perspective carries both wit and moral tension.
• Thematic weight: The story asks difficult questions without easy answers.

Minor Quibbles

• The ambiguity around the photographs may frustrate readers wanting certainty.
• The focus on investigation and mood keeps the pace steady rather than explosive.

Final Thoughts

We found The Cutting Room dark, compelling, and morally sharp. It is a crime novel that lingers, not for its twists, but for the questions it leaves behind about who is watched, who profits, and who pays the price.

Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)