Scan barcode
modub's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Excellent follow up of the Cutting Room. A real page turner about the Glaswegian gay scene, 20 years after the first book was written.
tdk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't read the first novel by this author but I had no issue with this one.
Dark, twisty, and gritty. An excellent storytelling kept me hooked and the grim description of the setting were fascinating.
I will surely read other novels by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Dark, twisty, and gritty. An excellent storytelling kept me hooked and the grim description of the setting were fascinating.
I will surely read other novels by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
readerlas's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
travelsalongmybookshelf's review
4.0
The Second Cut - Louise Welsh
‘Scotland isn’t The Wire.’
Auctioneer Rilke has been trying to stay out of trouble, keeping his life more or less respectable. Business has been slow at Bowery Auctions, so when an old friend, Jojo, gives Rilke a tip-off for a house clearance, life seems to be looking up. The next day Jojo washes up dead.
Jojo liked Grindr hook-ups and recreational drugs - is that the reason the police won't investigate? And if Rilke doesn't find out what happened to Jojo, who will?
I can soundly say I enjoyed this. Sharp, gritty and witty, my attention was rapidly caught. I loved the characters and although we are delving into Glasgow’s dark side there is still some lightness to it - Les made me laugh and Rose was fabulous too. These side characters really made the book for me. Rilke is a great character, sardonic, smart and a bit world weary, I could feel his eye rolls as he ends up embroiled in finding out what happened to his mate JoJo, found dead in a Glasgow doorway.
‘Perhaps I had gained a knack because the second cut was quicker.’
This was a darkly thrilling and atmospheric novel, it just winds up and up as Rilke gets embroiled deeper and deeper in something murky happening under the radar.
There are drugs, people trafficking and we go from illegal parties and Grindr hook ups to country house auctions and as Rilke digs deeper he finds himself up to his neck in trouble.
Honestly My heart was in my mouth at the end, a slow burn that caught fire for me - very good indeed! Not for the feint hearted and with a twist I did not see coming this was a cracking read!
✩✩✩✩
Thanks to Canongate books for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
‘Scotland isn’t The Wire.’
Auctioneer Rilke has been trying to stay out of trouble, keeping his life more or less respectable. Business has been slow at Bowery Auctions, so when an old friend, Jojo, gives Rilke a tip-off for a house clearance, life seems to be looking up. The next day Jojo washes up dead.
Jojo liked Grindr hook-ups and recreational drugs - is that the reason the police won't investigate? And if Rilke doesn't find out what happened to Jojo, who will?
I can soundly say I enjoyed this. Sharp, gritty and witty, my attention was rapidly caught. I loved the characters and although we are delving into Glasgow’s dark side there is still some lightness to it - Les made me laugh and Rose was fabulous too. These side characters really made the book for me. Rilke is a great character, sardonic, smart and a bit world weary, I could feel his eye rolls as he ends up embroiled in finding out what happened to his mate JoJo, found dead in a Glasgow doorway.
‘Perhaps I had gained a knack because the second cut was quicker.’
This was a darkly thrilling and atmospheric novel, it just winds up and up as Rilke gets embroiled deeper and deeper in something murky happening under the radar.
There are drugs, people trafficking and we go from illegal parties and Grindr hook ups to country house auctions and as Rilke digs deeper he finds himself up to his neck in trouble.
Honestly My heart was in my mouth at the end, a slow burn that caught fire for me - very good indeed! Not for the feint hearted and with a twist I did not see coming this was a cracking read!
✩✩✩✩
Thanks to Canongate books for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘Some things change, some things never change.’
Rilke is the chief auctioneer for the Bowery Auctions in Glasgow. Business has been slow recently, so when his old friend Jojo gives him a tip about a house clearance, Rilke is pleased. He was less pleased to see Jojo looking like a wreck. Both men are aged over sixty, but while Rilke has given up most of his vices, Jojo has continued his path of excessive drinking, drug use and risky participation in Glasgow’s gay community. And, the very next day when Jojo is found dead, the police do not seem interested in investigating. They see Jojo’s death as a logical consequence of his lifestyle choices. Rilke is not satisfied. Jojo’s apartment includes a large cache of drugs, and a young housemate who insists that Rilke help him arrange a decent send-off for Jojo.
In the meantime, Rilke investigates the house clearance Jojo alerted him too. The house is packed with antiques, and the auction house stands to make a lot of money.
So, there is Rilke, arranging a send-off for Jojo and inventorying the contents of the house. Arranging Jojo’s send-off results in a dangerous obligation to a Glasgow mobster. And, as Rilke soon finds out, there is danger associated with the auction as well.
Well, what an interesting character Rilke is. I need to read the first book in this series to learn more about him. He has his own code of honour, one which leads him into danger. This is a gritty thriller and I recommend it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Rilke is the chief auctioneer for the Bowery Auctions in Glasgow. Business has been slow recently, so when his old friend Jojo gives him a tip about a house clearance, Rilke is pleased. He was less pleased to see Jojo looking like a wreck. Both men are aged over sixty, but while Rilke has given up most of his vices, Jojo has continued his path of excessive drinking, drug use and risky participation in Glasgow’s gay community. And, the very next day when Jojo is found dead, the police do not seem interested in investigating. They see Jojo’s death as a logical consequence of his lifestyle choices. Rilke is not satisfied. Jojo’s apartment includes a large cache of drugs, and a young housemate who insists that Rilke help him arrange a decent send-off for Jojo.
In the meantime, Rilke investigates the house clearance Jojo alerted him too. The house is packed with antiques, and the auction house stands to make a lot of money.
So, there is Rilke, arranging a send-off for Jojo and inventorying the contents of the house. Arranging Jojo’s send-off results in a dangerous obligation to a Glasgow mobster. And, as Rilke soon finds out, there is danger associated with the auction as well.
Well, what an interesting character Rilke is. I need to read the first book in this series to learn more about him. He has his own code of honour, one which leads him into danger. This is a gritty thriller and I recommend it.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
booksandbadironing's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t usually read crime/thriller novels but thought I’d try this one, as I’d heard good things about Louise Welsh’s The Cutting Room. It was a great well written read!
It takes place in Glasgow in the violent underbelly of the city. Rilke, an auctioneer, is our flawed, witty narrator, getting on in years but always keen for a hookup on Grindr. The plot starts with the death of one of his acquaintances who’s also a client. And off we go! It tackles some difficult issues: people trafficking, drugs, alcohol, and rough sleeping. There’s brutality, orgies, gangsters and the LGBTQ+ community.
I did feel it was a bit over long but it’s gritty, funny, sharp and the storytelling is excellent.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All views are my own.
It takes place in Glasgow in the violent underbelly of the city. Rilke, an auctioneer, is our flawed, witty narrator, getting on in years but always keen for a hookup on Grindr. The plot starts with the death of one of his acquaintances who’s also a client. And off we go! It tackles some difficult issues: people trafficking, drugs, alcohol, and rough sleeping. There’s brutality, orgies, gangsters and the LGBTQ+ community.
I did feel it was a bit over long but it’s gritty, funny, sharp and the storytelling is excellent.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All views are my own.
bettylooksatbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leelah's review
4.0
3,5*
So, I know that it wasn't necessary for me to read [b:The Cutting Room|46025|The Cutting Room|Louise Welsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388947595l/46025._SY75_.jpg|1246358] in order to follow The Second Cut, but I wanted to. There is such a heaviness to that twenty years gap, especially because if there is anything I can say about TCR from this perspective is that it's very much a product of its time.
-I'll start with the most obvious thing: In afterword, Welsh explains how she wrote TCR because she was enraged by Keep the Clause Campaign. So, yes, Rilke was a homosexual protagonist by design and sure, that anger is palpable in her words. Reader is in Rilke's head and you are supposed to be bothered by the ways he has to go around meeting men. And to be fair, she put the onus on legislation, on skewed or wrong beliefs of homosexuality some people share, not just the violence toward them (which is more a consequence of beforementioned) to show that. Twenty years later, many battles for same sex couples have been won, but there is still place for improvement. And Welsh still has a thing or two to show through Rilke. This book opens with a gay wedding and reading them back to back only emphasises what a staggering difference it is. Different time and Rilke faces different challenges, only Rose stays fabulous.
-But when I say that TCR is a book that's very much the product of the time it was written in, I also mean that in every other way book was following a trend, a noir cliche if you please. Sex intermixed with violence cloaks around protagonist's life and crime he investigates. He's mostly apathetic, there is no happy ending nor a completely satisfying answer to the mystery at the centre. Slurs, gay panic, sexual risk behaviour that are not a staple in mystery books these days. The Second Cut was was an improvement in many ways, but particularly in Rilke's characterization. He has mellowed a lot and he's not as cynical as before. In book #1 we were told Rilke cares about what happened to the girl in the picture, but I never actually believed it was because of her- it's that faceless female victim you know nothing about while you get to know everything about the bad guy (now that's the trope of noir we can leave behind). Rilke was doing it just because, or even worse: because dancing with danger was exciting, because he is so edgy and troubled. And that was more boring and predictable to me than anything else. In book #2 Rilke can't explain why he's pursuing what happened to Jojo considering their relationship, but you realize he cares. It's basically the same reason, but this time I actually believe it. Jojo is a person, imperfect and annoying, but somebody cared. You see, Welsh didn't change Rilke: he is still someone who's not entirely good or bad. His sex life still leads to questionable choices, but in this one Welsh made a better balance to show him being a risk -taker (grindr) as opposed to being reckless he arguably was in TCR. His friendship with Rose is deeper. Rilke in TCR considers a very young male prostitute, Rilke in TSC reluctantly steps into loose mentorship role. I am not sure if the change was a result of Rilke being older or Welsh improving her writing, but I can say I liked Rilke in TSC considerably more.
-And speaking of writing, let's be clear: The quality was always there. But, in my honest opinion, Welsh is actually a better writer now. There is no that many cultural references, the story is more polished, the dialogue snappier. While TCR was Rilke showing graphic pictures and asking uncomfortable questions between having very pearl-clutching sex life, this one actually has a stronger mystery element. Essentially, we are following two threads: one is Rilke wanting to know how Jojo died and the other is, once again, murky situation behind house clearance Bowery is hired for. Both mysteries are engaging and keep your attention until they finally merge in culmination scene. I loved the intricacies of auction house business and I potential for mystery when Rilke digs into history behind furniture or various collections of house owners.
All in all, this was a good read. And yes, I didn't have to read [b:The Cutting Room|46025|The Cutting Room|Louise Welsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388947595l/46025._SY75_.jpg|1246358] but I am glad I did because it made me enjoy this book and Welsh's writing more.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Cannongate Books and Louise Welsh for an advance copy of The Second Cut. All opinions are my own.
So, I know that it wasn't necessary for me to read [b:The Cutting Room|46025|The Cutting Room|Louise Welsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388947595l/46025._SY75_.jpg|1246358] in order to follow The Second Cut, but I wanted to. There is such a heaviness to that twenty years gap, especially because if there is anything I can say about TCR from this perspective is that it's very much a product of its time.
-I'll start with the most obvious thing: In afterword, Welsh explains how she wrote TCR because she was enraged by Keep the Clause Campaign. So, yes, Rilke was a homosexual protagonist by design and sure, that anger is palpable in her words. Reader is in Rilke's head and you are supposed to be bothered by the ways he has to go around meeting men. And to be fair, she put the onus on legislation, on skewed or wrong beliefs of homosexuality some people share, not just the violence toward them (which is more a consequence of beforementioned) to show that. Twenty years later, many battles for same sex couples have been won, but there is still place for improvement. And Welsh still has a thing or two to show through Rilke. This book opens with a gay wedding and reading them back to back only emphasises what a staggering difference it is. Different time and Rilke faces different challenges, only Rose stays fabulous.
-But when I say that TCR is a book that's very much the product of the time it was written in, I also mean that in every other way book was following a trend, a noir cliche if you please. Sex intermixed with violence cloaks around protagonist's life and crime he investigates. He's mostly apathetic, there is no happy ending nor a completely satisfying answer to the mystery at the centre. Slurs, gay panic, sexual risk behaviour that are not a staple in mystery books these days. The Second Cut was was an improvement in many ways, but particularly in Rilke's characterization. He has mellowed a lot and he's not as cynical as before. In book #1 we were told Rilke cares about what happened to the girl in the picture, but I never actually believed it was because of her- it's that faceless female victim you know nothing about while you get to know everything about the bad guy (now that's the trope of noir we can leave behind). Rilke was doing it just because, or even worse: because dancing with danger was exciting, because he is so edgy and troubled. And that was more boring and predictable to me than anything else. In book #2 Rilke can't explain why he's pursuing what happened to Jojo considering their relationship, but you realize he cares. It's basically the same reason, but this time I actually believe it. Jojo is a person, imperfect and annoying, but somebody cared. You see, Welsh didn't change Rilke: he is still someone who's not entirely good or bad. His sex life still leads to questionable choices, but in this one Welsh made a better balance to show him being a risk -taker (grindr) as opposed to being reckless he arguably was in TCR. His friendship with Rose is deeper. Rilke in TCR considers a very young male prostitute, Rilke in TSC reluctantly steps into loose mentorship role. I am not sure if the change was a result of Rilke being older or Welsh improving her writing, but I can say I liked Rilke in TSC considerably more.
-And speaking of writing, let's be clear: The quality was always there. But, in my honest opinion, Welsh is actually a better writer now. There is no that many cultural references, the story is more polished, the dialogue snappier. While TCR was Rilke showing graphic pictures and asking uncomfortable questions between having very pearl-clutching sex life, this one actually has a stronger mystery element. Essentially, we are following two threads: one is Rilke wanting to know how Jojo died and the other is, once again, murky situation behind house clearance Bowery is hired for. Both mysteries are engaging and keep your attention until they finally merge in culmination scene. I loved the intricacies of auction house business and I potential for mystery when Rilke digs into history behind furniture or various collections of house owners.
All in all, this was a good read. And yes, I didn't have to read [b:The Cutting Room|46025|The Cutting Room|Louise Welsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388947595l/46025._SY75_.jpg|1246358] but I am glad I did because it made me enjoy this book and Welsh's writing more.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Cannongate Books and Louise Welsh for an advance copy of The Second Cut. All opinions are my own.