An auctioneer by profession, Rilke is an acknowledged expert in antiques but also considers himself something of an expert in many other fields.

When he comes upon a hidden collection of violent, and highly disturbing, erotic photographs, Rilke feels compelled to unearth more about the deceased owner who coveted them. What follows is a compulsive journey of discovery, decadence and deviousness.

'Astonishingly this is a first novel, catapulting Welsh straight into the superstar league, while establishing Rilke as a classic original.' The Times