It’s always a slightly strange feeling to read a book set in your home town. Familiar landmarks and well-kent streets suddenly take on a different sheen as violent characters stride along them. In Random, people also die gruesomely in those streets - apparently chosen without reason or cause. The murderer cuts off the little finger of each victim and posts it to the police or the press, earning himself the nickname The Cutter. He draws attention to his crimes while at the same time disguising the fact that one or more of the murdered may have been specifically targeted.

Random cover.jpg — Random

Simon & Schuster, 2011

Craig Robertson

“They did not know that I existed”

We don’t know The Cutter’s name until almost the very end, but we are in no doubt as to his identity - he narrates the whole book, and we see the tale unfold from his perspective as he starts to lose the tight control he has on himself and his actions. So this book is not a mystery to be solved; instead the tension is ratcheted up, as Glasgow reels from murder on top of murder. With no clear pattern or victimology, anyone could be the next target.

The Cutter is a taxi driver, and I really enjoyed Robertson’s depiction of the almost-invisible presence he is in the fleeting dramas that play out every day. He overhears conversations and discussions, often about his crimes as the murders accumulate, his passengers not dreaming for a moment that he is listening, far less responsible.

“Glasgow is a village with a city within it”

One of the real strengths of this book is the creative use of language to bring a scene to life. I could almost smell Sauchiehall Street at one point! Craig Robertson was a journalist for many years, and his skill in manipulating comprehension and emotion using words is evident.

He also has a good grasp on the darker side of Glasgow, and the secondary themes of gangsters, wee hard men, and dodgy taxi company takeovers don’t feel like they’re over-reaching.

“First love, first hate. Never forget them.”

As more of The Cutter’s back-story is revealed, we begin to understand some of his motivation, and the lines between black and white grow ever more blurred. The scene near the end where the various strands of the story are brought together is neatly done, with a clever rough justice angle that surprised and pleased me. Few punches are pulled in the description of the murders, and readers of a sensitive disposition will probably find this book is not for them.

“Time for one final death”

The first in a series of (so far) seven books, Random feels like a debut novel - there are a few overused turns of phrase, and the repeated curtailed sentences with missing pronouns grates a little. I also dock points automatically for a description of a woman as feisty (ffs). But I enjoyed Random enough that I’ve since read all the others (shout out to the Completer-Finishers) and Robertson most assuredly gets better with time. The later novels unpack the personality and relationships of Rachel Narey and Tony Winter, who make only fleeting appearances in Random. They are complex and interesting enough to carry the later novels, and it’s gratifying to see Robertson’s development as an author thoughout. The murderous plot-lines get more creative and the goodies don’t always win. I promise the whole series is worth your investment - just don’t judge it on this book alone.