David is your modern average guy who took on a job in a northern English -or southern Scottish- city.  He leads a lonesome life filled with work and parties where he only seems to be interested in meeting women he hasn't met yet, and in sleeping with them.  Just that, in the morning he's almost angry they're still in his presence.  Still, dissatisfied as he is with their presence, he'll hunt for the next one as soon as he can.

This seems to change when he meets Lucy, a divorced mother and artist.  Both seem to strive for an intimacy they cannot reach, and cruelty starts to mingle into the passion.  And their relationship slowly unravels again...

This very short novel -the translation I read had only 109 pages- is told in a fragmented and detached way, emphasizing David's detached life.  And at the same time this almost indifferent style brings on the right atmosphere without the need for page-long descriptions, the style is David.  Only the more physical parts are sometimes not devoid of feelings, sensual almost, but short, it's clear that the hunt is more important than the trophy.

The relationship with Lucy seems to bring change, but it soon turns into a sick powergame, leading to a finale where everything that could go wrong goes wrong together.  Still the real finale is a surprise.