Trying too hard to be unusual.
The photos are often of grotesque subjects (lots of gargoyles); taken from weird locations or at strange angles or too close up (never show the whole building); lots of telephoto-distorted perspective; almost all overcast weather. Overall, very unattractive, distant, and cold.
Text tends to focus on less-salubrious aspects of the city's history.
A commercial street map that doesn't show all of the city covered by the book is reproduced on the last two pages. No index to the map or cross-references between map and book.
This is a book that was "produced" -- not a labor of love.
By the way, I really like the photographer's book on English villages -- it is just the opposite.