A very enjoyable story, and just the right length for my long walk
I'm assuming the story is a bow to the original Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. *Interesting factoid about "The Picture of Dorian Gray", the picture is actually stored in an old schoolroom by Dorian Gray in the novel and not, as many people think, in an attic as seen in the film. *
I was slightly confused about the structure of the story however, as initially I was led to believe Dorian was having his meal with Alison in the 'present tense' and everything else was a flashback, with Dorian remembering his previous victims or "vessels". However this can't have been the case, due to his fate at the end of the story.
All in all, a very enjoyable story and a good homage to Wilde's work.