The Weekenders by David F. Ross
Glasgow, 1966: Stevie 'Minto' Milloy, former star footballer-turned-rookie reporter, finds himself trailing the story of a young Eastern European student whose body has been found on remote moorland outside the city. How did she get there from her hostel at the Sovereign Grace Mission, and why does Stevie find obstacles at every turn?
Italy, 1943: As the Allies fight Mussolini's troops, a group of young soldiers are separated from their platoon, and Glaswegian Jamesie Campbell, his newfound friend Michael McTavish at his side, finds himself free to make his own rules…
Glasgow, 1969: Courtroom sketch artist Donald 'Doodle' Malpas is shocked to discover that his new case involves the murder of a teenage Lithuanian girl he knows from the Sovereign Grace Mission. Why hasn't the girl's death been reported? And why is a young police constable suddenly so keen to join the mission?
No one seems willing to join the dots between the two cases, and how they link to Raskine House, the stately home in the Scottish countryside with a dark history and even darker present – the venue for the debauched parties held there by the rich and powerful of the city who call themselves 'The Weekenders'.
Painting a picture of a 1960s Glasgow in the throes of a permissive society, pulled apart by religion, corruption, and a murderous Bible John stalking the streets, The Weekenders is a snapshot of an era of turmoil – and a terrifying insight into the mind of a ruthless criminal…
About the author
David F. Ross was born in Glasgow in 1964. His critically acclaimed debut novel, The Last Days of Disco, was long-listed for the Best First Novel Award by the Author’s Club of London. National Theatre Scotland acquired dramatic rights for the book in 2015.
He completed a trilogy of Ayrshire-based books with The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas and The Man Who Loved Islands. All three novels have been translated into German, published by Heyne Hardcore (Random House). Welcome to The Heady Heights - His fourth for Orenda Books – was published in March 2019.
There's Only One Danny Garvey was shortlisted for Scottish Fiction Book of the Year 2021. It has been called 'a brilliant, bittersweet story that captures the rawness of strained relationships.'
David F. Ross is a regular contributor to Nutmeg and Razur Cuts magazines, and in December 2018 was chosen to contribute a poem commemorating the 16th anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer for the publication Ashes to Activists. In 2020 he wrote the screenplay for the film ‘Miraculous’, based on his own novel.
His sixth novel - Dashboard Elvis Is Dead - will be published by Orenda Books in December 2022
Follow David on Twitter @dfr10, on Instagram @davidfross10 and his own website: davidfross.co.uk
Review
‘The Weekenders’ is the start of a new trilogy from the pen of David F. Ross and it was dark and violent but utterly engaging. It picks at the underworld of Glasgow in differing timelines but it is a Glasgow I can still recognise. Those who ‘have’ manoeuvring those who don’t. A struggle for power. An attempt to survive. It is a descriptive and complex world and our characters are just trying to get by.
‘The Weekenders’ is packed full of Glaswegian Scots and this gives it an authenticity and a gritty feel which is perfect for this unflinching storyline. David has a brilliant writing style that immediately draws in the reader and his turn of phrase adds in humour and lightness to what could be and is a quite dark tale. It is divided into three POV’s and three distinct timelines. The first part of the book follows Steve ‘Minto’ Malloy, a newly appointed sports journalist for a national rag. He was a rising star in Scottish football but an injury took him out and he was given this opportunity. However, he is paired with a guy from the Crime Desk and begins to investigate the death of a young woman in Glasgow. It gets under his skin and he becomes determined to find out what happened and this causes a whole load of trouble. Glasgow in the 1960’s was a different beast and murder and violence was much more common place and this is reflected here, there is a casual acceptance that this is the norm and just get on with it.
We are then treated to the early life of James Campbell a local man turned ‘big man’ but this is origin story so to speak. We see him in during the World War II and his relationships with the rest of his unit as they traverse the Italian countryside. The action then moves to a large mansion, Raskine House, just outside Glasgow that has been repatriated to hospitals or recovery centres where Jamesie has been sent. Its here that his character develops and matures but whether this is a positive thing is up to the reader… I certainly did not like him. David’s writing manages to convey such a sense of repulsion that I am still thinking of Jamesie weeks later.
Then the timeline flips forward again to a court artist called Doodle and his is underestimated his whole life by society as he is deaf. But Doodle is a complex and layered character that makes the reader feel empathy and kindness towards him. His character captures your attention and you end up rooting for him. He is a character that lives in the shadows as no one really pays him attention and that is his secret weapon. It is in this section that all the threads come together and we begin to understand what is happening at Raskine House.
This was an intriguing novel that was multilayered and a captivating read. David manages to grab your attention and keep it even though most characters are disgusting and it was at times uncomfortable reading but it leaves you wanting more. Turns out the main character is the house itself and who knows what devilish deeds the next book has in store for us?! I am certainly looking forward to it!
