The deaths of a series of young Eastern European women in Glasgow leads to a stately home in the Scottish countryside, and back to the Second World War, where a group of young soldiers made their own, shocking rules… Saltire Prize shortlisted author David F. Ross returns with an extraordinary, dark mystery – first in a new series.
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…
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The Weekenders by David F Ross was published by Orenda Books on 27 February 2025. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
One of my all time favourite novels is There's Only One Danny Garvey by David F Ross, published in 20202. Danny Garvey was told in four voices, during one era. Ross is so skilled at creating different and unique voices for his novel. In The Weekenders, we have two main narrators - Stevie 'Minto ' Molloy and Donald 'Doodle' Malpass, and the story is set in three, very separate, time scales. There's Stevie's story from 1966, as he finds his way as a new sports journalist after his successful football playing career is cut tragically short. Doodle tells his story in 1969, again in Glasgow. Doodle is a courtroom sketch artist and is troubled by the news of the murder of a Lithuanian girl.
The third part of the novel, and possibly the darkest and most graphic is set in during the war, in Italy in 1943, we are introduced to Jamsie Campbell and Michael McTavish, a couple of characters whose presence is felt throughout the story.
This is raw and violent and dark and straight to the point. Ross does not protect his readers from the realities of the Glasgow that is depicted within the plot. Coarse, strong language, mixed up with corruption and murder and the despicable behaviours displayed by those in power are to be found on every page of this truth filled, captivating and shocking story.
The characters are all flawed, yet there are some of them who the reader cannot fail to grow fond of, despite some of the things that they do, and say.
As he always does. David F Ross has intricately explored community and relationships within. There's a poignancy about the story, despite the starkness and violence. These are real people, their issues have shaped them, and those around them. It's wonderfully written and highly recommended by me.
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