Welcome to the Heady Heights by David F. Ross
Welcome to the Heady Heights is a whirlwind of 70s Glasgow, whose witty, dark humour cuts through what can at times be an uncomfortably real narrative
Archie Blunt is a Glaswegian down on his luck: he’s been suspended from his Corporation bus job, he’s still grieving for his dead wife and he’s struggling to look after his father’s declining health. Despite it all he’s a Glasgow man through and through, resilient and resourceful – this city can’t throw much at him he can’t deal with. Or so he thinks.
When an unwitting encounter with a showbiz idol leaves him starry-eyed, he sets about climbing the ladder of fame, fortune and reality telly with a rag-tag group of East End teens. But both Glasgow and this showbiz world have dirty secrets, and Archie’s about to discover just how dangerous this game can get.
The book could easily seem artificial in its plot and setting, yet by the end Ross has woven a narrative together so organically you’ll want to kick yourself for ever doubting its plausibility. Ross produces a picture of 70s Glasgow we may not be wholly familiar with, for better or worse, leaving us questioning what may also be lurking below the surface now.
Welcome to the Heady Heights is a whirlwind of 70s Glasgow complete with chippies, boozers and brown corduroy flares. Witty, dark humour cuts through what can at times be an uncomfortably real narrative, setting an invigorating pace for this tale of glitz, glam and institutional corruption which keeps you guessing at every turn.
Orenda Books, 21 Mar, £8.99