Review: Welcome to the Heady Heights

Welcome to the Heady Heights by David F. Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This takes place over 1975 to 1977 in Glasgow and charts the dark, seedy and yet hilarious at times, life of Archie Blunt.

Archie was a bus conductor, until he lost his job after leaving his bus unattended while he chased Bobby Souness, who had jumped out of the emergency door for the top deck…..

There are some real laugh out loud, snorting moments in amongst the bleakness of life in 1970’s Glasgow. From constant drinking alcohol of some sort to frying potato cakes in lard…..probably one of the reasons for Archie’s lack of front teeth !

I did feel some sympathy for Archie, he’s trying to cope with his Dad, who has dementia and has good days and bad and it breaks his heart……on the other hand Archie also has conversations with Jim Rockford …….

It’s hard to actually describe the plot without giving much away…….it involves a socialist MP Big Jamesie Campbell whom along with Heady Hendricks ( of a TV talent show fame) plan on opening a ‘hotel’ for the homeless and desperate…….but is there an ulterior motive?

Underlying all this is a theme of the abuse of vulnerable young people by respected members of the entertainment industry, politics and even the Police…..

There is also the obsession with fame….as though this will be the cure all, the utopian world of the 15 minutes of fame…..it even has a TV talent show reminiscent of the X-Factor and the humiliation of those less talented than they believe…

This is quite dark and bleak at times but with such humour and great characters it’s a great read…..

Thank you to Anne Cater and Orenda Books for the opportunity to read this and a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review

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