Overview

The Weekenders is set mainly in Glasgow in 1966, where a young reporter begins investigating the death of an Eastern European student found on remote moorland. What starts as a local mystery soon opens into something far darker, tied to wealth, influence, and secrets carefully protected by powerful people. Running alongside this is a second story set in Italy during the Second World War, following a group of Glaswegian soldiers whose actions leave lasting damage. The two timelines slowly draw together around a grand country house and a circle of people who believe themselves untouchable.

Writing & Voice

We found David F. Ross’s writing confident and direct, with a strong sense of momentum. He moves easily between wartime Italy and post war Scotland, keeping the story clear even as the scope widens. The language is vivid without being heavy, and the atmosphere of unease builds steadily as the truth comes closer.

Characters

Stevie Milloy, a former footballer turned reporter, is a determined and believable lead, driven by curiosity and a sense of justice. The soldiers in the wartime sections are shaped by fear, loyalty, and moral compromise. The wealthy figures behind the weekend gatherings represent privilege at its most careless and cruel. Each character feels flawed and human, with choices that echo across time.

Themes

The novel explores how war leaves scars that never fully heal, and how class and power allow some people to escape accountability. It looks at silence, complicity, and the way institutions protect themselves. We also felt the book was asking how much truth a society is willing to face when that truth threatens comfort and status.

What Worked

• Ambitious structure the linked timelines give the story depth and emotional weight.
• Strong settings Glasgow, rural Scotland, and wartime Italy all feel grounded and real.
• Serious themes questions of power, guilt, and justice are handled with care.

Minor Quibbles

• The large cast and shifting time periods demand close attention from the reader.
• At times the historical detail slows the pace of the central mystery.

Final Thoughts

The Weekenders is a dark and thoughtful Scottish crime novel that links past violence to present day corruption with real impact.

Rating: ★★★★☆ / 5