Whose Turn for the Stairs?

This is an utterly charming story about 12 families and their tightly knit street in 1950s Maryhill. Following the end of the war, the close rebuilds its ties and the strong sense of community and friendly neighborhood bonds are soon back in place. There is young love for Rhea and Robert; a surprising new start for James; a change of direction for George; and all overseen by the matriarch of the street—Granny Thompson. And of course, all buoyed up by a big helping of Scottish humor and strength of spirit. Yet it is all not perfect in their world: the families have to deal with poverty, religious bigotry, racism, heartbreak, lies, violence, and death. But the powerful friendships cannot ultimately be broken; the characters have gone through too much together. In Robert Douglas's first novel, he recreates a time and place particular to Glasgow but to which everyone will relate.