Highland Falls

Highland Falls is a transgressive novel by Blag Dahlia that follows Nina West, a deceptively petite young trickster who works at a funeral home in Highland Falls. Her short-term boyfriend Ace fronts the Dunderhearts, a band so unlistenable that only constant infusions of cocaine can make them tolerable. Nina's brush with a Bolivian consulate official brings so much of South America's favorite export into their orbit that Dunderhearts bass player Lex drops dead just as Nina is about to have her way with him. Meanwhile, Ricky Leiber returns to Highland Falls to claim the family home his parents have left him after their untimely demise. Ricky falls hopelessly in love with Nina, while Nina remains hopelessly in love with herself.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 156 pages
Publication date: 11 October 2022
Publisher: Rare Bird Books

Punk rock legend Blag Dahlia makes a triumphant return with his third audacious novel, Highland Falls. Set in the suburban town of Highland Falls, Illinois, the story revolves around Nina West, a deceptively petite young trickster who finds herself working at a funeral home. Alongside her short-term boyfriend Ace, who fronts the unlistenable Dunderhearts, a band that relies on constant cocaine infusions to make their music tolerable, Nina navigates a world of deceit and scandal. Ace's grandfather, Fredo, owns the home and allows the band to practice in the basement, surrounded by corpses and the pungent smell of formaldehyde. Meanwhile, Ace drives the family Hearse, transporting the dead to their final resting places.

Nina's encounter with a Bolivian consulate official introduces a world of South American intrigue into their lives, leading to a series of unexpected events. As Nina prepares to seduce the handsome consulate official, Dunderhearts' bass player, Lex, drops dead, leaving Nina heartbroken. Meanwhile, down the street, Ricky Leiber returns to Highland Falls to claim the family home left to him by his parents after their untimely demise. He hopes to lead a life of anonymous indolence and television addiction, but fate has other plans.

At his parents' funeral, Ricky falls head over heels in love with Nina, who remains hopelessly in love with herself. As the story unfolds, Nina's path takes a dramatic turn when she becomes involved in a blood-soaked massacre that catapults her to instant stardom and worldwide acclaim. With a happy ending guaranteed to captivate a miserable generation, Highland Falls is a thrilling and provocative exploration of love, loss, and the pursuit of fame. Blag Dahlia's signature style, characterized by raw energy, dark humor, and a touch of violence, is on full display in this captivating novel.

Dimension: 215 x 139 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781644282991