Carlos Alba’s new novel shines a light on the ‘hidden issue’ of highfunctioning autism and its devastating impact.

Read Carlos Alba’s new novel, There’s a Problem with Dad, and the chances are it will chime with you. You’ll probably find yourself thinking: “I know someone like that”, or “That’s just like my brother/uncle/father/friend”.

The issue of people with high-functioning autism is wider spread than many of us realise.

In Carlos’s words: “Every day there’s a celebrity who reveals themselves to be on the spectrum.”

The Glasgow-based author, pictured, didn’t venture far to do his research. He had first-hand experience of undiagnosed, high-functioning autism and the devastating impact of this on loved ones.

While the protagonist in his novel, George Lovelace, is a fictional character, many of his traits are based on Carlos’s father-in-law Andrew.

“I always felt his behaviour was a bit bizarre,” he reflects. “He was quite shy and unforthcoming and inhibited emotionally. My wife accepted that was who he was. A bit of a character.”

The novel follows the story of George, a widower in his 70s, who has always done everything by the book. However, he has always felt out of step with those around him, and they with him. Relationships have always been strained, awkward and unpredictable.

When George is charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl, his inability to communicate with others pushes him, and those around him, to the limit.

Through his eyes, readers are given an insight into his thought process, and see the devastating impact of his “unusual” behaviour on family members.

It’s the third novel from award-winning journalist and dad-of-three Carlos.

It wasn’t until he read Sally Brampton’s book about growing up with a father with undiagnosed highfunctioning autism that bells started to ring; he recognised many of Andrew’s obsessive traits in Brampton’s father.

“He had his life routinised; he couldn’t do something on a whim. He had a one-track mind and an obsessive focus. If you went for a meal, he’d view it as purely functional. He’d shovel food down his neck and get up to leave. It was the subject of family jokes.

“He never told his children he loved them and was so distant emotionally.” Once Carlos’s family deduced Andrew had a form of Asperger’s, they were able to filter his seemingly odd behaviours through that “prism”, and everything became explainable. They realised he thought differently; he wasn’t trying to be difficult.

A major consideration was whether writing the book would upset Andrew’s family.

“I was conscious about that,” says Carlos. “Andrew passed away in 2012. I started the book in 2016 so there was a time lag. In one sense it was an exploration of someone with high-functioning autism but also, it was a creative work of fiction. I needed to identify with the character and make him likeable.”

His research consisted of chatting to people with Asperger’s and professionals including Tony Attwood, a leading authority on the subject.

The novel is tragic, hilarious and deeply insightful. “It’s a story about human frailty and misunderstanding,” Carlos says. “It’s about the way people interpret George and come to understand him. Autism aside, it’s a human drama with a satisfying sense of catharsis.”

He hopes it will strike a chord with those who know someone with high-functioning autism and that they’ll see that person in a more understanding light.

Any advice for fellow writers? Get something down on paper, “even if it’s only a few pages”, adding: “It’ll take on a life itself.”

There’s a Problem with Dad, £9.99, ringwoodpublishing.com