The most recommended books about Glasgow

Who picked these books? Meet our 36 experts.

36 authors created a book list connected to Glasgow, and here are their favorite Glasgow books.
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Book cover of Laidlaw

P.R. Black Author Of The Long Dark Road

From my list on Tartan Noir to take you beyond your shortbread tin.

Why am I passionate about this?

These books aren't just the best in their field–they're the best at pinpointing the place I am from. Tartan Noir is a rich world, and I'm just about to join it. These books give a sense of place and people and sometimes bring a little laughter in the dark. To me, that's Scotland, in its magnificence, grandeur, and polar opposite of these things. Scotland is a country with two faces, as everyone from James Hogg onwards knew well... Let's see which side you prefer! 

P.R.'s book list on Tartan Noir to take you beyond your shortbread tin

P.R. Black Why did P.R. love this book?

The seventies. The tough town. Laidlaw, Glasgow’s philosopher detective, is trying to find out who killed the lassie in the park. Arguably the template for Taggart, arguably the starting point for Tartan Noir.

I liked the way its bark was just as bad as its bite. It threatens to explode into violence all the way through, between most of its characters–then it does. Hard cases. And yet, at the very end, incredibly, compassion and sympathy.

By William McIlvanney,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Laidlaw as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

First in “a crime trilogy so searing it will burn forever into your memory. McIlvanney is the original Scottish criminal mastermind” (Christopher Brookmyre, international bestselling author).
 
The Laidlaw novels, a groundbreaking trilogy that changed the face of Scottish fiction, are credited with being the founding books of the Tartan Noir movement that includes authors like Val McDermid, Denise Mina, and Ian Rankin. Says McDermid of William McIlvanney: “Patricia Highsmith had taken us inside the head of killers; Ruth Rendell tentatively explored sexuality; with No Mean City, Alexander McArthur had exposed Glasgow to the world; Raymond Chandler had dressed the darkness…


Book cover of Poor Things

Martin Nathan Author Of A Place of Safety

From my list on people in dangerous systems of belief.

Why am I passionate about this?

My family was divided by religion, leaving me skeptical about belief systems. After a background in science, I studied philosophy and became intrigued by Heidegger's ‘pitiless atheism.’ The power of his thought but his personal failings have long been an issue for academics. I have since been fascinated partly by powerful personalities but more by the struggle of their followers as they suspend critical thinking and make huge sacrifices to offer their support. This struggle and difficulty of turning back, particularly as the systems begin to collapse, are a feature of many of the works of fiction that intrigue me most, particularly in the books I have chosen.

Martin's book list on people in dangerous systems of belief

Martin Nathan Why did Martin love this book?

The novel presents a range of archival material, including graphical elements. The main account has an objective restraint that reads almost like a scientific report, which makes it moving at times. The main character Bella develops rapidly from a child-like state into a mature woman and way her language and insight progresses is skillfully handled.

I found it fascinating how reasonable-sounding scientific ideas can become barbaric actions. The novel is multi-layered, with competing narratives and Bella undermining most of what appears in the Lanthimos film, Poor Things. In the end, I was left in a state of exhilarated confusion and went to read it all again. 

By Alasdair Gray,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Poor Things as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What strange secret made rich, beautiful, tempestuous Bella Baxter irresistible to the poor Scottish medical student Archie McCandless? Was it her mysterious origin in the home of his monstrous friend Godwin Baxter, the genius whose voice could perforate eardrums? This story of true love and scientific daring whirls the reader from the private operating-theatres of late-Victorian Glasgow through aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church.


Book cover of Slip of the Knife

Timothy Moriarty Author Of Drowntown Girl

From Timothy's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Grandfather Tennis player Museum goer Flaneur Dad-joke machine

Timothy's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Timothy Moriarty Why did Timothy love this book?

Denise Mina is one of my very favorite crime writers, and this is one of her best.

Her heroes often struggle with dicey relationships while struggling to solve murders or stay one step ahead of the bad guys. Her plots are intricate but don’t take a genius to follow and unravel. Her mysteries are set in Scotland, usually Glasgow or environs, and the unfamiliar culture is intriguing. The language is rich, and the dialogue tangy.

The central character is a journalist whose old boyfriend is murdered. Paddy Meehan is a bit chubby, a bit lonely, and struggling with self-hatred. But she’s prickly and unafraid—a complex heroine with a razor-sharp sense of humor and a chip on her shoulder as she confronts cops, gangsters, and assorted low-lifes.

By Denise Mina,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Slip of the Knife as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A brilliant new thriller featuring Paddy Meehan, one of the most praised heroines since Temperance Brennan, from "a rising star in the world of crime fiction" (Laura Miller, Salon).

Paddy Meehan is no stranger to murder--as a reporter she lives at crime scenes--but nothing has prepared her for this visit from the police. Her former boyfriend and fellow journalist Terry Patterson has been found hooded and shot through the head. Paddy knows she will be of little help--she had not seen Terry in more than six months. So she is bewildered to learn that in his will he has left…


Book cover of Some Kind of Love

Jude Tresswell Author Of A Right To Know

From my list on M/M for asexuals.

Why am I passionate about this?

I chose the ‘Best’ title with trepidation: there are many sorts of aces and reading tastes will differ. I’m a cis-gender female, sex averse, verging on sex-repulsed. So, why M/M? Firstly, because reading about other females is too much like being involved myself. Secondly, because I’m het-romantic so I like my MCs to be male. And sex? I can take sex on the page as long as it isn’t gratuitous; it must be meaningful. I’ve chosen five very different books, but they all have gay protagonists and they meet my ace-based needs. In case it’s an issue, I’ve commented on the flame count.   

Jude's book list on M/M for asexuals

Jude Tresswell Why did Jude love this book?

This final book in the Jas Anderson trilogy sees Jas investigating a murder and a case of police corruption, but there is so much more: sectarian rivalry, harsh city life, a grieving mother, a revengeful wife, suffering children, and my two favourite gay protagonists, Jas himself and the ever-unstable Stevie. There’s a lot of testosterone on show. Explicit sex abounds, but it is never included for effect. It’s born of need and, sometimes, love. It never repels me. The conversation is in Glasgow dialect. Please don’t let that deter you: this story is powerful. Last pages count, and Some Kind of Love has a perfect ending.

By Jack Dickson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Some Kind of Love as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Former Detective Sergeant Jas Anderson, the violent anti-hero of Freeform and Banged-Up, becomes enmeshed in a dangerous web of intrigue and double-dealing. Working as a private investigator on a routine case, he soon finds himself stirring an explosive cocktail of police corruption, sectarianism and murder.

"A weaver of intricate plots which combine elements of the hard-boiled and the intensely erotic".


Book cover of Second Wind

Brenna Bailey Author Of A Tale of Two Florists

From my list on cozy stories about characters older than fifty.

Why am I passionate about this?

Older people have always been present and significant in my life. I read widely, and—perhaps because of my role models—I noticed there’s a lack of representation of older characters in books. I started to seek out stories with protagonists over the age of fifty, and the more I read, the more I felt like the collection was lacking. Even though I’m younger, I want to use my position as a romance editor and author to remind people that aging doesn’t have to be a bad thing and life is still complex and enjoyable when you’re older. Adventure and romance can continue in your golden years.

Brenna's book list on cozy stories about characters older than fifty

Brenna Bailey Why did Brenna love this book?

Second Wind is a short, delightful read about how you’re never too old to find love.

Seventy-one-year-old Martha Appleby is flying to Glasgow to scatter her husband’s ashes when she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Pamela Thornton. Their paths are more intertwined than they thought, and their journey gives them a second chance to be together.

I found this story when I was looking for comparison titles for my book, and I am so glad I picked it up! It had me smiling and gave me warm fuzzy feelings all the way through.

By Ceillie Simkiss,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Second Wind as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

No matter how old you are, there’s always a chance for romance. After the death of her husband, 71-year-old homemaker Martha Appleby is taking her first long-distance trip alone. That loss has derailed many of her plans for her twilight years, and she hopes to come to peace with not knowing what will come next.70-year-old service dog trainer Pamela Thornton is hoping to take advantage of a well-timed work trip to figure out what to do next. Crouton is the last service dog of the litter, and she’s not sure she wants to keep raising dogs by herself.These two childhood…


Book cover of Young Mungo

Barbara Elsborg Author Of The Story of Us

From Barbara's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Gay Romance Writer Ex-seller of cyanide Avid reader Funny Imaginative

Barbara's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Plus, Barbara's 5, 7, and 10-year-old's favorite books.

Barbara Elsborg Why did Barbara love this book?

I couldn’t stop reading. It’s a raw, gritty, and unflinching story of a teenage boy who finds forbidden love against the odds in a deprived area of Glasgow.

The two boys are divided by so much that a future seems impossible. The world the author describes is both beautiful and ugly and the camping trip just about broke my heart. I was just enthralled the whole way through. The ending isn’t as unclear as some think, at least not to me. I closed the book with a smile on my face.

It feels wrong to enjoy a book like this because of the subject matter but it is so good!

By Douglas Stuart,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Young Mungo as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A story of queer love and working-class families, Young Mungo is the brilliant second novel from the Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain

Douglas Stuart's first novel Shuggie Bain, winner of the 2020 Booker Prize, is one of the most successful literary debuts of the century so far. Published or forthcoming in forty territories, it has sold more than one million copies worldwide. Now Stuart returns with Young Mungo, his extraordinary second novel. Both a page-turner and literary tour de force, it is a vivid portrayal of working-class life and a deeply moving and highly suspenseful story of the dangerous…


Book cover of A Litter of Bones

Rebecca Nolen Author Of Deadly Thyme

From my list on British suspense to keep you up reading all night.

Why am I passionate about this?

At twelve, my favorite thing to read were the tattered, dog-eared Ellery Queen, or Alfred Hitchcock Mystery magazines my aunt let me borrow. From there I read every Agatha Christie novel available, and so began a lifetime of reading British authors. I love suspense these days, and of course, every British detective series I can find to stream. To research my books I’ve traveled to Britain, and have visited with my cousins, my family never lost touch with, in Scotland and in Yorkshire. You’ve heard “write what you know”. I love to write what I love. That’s why I wrote Deadly Thyme set in Cornwall, England.

Rebecca's book list on British suspense to keep you up reading all night

Rebecca Nolen Why did Rebecca love this book?

In A Litter of Bones, DCI Logan is sent to investigate a child’s disappearance and is suddenly thrown back to a previous case of a child disappearance and death he was involved in solving. The killer called Mr. Whispers is in prison, so why are children disappearing in the same manner as when he was out? Logan is perplexed. Can his small band of misfit detectives with Police Scotland handle the case? I haven’t read a suspenseful book that made me laugh out loud, and then cry a few pages later like this. The funny Scottish words, the author throws in occasionally like a wee delicious tidbit, were enough to set me laughing, too.

The series continues and still makes me laugh, while unable to turn pages fast enough to find out what happens next. Really, if you want a laugh while reading incredible suspense, you’re going to want…

By JD Kirk,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Litter of Bones as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A missing child. A tormented detective. A ticking clock.


Ten years ago, DCI Jack Logan stopped the serial child-killer dubbed 'Mister Whisper, ' earning himself a commendation, a drinking problem, and a broken marriage in the process.


Now, he spends his days working in Glasgow's Major Investigations Team, and his nights reliving the horrors of what he saw.


And what he did.


When another child disappears a hundred miles north in the Highlands, Jack is sent to lead the investigation and bring the boy home.


But as similarities between the two cases grow, could it be that Jack caught the…


Book cover of In Dark Water

Jeannette de Beauvoir Author Of Dead in the Water

From Jeannette's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Storyteller Voracious reader Poet Indoor girl

Jeannette's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Jeannette de Beauvoir Why did Jeannette love this book?

This is a very different take on a police procedural, with more character development than usual and a real sense of place—one of the things that’s important to me as both a reader and a writer.

The plot is complex and engaging (I didn’t figure out the solution) and I found myself thinking of it even when I wasn’t actually reading the book. The descriptions are crystal-clear—you’ll feel that you are in the area yourself—and the author’s scattering of Scottish slang throughout contributes to a deeper sense of locale.

First in a series (the others so far haven’t disappointed either).

By Lynne McEwan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked In Dark Water as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Beneath the surface lie deadly secrets...

DI Shona Oliver agreed to move to Dumfries with her ex-banker husband when their teenage daughter got in with a bad crowd in London. As a Glasgow native, she's back on home turf.

Living on the shores of the Solway Firth allows Shona to continue as an RNLI volunteer, and a call out to recover a woman's body indicates foul play. Police in Cumbria take the case but links back to Scotland keep Shona's team involved. As they investigate, reports of people trafficking and a spate of thefts from local shops compete for attention…


Book cover of One Day With You

Carmen Reid Author Of New Family Required

From my list on funny, feelgood fiction about families.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a daughter, sister, Mum, wife, and writer. I’ve been writing light-hearted books about the intricacies of family life for 20 years now. When I first began my publishing journey, I was parcelled up with ‘chick lit’, but really, I’ve always written ‘Mum lit’. I love to write about the hilarious side of life, alongside the emotional. As it’s hard enough out there in the world, I want things to turn out happily in my stories. I love to add a sprinkling of travel and a touch of fashion. Sorry, but I just can’t help noticing a well-cut jacket, an embroidered silky skirt, or a carefully chosen accessory! 

Carmen's book list on funny, feelgood fiction about families

Carmen Reid Why did Carmen love this book?

This story is in the style that Shari is making her own – a critical 24 hours in the intertwined lives of her characters.

It’s a skilful weaving of lightness and big laughs, plus painful, dramatic elements with break-neck plotting. Here, she builds her story round a group of friends and neighbours, who have known and supported each other for so long that they’ve created a ‘family’ owing nothing to genetics.

I love the Glasgow details, like the hospital carpark row with an audience of giggling nurses clutching sausage rolls. I also love the salt-of-the-earth older ladies in Shari’s books – the fiery ‘wummin’ holding lives together with their humour and strength of character.

Pick this up and you will not stop till you turn the last page. 

By Shari Low,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked One Day With You as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLEROne day, five lives, but whose heart will be broken by nightfall?

It started like any other day in the picturesque village of Weirbridge.
Tress Walker waved her perfect husband Max off to work, with no idea that she was about to go into labour with their first child. And completely unaware that when she tried to track Max down, he wouldn't be where he was supposed to be.
At the same time, Max's best friend Noah Clark said goodbye to his wife, Anya, blissfully oblivious that he would soon discover the woman he adored had been…


Book cover of Young Adam

Iain Hood Author Of This Good Book

From my list on Scottish reads about moments of madness.

Why am I passionate about this?

Scotland’s greatest poet since Burns, Hugh MacDiarmid, said that there were no traditions in writing, only precedents. He was thinking that, were traditions followed, adhered to, applauded, and praised, and prized too highly, then the danger of slavish repetition rather than creative divergence was too high. We need the mad moments, when all bets are off and something truly unpredictable will happen. I write with Scots modernist, postmodernist, and experimental precedents in mind. I want there to be Scots literature that reflects a divergent, creative nation, willing to experiment with words and life, and, in Alasdair Gray’s formulation, “work as though in the early days of a better nation.”

Iain's book list on Scottish reads about moments of madness

Iain Hood Why did Iain love this book?

A Trocchi renaissance, including a film of Young Adam starring A-Listers Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, and Emily Mortimer, added to a growing reappraisal of Trocchi as a great Scottish writer, his reputation having been tarnished, fairly or unfairly, with drug use, indolence, and writer’s block.

Young Adam is a Scots crime novel the way James Hogg’s The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is a high-jinx picaresque, which is to say only technically, and on the understanding that Hogg and Trocchi sit head, shoulders and in fact a full body length above these genres. But moment of madness there is, and arrest, trial, judgment, and condemnation. But the twist is that Trocchi’s own judgment and condemnation of society is what matters.

By Alexander Trocchi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Young Adam as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Set on a canal linking Glasgow and Edinburgh, Young Adam is the masterly literary debut by one of the most important British post-war novelists. Trocchi's narrator is an outsider, a drifter working for the skipper of a barge. Together they discover a young woman's corpse floating in the canal, and tensions increase further in cramped confines with the narrator's highly charged seduction of the skipper's wife. Conventional morality and the objective meaning of events are stripped away in a work that proves compulsively readable.