Irvine Welsh Reading Order

17 books (1994–2023)

Irvine Welsh edited fifteen anthologies between 1994 and 2022, spanning genres from mystery and thriller to non-fiction, with the series likely concluded. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with A Tongue in Yer Heid and progressing through diverse themed volumes including Acid Plaid: New Scottish Writing, Speaking With the Angel, and 24 Stories of Hope for Survivors of the Grenfell Tower Fire. The series encompasses international perspectives and social commentary across its various installments, featuring work from multiple contributing authors and editors alongside Welsh's editorial direction.

Start with A Tongue in Yer Heid, the first of 15 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	A Tongue in Yer Heid 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Acid Plaid: New Scottish Writing 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Ahead of its Time 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Children of Albion Rovers 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Open City #5: Change or Die 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Intoxication 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Le Foot: The Legends of French Football 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Speaking With the Angel 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Weekenders: Travels in the Heart of Africa 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Weekenders: Adventures in Calcutta 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	One City 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Rotten English 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Because I am a Girl 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	24 Stories of Hope for Survivors of the Grenfell Tower Fire 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	The People's City: One City Trust 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Scottish Stories 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2011–2012)

The Book Slam Annual is a two-volume anthology series curated by Irvine Welsh, featuring original works from prominent British and international writers. Published between 2011 and 2012, the series contains One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1 and Too Much Too Young, each showcasing contributions from an impressive roster of acclaimed authors across fiction and poetry. The series is complete and should be read in publication order for the intended experience of these annual collections.

Start with One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1(With: Simon Armitage,Patrick Ness,Jon Ronson,William Boyd,Hari Kunzru,Joe Dunthorne,Bernardine Evaristo,Helen Oyeyemi,Richard Milward,Roger Robinson,Paul Murray,Don Paterson,Patrick Neate,Jon McGregor,Sophie Woolley,Luke Wright,Tim Key,Kae Tempest) and read in order.

2 books (2008–2022)

Irvine Welsh's Crime series comprises two mystery and thriller novels published across fourteen years, with Crime arriving in 2008 and The Long Knives following in 2022. The series appears to be complete and should be read in publication order. These standalone entries showcase Welsh's exploration of crime narratives through his distinctive storytelling approach.

Start with Crime and read in order.

#	Title
1	Crime 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Long Knives 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2024–2024)

1 book (2009–2009)

#	Title
1	Days Like This 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2018–2018)

#	Title
1	Rave 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1994–2009)

Irvine Welsh's Short Story Collections series comprises four books of short fiction published between 1994 and 2009, with the complete series now finished. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Acid House, followed by Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance, If You Liked School, You'll Love Work, and concluding with Reheated Cabbage. Each collection stands as an independent work, though reading them chronologically provides insight into Welsh's evolving style across a fifteen-year span.

Start with The Acid House, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#	Title
1	The Acid House 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	If You Liked School, You'll Love Work 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Reheated Cabbage 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (1995–2026)

Irvine Welsh's six standalone novels span from 1995 to 2014 and should be read in publication order, beginning with Marabou Stork Nightmares. Each book stands alone as its own complete story, though they collectively showcase Welsh's range across mystery, thriller, and unconventional narratives. The series concluded in 2014 and contains no unfinished storylines.

Start with Marabou Stork Nightmares, the first of 6 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Marabou Stork Nightmares 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Filth 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	You'll Have Had Your Hole 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Babylon Heights 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Can Nothing Save Us? 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2001–2015)

Irvine Welsh's Terry Lawson series consists of two complete crime novels published between 2001 and 2015. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Glue followed by A Decent Ride. This mystery and thriller series explores the criminal underworld through Welsh's distinctive narrative style.

Start with Glue and read in order.

#	Title
1	Glue 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	A Decent Ride 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (1993–2025)

The Trainspotting / Mark Renton series consists of six books by Irvine Welsh, beginning with Trainspotting in 1993 and continuing through Men In Love in 2025. These novels should be read in publication order to fully appreciate the interconnected narratives and character development across the expanding universe. The series is ongoing, with the latest installment released in 2025, offering readers a deep dive into the lives of its central characters through mystery and thriller elements woven throughout.

Start with Trainspotting, the first of 6 books in the Trainspotting / Mark Renton series.

#	Title
1	Trainspotting 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Porno / T2 Trainspotting 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Skagboys 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Blade Artist 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Dead Men's Trousers 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Men In Love 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible