Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

William McIlvanney Reading Order

6 series · 23 books

Literary FictionMystery & ThrillerNon-Fiction

William McIlvanney was a Scottish writer whose novels, short stories, and poetry blended unflinching realism with lyrical language. He earned acclaim for his hard-boiled crime fiction set in 1970s Glasgow, particularly his Jack Laidlaw series featuring the iconic detective investigating the city's underworld. Beyond crime, McIlvanney's versatile career spanned literary fiction and poetry collections that captured the texture of working-class Scottish life with both emotional depth and gritty authenticity.

Anthologies Series

Complete

1 book (2012–2012)

#Title
1

Jack Laidlaw Series

Likely Complete

4 books (1977–2021)

Start with Laidlaw, the first of 4 books in the Jack Laidlaw series.

Start this series with Laidlaw

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#Title
1
Cover of Laidlaw
2
Cover of The Papers of Tony Veitch
The Papers of Tony Veitch
1983Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Strange Loyalties
Strange Loyalties
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Dark Remains(With: Ian Rankin)
The Dark Remains(With: Ian Rankin)
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

1 book (1993–1993)

#Title
1
Cover of Shades of Grey
Shades of Grey
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Poems/Short Story Collections Series

Complete

5 books (1970–1991)

Start with The Longships In Harbour, the first of 5 books in the Poems/Short Story Collections series.

Start this series with The Longships In Harbour

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#Title
1
Cover of The Longships In Harbour
The Longships In Harbour
1970Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Landscapes & Figures
1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
4
Walking Wounded
1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Surviving the Shipwreck
Surviving the Shipwreck
1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Saltire Series

Likely Complete

5 books (2013–2021)

Start with The Artist and Nationality(By: Meaghan Delahunt), the first of 5 books in the Saltire series.

Start this series with The Artist and Nationality(By: Meaghan Delahunt)

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#Title
1
The Artist and Nationality(By: Meaghan Delahunt)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Dreaming Scotland
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Nevertheless(By: Allan Massie)
Nevertheless(By: Allan Massie)
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Second Wind(By: Douglas Dunn)
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Ploughing the City(By: Sorcha Carey)
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

7 books (1966–2006)

Start with Remedy is None, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with Remedy is None

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#Title
1
Cover of Remedy is None
Remedy is None
1966Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of A Gift From Nessus
A Gift From Nessus
1968Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Docherty
4
Cover of The Big Man
5
Cover of In Through the Head
In Through the Head
1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Kiln
7
Cover of Weekend

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has William McIlvanney written?
William McIlvanney has written 23 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1966 to 2021.
What is the first book in each William McIlvanney series?
Here are the first books in William McIlvanney's series: Jack Laidlaw: Laidlaw; Poems/Short Story Collections: The Longships In Harbour; Saltire: The Artist and Nationality(By: Meaghan Delahunt).
What order should I read William McIlvanney's books?
We recommend reading William McIlvanney's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are William McIlvanney's series complete?
William McIlvanney has 4 completed series.

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