What is the best book to start with for Chris McQueer?

You should start with his debut short story collection, Hings (2017). It introduces his Glaswegian Scots writing style, dark humor, and recurring characters in short, easy-to-digest formats.

Do I need to buy the novella Leathered separately?

No. While Leathered was originally published as a standalone novella by Speculative Books in 2018, the full text was later included inside his second short story collection, HWFG , which was published the same year.

What is Chris McQueer's debut novel?

His debut full-length novel is Hermit , published in February 2025 by Headline's Wildfire imprint. Unlike his short story collections, it is a dual-perspective novel about isolation and online radicalization.

Are Chris McQueer's books written in Scots?

Yes, his short stories and novels are written using authentic Glaswegian Scots dialect . The dialogue and narrative voice are spelled phonetically, mimicking the local accent and slang of Glasgow's East End.

Where can I watch the TV adaptations of his stories?

Three stories from Hings ('Sammy's Bag of Whelks', 'Shiftswap', and 'Nightbus') were adapted into short films for BBC iPlayer in 2019, narrated by Chris McQueer himself.

Chris McQueer Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path

For the absolute best experience with Chris McQueer's distinct literary style, we highly recommend following his publication order. Because his early short story collections establish the recurring characters, unique tone, and phonetic Glaswegian Scots dialect, starting from the beginning helps ease you into his writing style before you tackle his longer and heavier narratives.

Hings (2017) – Start here. This debut collection contains 25 short stories that establish McQueer's trademark mix of working-class grit and surreal fantasy.
HWFG (2018) – Read this second. The title (an acronym for 'Here We Fucking Go') signals a darker, weirder, and more ambitious set of stories. This volume also fully absorbs his standalone novella Leathered, meaning you do not need to buy it separately.
Hermit (2025) – Read this last. As McQueer's debut full-length novel, it represents a significant shift from quick-fire surreal sketches to a deep, multi-perspective examination of isolation and modern internet subcultures.

Decoding the Glaswegian Scots Dialect

Before you crack open your first page, you should know that McQueer writes predominantly in Glaswegian Scots dialect. This is not standard English, and the spelling is highly phonetic. For the uninitiated, here are a few quick tips to help you find your footing:

Read it aloud: If you are struggling to make sense of a word or phrase, sound it out phonetically in your head or whisper it. The rhythm of the Glaswegian accent will quickly reveal the meaning.
Key vocabulary: Hings translates to 'things'; HWFG means 'Here we fucking go'; Leathered is slang for getting beaten up or getting drunk (though in the novella's context, it refers to a physical fight); ginger refers to carbonated soda/fizzy drinks; and the boke means gagging or feeling sick.
Embrace the flow: Do not worry if you miss a slang word here or there. The context of these character-driven stories will carry you through.

Deep Dive into the Collections and Novellas

Hings (2017)

Published by independent press 404 Ink, Hings was a grassroots literary phenomenon in Scotland. The collection features 25 brief stories that range from daily mundane occurrences to the absolute bizarre—like a moth trying to execute mind control over a Glaswegian local or a back-garden shed that gets converted into a fully functioning, high-capacity nightclub. It won the 2018 Saboteur Award for Best Short Story Collection and serves as the perfect entry point because the stories are short, punchy, and highly accessible.

HWFG (2018)

Following the massive success of his debut, McQueer returned with HWFG. While the surreal humor remains, this collection takes a much darker and more mature turn. The narrative voices are more polished, and many stories feature recurring characters from his first book, showing a growing sense of continuity. The collection deals with themes of class disparity, mental health, and the absurdity of modern social media culture.

Leathered (2018)

Originally published as a standalone pocket-sized novella by Glasgow-based independent publisher Speculative Books, Leathered follows a cynical prison guard named Frank. After a bizarre series of events involving a prisoner's smuggled smartphone, Frank ends up challenge-tweeting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to a televised bare-knuckle brawl. While it was printed as a standalone volume, it was also included in its entirety within the pages of HWFG. Unless you are a dedicated collector hunting down the rare Speculative Books printing, you will get this story automatically when reading HWFG.

Transitioning to the Novels: Hermit (2025)

After establishing himself as a master of the short form, McQueer made his long-awaited transition to full-length fiction with Hermit, published by Wildfire (an imprint of Headline Publishing Group) in early 2025. Set in Glasgow, the novel uses dual perspectives to follow 19-year-old Jamie, who is struggling with severe isolation and depression, and his mother Fiona. As Jamie gets pulled deeper into the online 'incel' (involuntary celibate) subculture, the novel explores the terrifying realities of online radicalization, toxic masculinity, and familial love under extreme pressure. It marks a significant thematic evolution for McQueer, trading some of his earlier wacky surrealism for empathetic, hard-hitting social realism.

BBC Adaptations and Multimedia

In 2019, the BBC adapted three of the most popular stories from Hings into short comedy films for BBC iPlayer, with McQueer serving as the narrator. The adapted stories are 'Sammy's Bag of Whelks' (a family seafood outing gone wrong), 'Shiftswap' (an escalating comedy of errors about avoiding work), and 'Nightbus' (a weird encounter on public transit). Watching these adaptations after reading the first book is a fantastic way to visualize the characters and hear the dialect spoken exactly as the author intended.