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The Butcher Boys
Our need for identity can jeopardise what we hold most dear. In a Yorkshire Dales village in the nineteen-seventies, best mates Michael, a boy with a strong sense of tradition and family loyalty, and Jack, a boy drawn to new horizons, are there for each other through traumatic childhoods. But as they become men, set against the backdrop of Thatcher's Britain and the fall of the Iron Curtain, their struggles for identity and the intense rivalry between their butchers' shops threaten to destroy them.
From the author of Back Road
From the author of Back Road
370 pages, Unknown Binding
Published July 4, 2023
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Chris Gill
2 books33 followersChris Gill is an author who grew up in Yorkshire as part of a Dales family. As a proud Yorkshireman, he was able to draw on the landscape and voices of his home county whilst writing his first two novels, ‘Back Road’ and ‘The Butcher Boys’. This has given his work a powerful authenticity. 'Back Road' is published by Fisher King Publishing and 'The Butcher Boys' is also soon to be published by them.
Chris discovered his love of storytelling whilst travelling throughout Europe and Asia during the nineteen-nineties, when his passion for literary realism developed through observation of real life and the opportunity to read widely.
Determined to continue his learning journey upon returning to the UK, he read Politics and English at The University of York. In addition to studying, he wrote and produced various plays. ‘The Picnic’ won a Commendation for Outstanding Writing at The National Student Drama Festival.
After graduating, Chris spent a decade as a Further Education teacher, but never lost his ambition to become a traditionally published author. Throughout his time as a teacher, he matured as a writer by penning plays and short stories. He then devoted himself to what became his first published work with Fisher King Publishing, a novel about the battle between altruism and egotism, ‘Back Road’.
With a desire to develop his writing further, Chris joined a group of accomplished authors in Manchester, where he now lives with his teenage son, and began writing his second novel, ‘The Butcher Boys’. This labour of love was completed over eight years and is now also published by Fisher King. It is a story about how our need for identity can threaten what we hold most dear:
'In a Yorkshire Dales village in the nineteen-seventies, best mates Michael, a boy with a strong sense of tradition and family loyalty, and Jack, a boy drawn to new horizons, are there for each other through traumatic childhoods. But as they become men, set against the backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain and the fall of the Iron Curtain, their struggles for identity and the intense rivalry between their butchers’ shops threaten to destroy them.'
Chris is currently working on his third novel, a modern-day story exploring the ‘lives’ we present to the world and the lives we actually live.
Chris discovered his love of storytelling whilst travelling throughout Europe and Asia during the nineteen-nineties, when his passion for literary realism developed through observation of real life and the opportunity to read widely.
Determined to continue his learning journey upon returning to the UK, he read Politics and English at The University of York. In addition to studying, he wrote and produced various plays. ‘The Picnic’ won a Commendation for Outstanding Writing at The National Student Drama Festival.
After graduating, Chris spent a decade as a Further Education teacher, but never lost his ambition to become a traditionally published author. Throughout his time as a teacher, he matured as a writer by penning plays and short stories. He then devoted himself to what became his first published work with Fisher King Publishing, a novel about the battle between altruism and egotism, ‘Back Road’.
With a desire to develop his writing further, Chris joined a group of accomplished authors in Manchester, where he now lives with his teenage son, and began writing his second novel, ‘The Butcher Boys’. This labour of love was completed over eight years and is now also published by Fisher King. It is a story about how our need for identity can threaten what we hold most dear:
'In a Yorkshire Dales village in the nineteen-seventies, best mates Michael, a boy with a strong sense of tradition and family loyalty, and Jack, a boy drawn to new horizons, are there for each other through traumatic childhoods. But as they become men, set against the backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain and the fall of the Iron Curtain, their struggles for identity and the intense rivalry between their butchers’ shops threaten to destroy them.'
Chris is currently working on his third novel, a modern-day story exploring the ‘lives’ we present to the world and the lives we actually live.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 17, 2023
This is fantastic book. Beautifully written, intelligence, emotion and thrill. The 2 boys relationship is so raw and real I felt like I knew them both. Throughout the story, I found myself changing who I sided with from chapter to chapter. The way the story has been written allows the reader the understand each side of the situation. Absolutely amazing!
August 6, 2023
Finished this book just last week and still thinking about it!! It is so wonderfully written with such thoughtful insights into different types of relationships, loss and grief. ‘The Butcher Boys’ perfectly captures the beauty of growing up and the inevitable changes that come along with it. An unexpected but beautiful ending. Definitely one to read and recommend.
August 4, 2023
Absolutely brilliant read with a lot of childhood memories of growing up in the north of England. The characters are really engaging and the story has you hooked from the start. Beautifully written.
March 14, 2026
i actually discovered this book via the author’s TikTok page and was immediately intrigued due to my childhood love for tv shows such as heartbeat and the royal, and this being set at a similar time in Yorkshire
the Yorkshire dialect and vivid descriptions really transported me straight to the Dales, and i found myself quickly drawn into the characters and their struggles. it offers an interesting look at how envy and frustration with one’s own life can slowly turn into bitterness, pushing someone to lose sight of themselves and sabotage the relationships that once meant the most
the Yorkshire dialect and vivid descriptions really transported me straight to the Dales, and i found myself quickly drawn into the characters and their struggles. it offers an interesting look at how envy and frustration with one’s own life can slowly turn into bitterness, pushing someone to lose sight of themselves and sabotage the relationships that once meant the most
March 1, 2026
Chris popped up on Instagram and as a fellow author interacted and started following him. He had a promotion in The Butcher Boys so I decided to download it and I definitely was not disappointed.
Brilliant dialogue kept me hooked from page 1. Loved how I was transported back to the 70s and 80s with the colorful characters of the dales and their every day lives and struggles through historical events that I remember through my childhood and teens.
The relationship between Jack and Michael was so authentic and the ending was so well interpreted. Loved Beaky Susan, think every village definitely has a similar character.
Great read Chris, definitely recommend.
Brilliant dialogue kept me hooked from page 1. Loved how I was transported back to the 70s and 80s with the colorful characters of the dales and their every day lives and struggles through historical events that I remember through my childhood and teens.
The relationship between Jack and Michael was so authentic and the ending was so well interpreted. Loved Beaky Susan, think every village definitely has a similar character.
Great read Chris, definitely recommend.
October 9, 2023
Reading a book like The Butcher Boys by Chris Gill makes me wish that the big reviewing platforms like the Bookseller etc and all bookshops sang the praises and fully promoted books more from small indie presses to the general public instead of merely the so called bestsellers.
They're only best sellers because they are promoted.
The Butcher Boys should be a best seller. Could be a best seller. I hope you'll promote it!
Written in Yorkshire Dales dialect, both in dialogue and prose, we are completely immersed in the physical and mental worlds of the two main characters, the butcher boys, Michael and Jack.
We can not only see the settings, we can feel, smell and absorb them. Gill is superb in his descriptions.
Although set in a fictional Dales village, I recognise it. The Surge is Bolton Abbey's Strid. The village, Pateley Bridge. Alive and kicking and vivid.
I've not read a book where the characters are butchers, and if Gill isn't from butcher's stock, his research is authentic. That trimming of meat, that boning of a joint. The very different shops. Wonderfully done.
The story shifts from boyhood in 1976 to manhood in 1989 and we feel these times by reference to music and politics of the time, from film heroes to the cultural changes of how people shop with the rise of supermarkets. We see the effect made by people buying second homes in pretty villages.
But at the core: the Butcher Boys.
Michael and Jack have become real people for me. I know them.
The ending? I can see the story continuing but for this book, it is dramatic and perfect. The denouement depends on whether you are an optimist, realist or pessimist.
At times, I felt similarities to Maggie and Tom's relationship and the atmosphere in Mill on the Floss. At others, the emotion of the series of kitchen sink books which culminate in A Raging Calm.
One that could be made into a great film or TV series.
5*****s
They're only best sellers because they are promoted.
The Butcher Boys should be a best seller. Could be a best seller. I hope you'll promote it!
Written in Yorkshire Dales dialect, both in dialogue and prose, we are completely immersed in the physical and mental worlds of the two main characters, the butcher boys, Michael and Jack.
We can not only see the settings, we can feel, smell and absorb them. Gill is superb in his descriptions.
Although set in a fictional Dales village, I recognise it. The Surge is Bolton Abbey's Strid. The village, Pateley Bridge. Alive and kicking and vivid.
I've not read a book where the characters are butchers, and if Gill isn't from butcher's stock, his research is authentic. That trimming of meat, that boning of a joint. The very different shops. Wonderfully done.
The story shifts from boyhood in 1976 to manhood in 1989 and we feel these times by reference to music and politics of the time, from film heroes to the cultural changes of how people shop with the rise of supermarkets. We see the effect made by people buying second homes in pretty villages.
But at the core: the Butcher Boys.
Michael and Jack have become real people for me. I know them.
The ending? I can see the story continuing but for this book, it is dramatic and perfect. The denouement depends on whether you are an optimist, realist or pessimist.
At times, I felt similarities to Maggie and Tom's relationship and the atmosphere in Mill on the Floss. At others, the emotion of the series of kitchen sink books which culminate in A Raging Calm.
One that could be made into a great film or TV series.
5*****s
January 3, 2026
This is a very British kind of read. But if any historian or someone my age knows about the 1970’s when Margaret Thatcher was in power then there is a lot in this story you will recall surrounding the story of the two main characters two boys who came together through trauma each with a different disposition and background. Both families are Butchers and that family tradition goes back a very very long time, the Father of one of the lads was very stern and extremely dictatorial which made for sever tension between the Mother son relationship then later as the boys were becoming adults, would they need to sever their relationship because of the adversity between the two family butchers ? To me what I took away from this book was a British sense of pride, tradition of ancestors and how this can dissolve friendships, relationships and a sense of worth opposite to what following on what your offspring are expected to do for the sake of ancestors taking over traditions such as next in line to carry on the Butchers craft even if they don’t want to and the results of dampening down that adults child’s worth, that is what I got from it reading between the lines.
Chris Gill’s style of writing may not be for everyone as it’s an older way of writing but after saying that, I liked it, the characters he developed within these pages were really alive.
One tip I can give you is…. Reading this book, please remember it’s 1970’s so that era has to be taken into account when reading it and not up to present time related.
Chris Gill’s style of writing may not be for everyone as it’s an older way of writing but after saying that, I liked it, the characters he developed within these pages were really alive.
One tip I can give you is…. Reading this book, please remember it’s 1970’s so that era has to be taken into account when reading it and not up to present time related.
March 17, 2024
First of all, this is a fantastic read, and a beautifully written book. I couldn’t put it down, and was so invested in the characters that I yearned to pick it up whenever possible to see what would happen and how their lives would develop. The writer clearly understands the human condition and relationships and this book has everything from existential angst, through social and industrial development and their impact on society.
I love the use of the Yorkshire vernacular throughout as it adds realism to the characters. With the way the writer describes each environment from the butchers’ shops through the interiors of the characters’ homes to the rugged Yorkshire countryside, I feel like I am actually there living the story.
Above all of that, it’s just a really good story about people we could all relate to. I hope there will be a sequel, I’d love to see how the lives of these wonderful characters develop further.
I love the use of the Yorkshire vernacular throughout as it adds realism to the characters. With the way the writer describes each environment from the butchers’ shops through the interiors of the characters’ homes to the rugged Yorkshire countryside, I feel like I am actually there living the story.
Above all of that, it’s just a really good story about people we could all relate to. I hope there will be a sequel, I’d love to see how the lives of these wonderful characters develop further.
January 23, 2025
This is not my usual genre, however, the title and location intrigued me.
At first, I thought maybe I'd made a mistake and this is young adult fiction, but I'm glad I persevered. The first few chapters describe the two protagonists' youth and how and why they became the men they were in the main body of the story. I understand why the author needed to introduce the reader to young Lanky and Micky to enable the story to flow. I found the characters to be well-developed and the storyline flowed well. I struggled with some of the dialogue but understood that it added authenticity to the location. I enjoyed the references to UK and global events occurring during the story's timeline. Overall a well-written story.
February 5, 2026
I absolutely loved this book.
The most modern historical fiction I've read as it starts in the 1970's and we follow the two main characters through the 1980's and into the 1990's.
The background is extremely nostalgic, especially if you grew up in those times , and the author has really captured life back then.
Set in Yorkshire, it's literally about two boys growing up. Both their families own butcher shops.
It's raw, and as real as I imagine boys lives to be, the writing is descriptive and imaginative. The opening scene absolutely had me hooked with the descriptive nature of a simple event.
Highly recommend this, but not for a certain someone following me that reads young adult books x
The most modern historical fiction I've read as it starts in the 1970's and we follow the two main characters through the 1980's and into the 1990's.
The background is extremely nostalgic, especially if you grew up in those times , and the author has really captured life back then.
Set in Yorkshire, it's literally about two boys growing up. Both their families own butcher shops.
It's raw, and as real as I imagine boys lives to be, the writing is descriptive and imaginative. The opening scene absolutely had me hooked with the descriptive nature of a simple event.
Highly recommend this, but not for a certain someone following me that reads young adult books x
June 3, 2024
Set in a Yorkshire Dales village during the 1970s, The Butcher Boys follows the lives of best friends Michael and Jack as they navigate their tumultuous childhoods and transition into adulthood. Michael, deeply rooted in tradition and family loyalty, and Jack, eager for new experiences, find their bond tested by the intense rivalry between their family-owned butchers' shops. Against the historical backdrop of Thatcher's Britain and the fall of the Iron Curtain, their struggle for identity threatens to tear apart what they hold most dear. Chris Gill crafts a poignant tale of friendship, rivalry, and the quest for self-discovery.
January 23, 2026
This novel goes deep into the complexities of friendship, identity, and loyalty in a small village. Two friends bond is tested as they navigate adulthood, societal changes, and family rivalries. Set against the turbulent political landscape of 1970s Britain, their story explores on how personal ambitions and traditional values can clash, leading to tension and heartache. A poignant tale of male friendship and the challenges of growing up, this book offers a calming or compelling look at the human struggle for self-discovery and connection.😊👌
October 20, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed getting swept along in this story about two friends growing up in a village in the Dales. The author has a talent for bringing to life the regional charm of the area through the dialect and painting of the surrounding area. The characters are richly drawn in a way which builds empathy for both of them and a constant hope that there'll be a happy resolution but never being certain that there will...
January 12, 2026
Another new independent author and I’ve loved every second of this book!
From the characters, Lanky and Micky to the dialect of proper Yorkshire.
The story is one of friendship, loss and competition between two butcher families and the direction Lanky and Micky wanted to take!
Such a good read you felt like you was on that journey with them both and felt the emotions as you read as well!
Loved it!!
From the characters, Lanky and Micky to the dialect of proper Yorkshire.
The story is one of friendship, loss and competition between two butcher families and the direction Lanky and Micky wanted to take!
Such a good read you felt like you was on that journey with them both and felt the emotions as you read as well!
Loved it!!
June 17, 2024
The book draws you in straight away.
Well written and the attention to detail takes you on a journey where you won't want to put it down.
The characters are so real and the book displays such emotion you'll empathise and understand the course each boys life has taken.
Friendship, love, grief and rivalry this is an essential read!
Watch this space! I can see this being a TV drama.
Well written and the attention to detail takes you on a journey where you won't want to put it down.
The characters are so real and the book displays such emotion you'll empathise and understand the course each boys life has taken.
Friendship, love, grief and rivalry this is an essential read!
Watch this space! I can see this being a TV drama.
August 11, 2024
What an amazing story. I love how the 2 best friends go through life as friends and rivals. You go every step of the way with them. Seeing them go from boys who are carefree and young to grown men trying to make each families butchers shop work. I love the strong family loyalties speaking of past generations. Coming from Yorkshire myself I love how the author described the Yorkshire dales and how beautiful they are. I could picture myself in some of the places. I hope to see a follow on book in the future.
August 20, 2023
A beautiful novel written with passion and love, one that truly keeps its reader engaged and thrilled throughout. Please read this brilliant novel!
March 4, 2026
4.5 stars
A fabulous read about rivaly , struggles and above all else friendship .
A fabulous read about rivaly , struggles and above all else friendship .
December 31, 2025
Poignant and heart-warming, this is a beautifully written book that transports you to the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. Loved it. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews