Alexander McCall Smith Książki

Nie ma ważniejszych spraw dla sześciolatka niż perspektywa skończenia siedmiu lat, i to wkrótce. Bertie, rezolutny mieszkaniec kamienicy przy 44 Scotland Street, zamiast lekcji włoskiego, gry na saksofonie i spotkań z terapeutą woli poświecić się grze w rugby, uczestniczyć w biwakach i być 'prawdziwym chłopcem'. Jednakże na drodze do zrealizowania tych marzeń stoi nieznosząca sprzeciwu Irene, zdecydowana za wszelką cenę kontynuować proces 'ulepszania' swojego pierworodnego. Jednakże los plata figle... Bertie i reszta znanych już czytelnikowi bohaterów pojawia się w kolejnej odsłonie bestsellerowej serii '44 Scotland Street'. Matthew zmaga się z trudami ojcostwa i poszukuje nieruchomości w najlepszych dzielnicach Edynburga; Duża Lou w swojej kawiarni do ciastek i domowych wypiekow dołącza bezpłatne porady sercowe; Angus i Domenica planują podróż życia do Włoch... Po raz kolejny Alexander McCall Smith serwuje nam smakowitą porcję edynburskiego tortu, przekladanego warstwami moralnych dylematów, przyjaźni między ludźmi i zwierzętami i zwieńczonym wisienką z wielkiej miłości do ludzich istot. Idealny do kawy lub herbaty.

Kronika wydarzeń w domu przy Scotland Street numer 44 zaczęła się pojawiać w codziennych odcinkach w 'Scotsmanie' w 2004 roku i od tamtego czasu zastępy wiernych czytelników Alexandra McCall Smitha śledzą losy mieszkańców tej szacownej edynburskiej kamienicy. Pierwsza część sagi pojawiła się w wersji książkowej pod tytułem '44 Scotland Street' i natychmiast stała się bestsellerem w Wielkiej Brytanii i w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Polskie tłumaczenie pojawiło się w 2010 roku, pod oryginalnym tytułem i z oryginalnymi ilustracjami Iaina McIntosha. Nie trzeba było długo czekać na część drugą, zatytułowaną w polskiej wersji' Opowieści przy kawie' (Espresso Tales),i wydaną przez MUZĘ w styczniu 2011roku. A teraz czas na tom trzeci, w którym Bertie, niezwykle utalentowany sześciolatek, wciąż zmaga się bohatersko ze swymi wrogami: nieznośną matką i jej wspólnikiem, psychoanalitykiem doktorem Fairbairnem. Pat znów ma kłopoty natury sercowej, złotozęby pies Cyril wchodzi w konflikt z prawem, a Duża Lou jak zawsze służy kawą i poradą wszystkim bywalcom swojej kawiarni. Urok tej 'szkockiej' serii Alexandra McCall Smitha polega na błyskotliwej mieszance komedii obyczajów, dobrotliwej satyry i filozoficznej refleksji, którą autor serwuje nam kreśląc jednocześnie pełen sympatii portret Edynburga i jego mieszkańców, tworzących, jak sam mówi, 'jedno z najbardziej żywotnych i niezwykłych miejsc na świecie'.

Piąta część cyklu powieści o słynnej kamienicy przy Scotland Street 44 w Edynburgu. Kolejna porcja pogodnej literatury · McCall Smith to istny geniusz w przedstawianiu jasnej strony codziennego życia. W kolejnym tomie sześcioletni Bertie wstępuje do scautów; Matthew próbuje na nowo odkryć uroki życia małżeńskiego; narcystyczny Bruce z przerażeniem odkrywa swoją pierwszą zmarszczkę, a bandzior z Glasgow, Smalec O'Connor, przybywa z darami... Co z tego wyniknie? Odpowiedź znajdziemy w kolejnej książce ulubionego autora naszych czytelników.

Since the comings and goings at 44 Scotland Street first appeared in daily episodes in the pages of The Scotsman newspaper in 2004, the inhabitants of that Edinburgh New Town house have become familiar to Alexander McCall Smith’s growing army of fans. The first serial novel, 44 Scotland Street , was collected in book form and became an instant hit both in Great Britain and the United States, where it appeared in the top ten of a number of bestseller lists across the country. By popular demand, and the author’s growing addiction to his cast of characters, a second series inevitably followed. In this new volume, Espresso Tales , we see the continuation of many themes: Bertie, the precocious six-year-old is still in therapy and dreams of slipping his mother’s leash; the ghastly Bruce still holds himself in ridiculously high esteem; and worldly-wise Domenica continues to observe events with her customary mordant wit. The appeal of the 44 Scotland Street series lies in both the author’s talent for entertaining his readers – broad comedy, cheerful satire and philosophical asides all have their place – and in the affectionate portrait of a city and its people who, in the author’s own words, ‘make it one of the most vibrant and interesting places in the world’.

Dziennik "The Times" opisał książki McCall Smitha jako gorące kakao w mroźny wieczór, które powinny być przepisywane przez lekarzy na zimową chandrę. Takie są te książki, ilustrowane przez Iaina McIntosha. Pierwszy tom cyklu przenosi nas do eleganckiej kamienicy w Edynburgu, zamieszkałej przez bogatych burżujów oraz artystów, studentów i poetów. Mieszkańcy to interesujące postacie: Pat, wieczna studentka w związku z Brucem, przystojnym i narcystycznym fanem rugby; Irena, elegancka matka pięcioletniego Bertiego, dziecka geniusza; oraz Domenica MacDonald, bystra obserwatorka, która komentuje życie wokół siebie. Wraz z bohaterami odwiedzamy lokalne bary i puby, gdzie spotykamy znane osobistości, takie jak pisarz Ian Rankin czy polityk Tom Dallyell. Alexander McCall Smith, autor ponad sześćdziesięciu książek, przez wiele lat był profesorem prawa medycznego na Uniwersytecie w Edynburgu i działał w organizacjach zajmujących się etyką w medycynie. Po sukcesie serii The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency poświęcił się wyłącznie pisarstwu. Jego dzieła przetłumaczono na 36 języków, a on sam mieszka w Edynburgu z żoną Elizabeth, lekarką.

'The whole world has become a prison, and Alfred Furnace is its master. Monsters rule the streets, beasts of pure fury that leave nothing but murder and madness in their wake. I have to find a way to use my powers to destroy Furnace, but in doing so I risk becoming the very force that kills us all.'

The gripping third instalment in Alexander Gordon Smith's epic series about Furnace, a terrifying underground prison for teenagers - now with the bestselling US cover. We had one last shot at freedom and we failed.

Anonymous photography has a magic all of its own. The intriguing images assembled here by collector and curator Robert Flynn Johnson are all mysterious, but their appeal is undeniable.

"Precious Ramotswe is a kind, warm-hearted and large African lady. She is also the only female private detective in Botswana. Her agency - the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - is the best in the country. With the help of her secretary, Mma Makutsi, and her best friend, Mr JLB Matekoni, she solves a number of difficult - and sometimes dangerous - problems. A missing husband, a missing finger and a missing child - she will solve these mysteries in her own special way"--Back cover

Once upon a time in Botswana in Africa there was a little girl who would later grow up to be a famous detective: Precious Ramotswe of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Having already cracked the case of the missing cakes at school, she now has a new mystery to solve.

As the countdown to Mma Makutsi's wedding begins, all is not as it should be at the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. While investigating unpleasant occurrences on a southern cattle-post, Mma Ramotswe, always on the side of the weak against the strong, has reason to reflect on Rule No.3 of The Principles of Private Detection: never lie to the client. Apprentice mechanic Charlie seems to be avoiding certain important responsibilities. And as Mma Makutsi's big day approaches, her nemesis Violet Sephotho is casting her net wider: by standing for election which could spell trouble for the entire nation. But as friends and family gather under starry African night skies, it turns out that even the most perplexing of apparitions - and the most shocking of crimes - may yield to rational explanation. And, of course, to Mma Ramotswe's inimitable way with love, intuition and redbush tea.

"In the microcosm of 44 Scotland Street, all of life's richness is found in the glorious goings-on of its residents. There's Domenica, whose anthropological training has honed her observations of her neighbors; Matthew, whose growing triplets are more than a handful; Bruce, whose challenge as ever is thinking of anything but himself; and Big Lou, who may just have found her shot at romance. And of course, there's young Bertie Pollock, whose starry-eyed explorations of Edinburgh's New Town are a touching reminder that life itself is an adventure and there's joy to be found wherever you choose to look"-- Provided by publisher

Asked by a Swiss banker to investigate a series of bank robberies committed by dogs, young detectives Max and Maddy Twist travel to Switzerland, where they discover that the man behind the robberies is none other than Professor Sardine. Reprint.

The gripping fourth installment in an epic series about Furnace - a terrifying, underground prison for teenagers - now with a stunning new cover treatment. Alex thought that escape was impossible.

The second book in Alexander Gordon Smith's no-holds-barred teen series, where the terror has only just begun - now with the bestselling US cover. We thought we'd made it, we thought we were free.

The story follows young Precious as she visits her Aunty Bee at a safari camp, where she encounters Teddy, a lion with a flair for acting. When Teddy escapes from the film crew, Precious teams up with her clever friend Khumo to embark on a detective adventure to find him. Their journey is filled with excitement and teamwork, showcasing the themes of friendship and bravery. The book features vibrant full-color illustrations, enhancing the adventurous spirit of their quest.

Life for Bertie seems to be moving at a pace that is rather out of his control. In Drummond Place gardens it seems that Olive has their future together all planned out. Meanwhile, upstairs at 44 Scotland Street, Bertie's father Stuart is powerless to stop over-bearing Irene and her motion for Bertie to travel to Aberdeen on a three-month secondment. And, further up in the New Town, while Bruce Anderson plots with old-school chums, love blossoms in Big Lou's Cafe. Warm hearted, humorous and wonderfully wise, Love in the Time of Bertie offers philosophical insight as well as sartorial elegance. Catch up once again with the extended family at No 44, in this the latest instalment in the Scotland Street series.

The 2nd installment of the School Ship Tobermory Adventures

Wayward daughters. Missing Husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective. but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention Mr J.L.B. Maketoni, the charming proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. And Precious is going to need them all as she sets out on the trail of a missing child, a case that tumbles our heroine into a hotbed of strange situations and more than a little danger... captivating glimpse of an unusual world.

Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi have always relied on the advice of the classic guide to their trade, The Principles of Private Detection. But who is the eminent author, Mr Clovis Andersen, and what if he were to come to Botswana? That seems a very unlikely possibility, and yet . . . When Mr Andersen visits Botswana on holiday, he is delighted and intrigued to stumble across a roadside sign that reveals the existence of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Professional courtesy suggests that he call and announce himself. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi and Phuti Radiphuti are embarking on married life and building a new house - a tricky business under any circumstances but especially hazardous when the name of the contractor is the Joy and Light Building Company.

Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and its proprietor, Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe—with help from her loyal associate, Grace Makutsi—navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, good humor, and the occasional cup of tea. In this story, Precious Ramotswe deals with issues of mistaken identity and great fortune against the beautiful backdrop of Botswana’s remote and striking Okavango Delta. Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi head to a safari camp to carry out a delicate mission on behalf of a former guest who has left one of the guides a large sum of money. But once they find their man, Precious begins to sense that something is not right. To make matters worse, shortly before their departure Mma Makutsi’s fiancé, Phuti Radiphuti, suffers a debilitating accident, and when his aunt moves in to take care of him, she also pushes Mma Makutsi out of the picture. Could she be trying to break up the relationship? Finally, a local priest and his wife independently approach Mma Ramotswe with concerns of infidelity, creating a rather unusual and tricky situation. Nevertheless, Precious is confident that with a little patience, kindness and good sense things will work out for the best, something that will delight her many fans.

When international detectives, Max and Maddy, tackle the Bursting Balloons mystery, they're onto a tough case. Someone wants to sabotage a hot-air balloon race across America and they'll stop at nothing - bursting balloons, stealing sandbags, breaking baskets and guzzling gas!

Grace Makutsi's husband, Phuti, is in a bind. An international firm is attempting to undercut his prices in the office furniture market. Phuti has always been concerned with quality and comfort, but this new firm seems interested only in profits. To make matters worse, they have a slick new advertising campaign that seems hard to beat. Nonetheless with Mma Ramotswe's help, Phtui comes up with a campaign that may just do the trick. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi is approached by an old friend who has a troubled son. Grace and Phuti agree to lend a hand, but the boy proves difficult to reach, and the situation is more than they can handle on their own. It will require not only all of their patience and dedication, but also the help of Mma Ramotswe and the formidable Mma Potokwani in order to help the child. Faced with more than her fair share of domestic problems, Mma Makutsi deals with it all with her usual grace. That, along with the kindness, generosity, and good sense that the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is known for, assure us that in the end, all these matters will be set right

It's not that poor Bertie Pollock is wishing his life away, but having anticipated his 7th birthday for so long he's now longing to be 18. But there's a lot of living to do and Bertie isn't alone amongst the residents of Scotland Street in trying to do just that - with mixed fortunes.

THE PERFECT HAMBURGER by the bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith is a wonderfully entertaining story, ideal for young readers. Joe has just created the yummiest, juiciest, most delicious hamburger ever - and his friend Mr Borthwick wants to sell it in his hamburger shop to try and win back customers from the new fast-food place across the road. But there's a problem - Joe has completely forgotten the recipe... A pinch of this, a touch of that and a spoonful of something else...the race is on for Joe to remember!

Book 17 in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith

Even down to its well-set Georgian townhouses, Edinburgh is a hymn to measure and harmony. But on Scotland Street, domestic accord is in short supply. Matthew and Elspeth welcome three new arrivals, though the joys of multiple parenthood are somewhat lost due to sleep deprivation and the difficulties of telling their brood apart. Angus and Domenica are to marry, and Domenica has ambitious and disturbing plans for their living arrangements, especially when it appears that Antonia, in Italy recuperating from Stendhal Syndrome, may not return. And little Bertie, feeling blue, puts himself up for adoption on eBay. Can Edinburgh's most deliciously dysfunctional residents forsake discord and learn to dance to the same happy tune?

Akimbo loves his life in Africa and the animals that live there. In this story, Akimbo finds out all about baboons, and comes closer than he would like to a much more dangerous animal.

* The eighth instalment of Alexander McCall Smith's wonderful No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

This newest entry in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series continues the adventures of Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's leading, and only, female private detective.

A humorous look at the ups and downs of life for the residents of 44 Scotland Street.

If you are the founder and Managing Director of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency you may expect complete strangers to approach you with their problems when they see you having dinner with your husband in a peri-peri restaurant. And if you are Precious Ramotswe, you are a kind and helpful person who will be willing to take on a quest to find the relatives of a man who, many years ago, left the country for the uncertainties and dangers of a distant conflict. While that is going on, though, there may be other things that claim your attention - such as the shocking news that a club that calls itself the Cool Singles Evening Club is encouraging married men to pretend to be single and meet women under false pretences. Who can be behind such a distasteful venture? Mma Ramotswe is cleary going to have to employ the utmost tact in dealing with such a delicate situation. And all the time, she and her assistant, Grace Makutsi, are getting on with their normal lives - which, includes birthdays and the buying of birthday presents. A new dress makes a fine present, but not if, when being tried on, it spilts in a way that is thought to be irreparable. If ever an emergency call for the problem-solving skills of Mma Potokwani this is it. But, despite these rumbles, life in Botswana, that far and lovely country, continues relatively smoothly. That, after all, is what Mma Ramotswe and her friends want- and most certainly deserve.

"The Department of Sensitive Crimes is downsizing in light of a recent downturn of sensitive crime, and staff members are wondering who among them will be transferred elsewhere. As the bickering between colleagues intensifies, Ulf tries his best to stay above the fray. But when Anna, a longtime friend and coworker, appears to blame him for an old case that went sideways, it seems she may be putting her own job prospects above their friendship. In the midst of all this, Ulf embarks on an important inquiry: a man's cabin has mysteriously disappeared and Ulf is tasked with finding out what happened. How exactly does one steal a house? And, more to the point, how does one track down a stolen house?"--

Perplexing, unfathomable, and perhaps unimportant, the cases that Malmo's Department of Sensitive Crimes take on will test them to their limits. Life--and crime--is not always as it seems for Ulf Varg and the other fearless detectives in Malmo's Department of Sensitive Crimes. There are always surprising new cases to take on, and the latest batch is no exception. And that's not to mention Ulf's struggle to contain his feelings for his colleague Anna Bengsdotter. All in all, things are distinctly difficult in Malmo, and it seems up to Ulf and the Department to set them right.

The thirteenth novel in Alexander McCall Smith's much-loved Isabel Dalhousie series.

In Pianos and Flowers we are invited, through the medium of sepia images, to glimpse a world long departed. In these stories, inspired by long-lost photographs, the lives of the people in the frame are imagined and then explored, layer by layer. What must have it like to be them? We hold our breath for them. Our heart beats faster for them. We look again at the photograph in a new light, and say Yes, it might have happened just like that.This journey of exploration takes us to some exotic places. We share the lives of three sisters, brought up in Penang. We read of what happened to them, and to their Chinese neighbours caught in the tides of war. We see a group of small boys in a Glasgow slum, their young lives stunted by poverty, and hear how life worked out in contrasting ways for them. We follow a young woman's search for love in the unlikely realm of Egyptian antiquities. And through all of these photographs, and all of these stories, there runs the same refrain: the possibilities of love, of friendship, of happiness lie before us.There are big stories in these simple pictures. At first glance the photographs may seem unexceptional: the mere freezing of a moment in time. But delve deeper and you will realise that these photographs speak volumes.

It is summer in Scotland Street (as it always is) and for the habitués of Edinburgh's favourite street some extraordinary adventures lie in waiting. For the impossibly vain Bruce Anderson - he of the clove-scented hair gel - it may finally be time to settle down, and surely it can only be a question of picking the lucky winner from the hordes of his admirers. The Duke of Johannesburg is keen to take his flight of fancy, a microlite seaplane, from the drawing board to the skies. Big Lou is delighted to discover that her young foster son has a surprising gift for dance but she is faced with big decisions to make on his and her futures. And with Irene now away to pursue her research in Aberdeen, her husband, Stuart, and infinitely long-suffering son, Bertie, are free to play. Stuart rekindles an old friendship over peppermint tea whilst Bertie and his friend Ranald Braveheart Macpherson get more they bargained for from their trip to the circus. And that's just the beginning . . .

Mma Ramotswe is asked to help the proprietor of the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, who is having trouble with her business. The salon has suffered some unfortunate events, including face cream that burns the skin. Could someone be trying to put the salon out of business? Meanwhile, on the home front, Mma Makutsi is going to have a baby. But in Botswana - a land where family has always been held above all else but which is on the crossroads between old and new - this may be cause for as much controversy as celebration.

The new Botswana book from bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith, this is Mma Ramotswe's nineteenth wonderful adventure.

The twelfth novel in the 44 Scotland Street series, the longest running serial novel in the world.

Mma Ramotswe knows she is very lucky indeed. She has a loving family, good friends, and a thriving business doing what she enjoys most: helping people. But the latest mystery she is called upon to solve is distinctly trickier than it initially appears, and, of course, there's plenty to handle in her personal life between Charlie and his new bride and Mma Makutsi and her talking shoes.

Bertie's respite from his overbearing mother, Irene, is over. She has returned from the middle-east, only to discover that her son has been exposed to the worst evils of cartoons, movies and Irn Bru, and her wrath falls upon her unfortunate husband, Stuart. Meanwhile, Bruce has fallen in love with someone other than himself; Big Lou wants to adopt her beloved Finlay; Matthew and Elspeth host the Duke of Johannesburg for supper and Bertie decides he wants to move out of Scotland Street altogether and live with his grandmother, Nicola. Can Irene and Stuart's marriage survive? Will Bruce's newfound love last? And will Bertie really leave Scotland Street? Find out in the next instalment of this charming, beloved series.

For seven-year-old Bertie Pollock, life in Edinburgh's most celebrated fictional street has just got immeasurably better. The enforced absence of his endlessly pushy mother Irene - currently consciousness-raising in a Bedouin harem (don't ask) - has manifold and immediate blessings: no psychotherapy, no Italian lessons and no yoga classes. Bliss. For Scotland Street's grown-ups, life throws up some new dilemmas. Matthew makes a discovery that could make him even richer but also leaves him worried. Pat makes one that could make her poorer and her father miserable - unless that uber-narcissist, Bruce, can help her out. And the Duke of Johannesburg, we discover, isn't exactly who he says he is. From what happens behind Edinburgh Airport's luggage carousel to Machiavellian manoeuvrings at the Association of Scottish Nudists, Alexander McCall Smith guides us through the brighter, lighter and frankly unexpected side of Edinburgh life. As ever with his 44 Scotland Street series, his readers will make their own discovery: that its blend of wit and wisdom mark it out as a comedic tour de force.

The House of Unexpected Sisters is the latest instalment from Botswana's leading No. 1 ladies' detective agency: Mma Ramotswe's eighteenth adventure.

Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and its proprietor, Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe—with help from her loyal associate, Grace Makutsi—navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, good humor, and the occasional cup of tea. Precious Ramotswe is the eminently sensible and cunning proprietor of the only ladies’ detective agency in Botswana. In Tears of the Giraffe she tracks a wayward wife, uncovers an unscrupulous maid, and searches for an American man who disappeared into the plains many years ago. In the midst of resolving uncertainties, pondering her impending marriage to a good, kind man, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, and the promotion of her talented secretary (a graduate of the Botswana Secretarial College, with a mark of 97 per cent), she also finds her family suddenly and unexpectedly increased by two.

The olive harvest is drawing to a close in the town of Dendra, and when Hermes Diaktoros arrives for the celebratory festival he expects an indulgent day of food and wine. But as young men leap a blazing bonfire in feats of daring, one of them is badly burned. Did he fall, or was he pushed? Then, as Hermes learns of a deep-running feud between two families, one of their patriarchs dies. Determined to find out why, Hermes follows a bitter trail through the olive groves to reveal a motive for murder, and uncovers a dark deed brought to light by the sin of gluttony.

It's full-time monkey business on the high seas in this new family adventure from Alexander McCall Smith, the bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.Noah can't believe it when he finds out his uncle owns a zoo! But the zoo is closing down, and there are animals who need homes. Before he knows it, Noah and his family are setting sail on a round-the-world trip returning the zoo animals to the places they were born. But when they try to return one very cheeky monkey, they're in for a whole boat-load of trouble!

From a small town outside Edinburgh comes the news that a young boy has been recounting vivid recollections of a past life: a perfect description of an island off the coast of Scotland which he couldn't possibly know, and a house there, where he claims to have spent his former life. When the boy's mother asks Isabel to investigate his claims, she feels she must help them learn the truth, and she and her husband, Jamie, set off for the island. But finding the house the boy described only leads to more complicated questions.

THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY published in 1998, introduced the world to the one and only Precious Ramotswe, the engaging and sassy owner of Botswana's only detective agency. TEARS OF THE GIRAFFE took us further into this world, and now, continuing the adventures of Mma Ramotswe, MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, finds her expanding her business to take in the world of car repair and a beauty pageant. Alexander McCall Smith's sense of humour and gentle charm have created a substantial cult following. MORALITY FOR BEAUTIFUL GIRLS will win him yet more fans.

In this engaging mystery, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi investigate a series of troubling incidents at The Great Hippopotamus Hotel, where food poisoning, missing laundry, and a scorpion sting suggest foul play. As they delve deeper, they uncover unexpected complexities, particularly involving the enigmatic Violet Sephotho. Simultaneously, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni navigates a delicate situation with a client seeking a secretive sports car purchase. Through humor and compassion, the detectives aim to restore the hotel's reputation and resolve the unfolding dilemmas.

Come and discover The Enigma of Garlic and join the delightful denizens of Edinburgh's most famous address. This latest instalment of the much-loved 44 Scotland Street series is wise, witty, and full of warmth.

Our favorite moral philosopher is caught up in a delicate dispute between members of a prominent family as her husband, Jamie, is dragged into his own internecine rivalry. Isabel accepts an invitation to serve on the advisory committee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, but soon finds herself swept up in an all-too-familiar dilemma. David is the grandson of a Scottish clan chief and is supportive of Scottish nationalism. But his fervent beliefs are threatening family harmony, especially because his sister Catriona's socialist views put her at odds with her brother. When their mother, Laura, a fellow committee member, asks Isabel to intervene, she tries to demur. But always one for courteous resolutions to philosophical disagreements, Isabel can't help but intercede. In the meantime, Jamie, having criticized Isabel for getting involved in the affairs of others, does precisely that himself. Jamie is helping to select a new cellist for his ensemble, but he suspects that the conductor may be focused on something other than his favoured candidate's cello skills. With so many factors complicating matters, Isabel and Jamie will have to muster all their tact and charm to ensure that comity is reached between all these fractious parties

For the residents of 44 Scotland Street, life in Edinburgh's intriguing New Town is a thing to be relished. After all, there are new faces to excite Domenica's anthropological imagination, precious moments with his triplets for Matthew to savor, and the prospect of a trip to the promised land of Glasgow for young Bertie. But there are mysteries that need solving too. Could Angus Lordie's dog, Cyril -- the only dog in Scotland with a gold tooth -- have unearthed a Neanderthal skull? Does the long-suffering Stuart have any hope of kindling a new relationship when Bruce, ever the navel gazer and consummate seducer, effortlessly steps into his pas de deux? And how will the patrons of Big Lou's cafe react to the menu's imminent culinary transformation?

Little, Brown/Abacus has sold more than 12 million copies of Alexander McCall Smith's books. This is the twenty-first book in the perennially adored The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Precious and Grace is a story about life at Botswana's leading No. 1 Ladies' detective agency.

The third in a new series of adventure books from the creator of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

When Aunt Bat announces that she has to sell up her banana plantation, her niece Patty comes up with an invention to make their bananas so unusual that everyone will want to buy them. Suggested level: primary.

Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and its proprietor, Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe—with help from her loyal associate, Grace Makutsi—navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, good humor, and the occasional cup of tea. Over the years Mma Ramotswe has found many lost things, but never before has she been asked to help a woman find herself—until now. A kindhearted brother and sister have taken in a nameless woman with no memory of her own history or how she came to Botswana. It falls to Precious Ramotswe and her new co-director, Grace Makutsi, to discover the woman's identity. Meanwhile, motherhood proves to be no obstacle to Mma Makutsi’s professional success, as she launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man's De Luxe Café, a restaurant for Gaborone’s most fashionable diners. And next door, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is forced to make a choice that will directly affect not only Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, but the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency as well. With sympathy and indefatigable good humor, Mma Ramotswe and her friends see one another through these major changes and discover along the way what true friendship really means.

Praise for the 44 Scotland Street series 'A joyous, charming portrait of city life and human foibles' Sunday Express Scotland Street witnesses the wedding of the century of Angus Lordie to Domenica Macdonald, but as the newlyweds depart on honeymoon Edinburgh is in disarray. Recovering from the trauma of being best man, Matthew is taken up by a Dane called Bo, while Cyril eludes his dog-sitter and embarks on an odyssey involving fox-holes and the official residence of a cardinal. Narcissist Bruce meets his match in the form of a sinister doppelganger; Bertie, set up by his mother for fresh embarrassment at school, yearns for freedom; and Big Lou goes viral. But the residents of Scotland Street rally, and order - and Cyril - is restored by the combined effects of understanding, kindness, and, most of all, friendship.

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency" introduced the world to the one and only Precious Ramotswe -the engaging and sassy owner of Botswanas only detective agency. In Tears of the Giraffe Mma Ramotswe faces a new challenge: resolving a mothers pain for her son who is long lost on the African plains. Mma Ramotswes own impending marriage to the most gentlemanly of men, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, the promotion of Mmas secretary to the dizzy heights of Assistant Detective, and the arrival of new members to the Matekoni family, all brew up the most humorous and charmingly entertaining of tales. Acclaim for "The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency": "The authors prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precision. His descriptions leave one as if standing in the Botswanan landscape. This is art that conceals art. I havent read anything with such unalloyed pleasure for a long time." - Anthony Daniels, "Sunday Telegraph" "The most entertaining read of the year." -"The Guardian" "An African ' Miss Marple . . . superb." -"Sunday Times" One of the "International Books of the Year and the Millennium" -"Times Literary Supplement

Almost everything starts in a small way. Often it is a very small and apparently insignificant event that ends up moulding the whole shape of our lives.And so it was for Dr Neil Anderson who had barely been in his new post at the University of Edinburgh for three months when he meets Kirsty. After no time at all, they move in together to a beautiful Georgian flat in the south side of the city and start their life together. Everything seems to be working out well for Neil. But after a throw-away comment lands him in a difficult situation, his principles are put to the test. He ultimately has no choice but to rethink his career and his life. He leaves his job, Kirsty and Edinburgh far behind for the seclusion and remote beauty of the Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland.No sooner has he started to piece the bits of his shattered life together when a ship comes into Tobermory harbour whose cargo – two wolf cubs – changes the course of his life yet again. These cubs divide opinion on the island and introduce Neil to Katie, a vet on the island, and soon love once again blossoms.A new standalone novel from Alexander McCall Smith.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo introduced us to 'Scandi noir'. Now, welcome to Alexander McCall Smith's world of Scandi blanc . . .

The latest novel in Alexander McCall Smith's much-loved Isabel Dalhousie series, which have sold over 1.7m copies

Like [Barbara] Pym, McCall Smith believes that the small stuff in life matters Scotsman

Cal, Brick and Daisy are three ordinary teenagers whose lives suddenly take a terrifying turn for the worst. They begin to trigger a reaction in everybody they meet, that makes friends and strangers alike want to tear them to pieces. These victims of the Fury - the ones that survive - manage to locate each other.

Mma Ramotswe is not one to sit about. Her busy life gives her little time for relaxation (apart from the drinking of tea, of course, which is another matter altogether). Nonetheless, she is persuaded to take a holiday from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. But Mma Ramotswe finds it impossible to resist the temptation to follow the cases taken on by her business partner, Mma Makutsi, and to interfere in them - at one remove. This leads her to delve into the past of a man whose reputation has been called into question. Meanwhile, Violet Sephotho, Mma Makutsi's arch enemy, has had the temerity to set up a new secretarial college - one that aims to rival that great institution, the Botswana Secretarial College. Will she get her comeuppance? It will be a close-run thing.

When Precious Ramotswe asks her dependable husband Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni to fix her tiny, white van, she fears he might just sell the vehicle and buy her something more modern. And so he does. But this will not do. So Precious tries to track her beloved van down--and learns it has already been stolen from its new owner

Now that the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is firmly established, founder Precious Ramotswe faces new challenges at home and at work--from problems with her adopted son to a sexist rival who is opening a detective agency across town.

A client, who was adopted, askes Precious Ramotswe to trace her biological family. But will her searches bring happiness or something rather different, something rather frightening?

Book 15 in the beloved Isabel Dalhousie series

An unexpected appeal for help from a collector who has been the victim of an art theft threatens to take Isabel Dalhousie far outside her comfort zone.

The eighth delightful installment in the ongoing saga of the life and loves of Isabel Dalhousie. As the editor of an applied ethics journal, Isabel Dalhousie is usually tucked away in her editorial office, in the comfortable Edinburgh house she shares with her fiance and their young son, and does not often meet many fellow philosophers. But while helping in the delicatessen owned by her niece, Cat, she meets Jane Cooper, an Australian philosopher who is spending a sabbatical in Scotland. Isabel learns that Jane needs to find out something about her past. Jane was born in Scotland but taken to Australia as a baby by her adoptive parents. She knows who her mother is, but her father's identity is still a mystery. Can Isabel help Jane unconver this important and potentially unsettling information? And in Isabel's own life, there is the ever-present question of marriage, and also the perennially difficult issue of her relationship with Cat, whose choice of men is as dubious as ever.

The sixth book in this bestselling series gives us Isabel, intrigue — both moral and financial — a fox bite, two engagements and at least one wedding! While attending a second birthday party with her son, Charlie, Isabel meets Minty Auchterlonie, a ruthlessly ambitious high-flying financier who first appeared in The Sunday Philosophy Club . Minty heads a small investment bank and may or may not be deceiving her shareholders. Isabel faces a dilemma: she has information which could prevent the investors from being cheated — but how can she be sure of it? Meanwhile, Isabel’s niece, Cat, becomes engaged to a stunt man who is also a funambulist. However, the fiancé is about to take up a highly dangerous engagement that Isabel fears will end in disaster, even as Isabel herself considers embarking on an extreme adventure of her own… From the Hardcover edition.

Set against the backdrop of war, the story follows Val Eliot, who finds love with U.S. Air Force pilot Mike while working on an English farm. Their bond deepens after Val rescues a mistreated border collie named Peter Woodhouse, who moves to the air force base with Mike. As their romance blossoms, a disaster threatens their future, leading Peter to connect them with Ubi, a German corporal. This unexpected friendship introduces both danger and profound rewards, challenging their perspectives amidst the turmoil of war.

John and Nicky have never eaten spaghetti and would give anything for the occasional bowl of chips or piece of chocolate cake. But they live with their rather strange and grumpy aunt who insists upon the most uncompromising of health food diets. When they decide to use some birthday money to go out for lunch, they experience the delights of spaghetti and decide that they simply have to have more. A competition offers them just such an opportunity, not to mention something of an adventure, which results in their mealtimes changing for good.

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Young Readers Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor—not to mention help from her loyal assistant, Grace Makutsi, and the occasional cup of tea. Have you ever said to yourself, Wouldn’t it be nice to be a detective? This is the story of an African girl who says just that. Her name is Precious. When a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom, a traditionally built young boy is tagged as the culprit. Precious, however, is not convinced. She sets out to find the real thief. Along the way she learns that your first guess isn’t always right. She also learns how to be a detective.

Billy, Nicola and Mr Gopal are off to India in a flying boat to solve a baffling mystery! The gum that comes from the wonderful bubblegum trees that grow in the Indian jungle has not been delivered for two months. Without this secret ingredient, there'll be no more Gopal's Best Pink Bubblegum, and even more importantly, no more Bubblegummies - the people who live in the trees and harvest the gum. It's not an easy mystery to solve - and soon the friends are involved in a bungee-jumping, tiger-trouncing, woodcutter-walloping, bubblegum-blowing adventure!

'This woman who was everything to him - mother, Africa, wisdom, understanding, good things to eat' - Mr Matekoni on 'Precious Ramotswe'. Pull up a chair and join Mma Ramotswe at the table as she celebrates the flavours of the bestselling series "The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency". Discover the favourite recipes of our 'traditionally built' heroine and her friends, accompanied by lavish photography - sumptuous stews for sharing, fabulous fruit cakes for eating under shady trees, with redbush tea of course, and the spices, traditions and culture of Botswana that make every meal together special. Welcome Precious, her friends and the sunshine of Botswana into your kitchen. It offers a traditionally-built feast for all the senses! It features a foreword by Alexander McCall Smith. It includes photography by Mats Ogren Wanger and Ulf Nermark.

Wayward daughters. Missing Husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective. Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, the charming proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. And Precious is going to need them all as she sets out on the trail of a missing child, a case that tumbles our heroine into a hotbed of strange situations and more than a little danger . . . Delightfully different, THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY offers a captivating glimpse of an unusual world.

Katie Donald, the dedicated matchmaker in Edinburgh, continues her mission to unite lonely hearts through her company. As her reputation grows, she encounters a diverse array of clients, each with their own quirks and personalities, prompting her to devise innovative matchmaking strategies. The narrative explores the psychology behind love and attraction, showcasing the universal quest for connection and the tender moments that define human relationships, all delivered with McCall Smith's signature warmth and insight.