Alexander McCall Smith Knihy

Román s detektivní zápletkou se odehrává v současné Botswaně a patří do série knih o majitelce První ženské detektivní kanceláře, korpulentní černošce paní Ramotswe. V příběhu hlavní hrdinka řeší případ záhadného zmizení mladého Američana z místní zemědělské komuny i jeden jasný případ nevěry. Stejně důležité je ale i líčení vztahu paní Ramotswe k jejímu snoubenci Maketonimu, k dětem, které adoptoval, i k její sekretářce, kterou povýší na asistentku. Celou knihou se také prolíná popis současné Botswany, hrdé na svou civilizovanost.

Zakladelka První ženské detektivní kanceláře má opět plné ruce práce. Tentokrát s ní odhalíme, kdo chce otrávit významného státníka, nebo jak vypadá pozadí sotěže krásy v Africe. Hlavně jí však budeme držet palce v rodinném životě, který se významně změní...

Majitelka První dámské detektivní kanceláře ve státě Botswana, paní Ramotswe, na návrh své asistentky Makutsi, rozšíří pole svého působení o školu psaní na stroji výhradně pro muže. V pracovním i osobním životě se paní Ramotswe potýká se spoustou dalších věcí: setká s konkurencí, když se přímo v jejím bydlišti, objeví druhá detektivní kancelář s názvem Zaručená spokojenost, musí zastat roli matky dvou dětí adoptovaných z místního sirotčince a samozřejmě na ni čekají i detektivní případy.

Netradiční detektivní cyklus britského autora, který své netypické příběhy zarámoval barvitým prostředím africké Botswany. Hrdinkou volně spojených příběhů s kriminální zápletkou je domorodá černoška, dobrosrdečná a bodrá žena, která jako jediná soukromá detektivka v Botswaně pomáhá svým soukmenovcům řešit řadu všelijak zapeklitých případů. Úspěch v podnikání jí zaručuje její zvídavost, vychytralost, životní zkušenost, ale hlavně výjimečná znalost místních poměrů. Nejtěžší z jejích případů, hledání uneseného chlapce, vystaví její odvahu velké zkoušce, ale její uspokojení a následný ohlas je pak o to větší. Autorovi se výběrem netypické hlavní hrdinky a především sugestivním zachycením atmosféry africké pouště a exotické kultury podařilo příjemně osvěžit poněkud stereotypní žánr. 1. vydání.

Deon Mayer- Kobra-Co za tím může být,když si cambridgeský profesor matematiky pronajme penzion u Kapského Mĕsta,má falešný pas a hlídá tým dobře vycvičených bodyguardů ? A kde se tento profesor nachází nyní,poté co byli všichni členové jeho ochranky nalezeni postříleni ? Linda Francis Leeová -Sklenĕná kuchynĕ Jestli nĕco Portia Cuthcartová umí,pak vařit pokrmy s ,,přidanou hodnotou" šité na míru konkrétním lidem a s nádechem tajemna.Jenomže tento dar je zároveň i jejím prokletím.Může začít nový život jako úplnĕ normální žena,která neustále nutkavĕ ,,nečaruje s jídlem" ? Julia Dahlová-Neviditelné mĕsto Reportérka Rebeka Robertsová je vyslána zmapovat otřesný policejní případ na hromadĕ šrotu v Brooclynu je nalezeno tĕlo ženy.Záhy se ukazuje,že toto úmrtí je součástí celé motanice záhad. Alexander McCall Smith- Hostina Špekyho O'Learyho Sympatický tlouštík,obchodník starožitnostmi z Arkansasu Cornelius O'Leary,kterému nikdo z jeho přátel neřekne jinak než peky,se vydává do Irska,země svých předků,a výlet se neobejde bez různých tragikomických karambolů.

Školu, do které chodí sourozenci Ben a Fee by jim jistě kdekdo záviděl. Je totiž na moři, na palubě plachetnice jménem Tobermory! Jednoho dne se u lodi objeví filmový štáb a Ben dokonce dostane nabídku zahrát si ve filmu jako komparzista. Pak si ale všimne divných věcí a pojme podezření. Jde skutečně o filmaře, nebo je natáčení jen zástěrkou pro něco nekalého? Ben, Fee a jejich přátelé tomu rozhodně musí přijít na kloub!

Alexander McCall Smith was born in what is now Zimbabwe and grew up hearing stories that so enchanted him, he passed them along to his own children. He now shares them in this jewel of a book.

Vítejte zpět ve Výhni, podzemní věznici pro mládež, kde zvrácený dozorce provádí na svých vězních příšerné experimenty. Alexův druhý pokus o útěk selhal. Tentokrát bude jeho trest mnohem horší než předtím. Protože jak dávno ví, v těch skrytých, krví potřísněných laboratořích pod vězením se z něj stane monstrum. Když mu správce pumpuje do žil něco zlého – zlověstně temný nektar – Alex se stává tím, čeho se nejvíc bojí… Nadlidským přisluhovačem Výhně. Starý Alex je pryč. Ten nový je silnější než kdy předtím, ale co je vůbec zač? Jak teď může uniknout, když je v něm najednou všechna ta temnota? Jak může najít cestu ke svobodě, když je ztracen sám v sobě? A skutečně si Výheň právě vytvořila svého nejlepšího služebníka, nebo nejhoršího nepřítele? Pětidílná bestsellerová série Útěk z Výhně pokračuje v dalším, ještě temnějším díle.

Prolomili jsme brány Výhně a unikli podzemním děsům, ale zjistili jsme, že celý svět se stal vězením a Alfred Furnace jeho pánem. V ulicích řádí jeho armáda monster, vojáků v černém a krys, která za sebou zanechává jen potoky krve a šílenství. Ti, co nezemřou, jsou proměněni a stávají se otroky Furnaceovy krutovlády. Zuří válka, po níž už žádné další války nepřijdou. Válka, po níž z planety zůstanou jenom trosky. I ze mě je monstrum. Jsem jedním z Furnaceových dětí. Vlastně nejen to. Mám se stát jeho novou pravou rukou. Jeho novým generálem. Jsem tak zároveň tím jediným, kdo ho může zastavit. Musím najít způsob, jak využít své schopnosti k jeho zničení. Přitom však riskuju, že se sám stanu silou, která nás všechny zahubí. Nevím, jestli jsem odsouzencem k smrti, nebo katem. Nemám ponětí, kdo zemře: já, Furnace, nebo celé lidstvo. Vím jen, že dnes to tak či onak všechno skončí.

Vítejte zpět ve Výhni, podzemní věznici pro mládež, kde zvrácený dozorce provádí na svých vězních příšerné experimenty.Alexův druhý pokus o útěk selhal. Tentokrát bude jeho trest mnohem horší než předtím.Protože jak dávno ví, v těch skrytých, krví potřísněných laboratořích pod vězením se z něj stane monstrum. Když mu správce pumpuje do žil něco zlého – zlověstně temný nektar – Alex se stává tím, čeho se nejvíc bojí… Nadlidským přisluhovačem Výhně. Starý Alex je pryč. Ten nový je silnější než kdy předtím, ale co je vůbec zač?Jak teď může uniknout, když je v něm najednou všechna ta temnota? Jak může najít cestu ke svobodě, když je ztracen sám v sobě?A skutečně si Výheň právě vytvořila svého nejlepšího služebníka, nebo nejhoršího nepřítele?Pětidílná bestsellerová série Útěk z Výhně pokračuje v dalším, ještě temnějším díle.

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's early years as a precocious detective continue in the fourth book in this delightful series.

"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 first three books in Alexander MCCall Smith's beloved bestselling series, featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, the traditionally built, eminently sensible, cunning proprietor of the only ladies' detective agency in Botswana, are now available in a beautifully designed boxed set.

Už nejsem uvězněný v temnotě. Ale temnota je pořád uvězněná ve mně.Dokázali jsme to. Prolomili jsme brány a unikli z Výhně. Jsme venku, ale nejsme volní. Ještě ne. Celé město je uzavřené – silnice jsou zablokované a policie prohledává všechny budovy. A ještě horší je, že nás pronásledují bestie, jejichž zběsilost si nikdo nedovede ani představit. Pekelná armáda vyslaná samotným Alfredem Furnacem.Zuří válka, v níž se Furnace snaží srazit svět na kolena. Stále v sobě cítím správcův jed. Je to jediná věc, která mě drží naživu, jenže zároveň mě mění v jednoho z nich, v monstrum. Netuším, jak dlouho tomu ještě dokážu vzdorovat, než mě definitivně ovládne zuřivost a běs. Jestli brzo nenajdu nějaký lék, budu to já, kdo bude tohle město trhat na kusy a hodovat na krvi.Jestli chci být někdy opravdu volný, musím se vydat do samého srdce temnoty. Musím najít Alfreda Furnace dřív, než on najde mě. Dostali jsme se ven, ale všechny ty hrůzy nás následovaly a brzo se celý svět stane naším vězením…

Pod nebem je peklo. Pod peklem je Výheň Káznice jménem Výheň… Představa smrti je tu vaší nejmenší starostí. Útěk je pouhý začátek… Mysleli jsme, že se nám podařilo vyváznout, že jsme volní. Mělo nás napadnout, že z Výhně nevede cesta ven. Ocitli jsme se ještě hlouběji v útrobách vězení: zavření na samotce v místech, kde žijí skutečné noční můry: správce, sípáči a něco ještě mnohem, mnohem horšího... Čas neúprosně běží. Jestli brzy neutečeme, udělají z nás stvůry – jako z nich. Navždycky. V temnotě díry ožívají nejhorší přízraky.

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.

Jane has always been just a little bit different - she has springs in her knees! A brilliant tale with a spring in it's step from global bestseller Alexander McCall Smith, now in a hi-lo, dyslexia-friendly format for the struggling middle grade reader.

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.

Will Bertie ever get away from his overbearing mother? And will we say goodbye to a Scotland Street resident Angus Lordie and his gold-toothed dog Cyril as a jaunt to the hills of Tuscany beckons? They star alongside the familiar cast of favourites, as we follow their daily pursuit of a little happiness.

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.

It has never occurred to Precious Ramotswe that there might be disadvantages to being the best-known lady detective in Botswana. But when she receives a threatening anonymous letter, she is compelled to reconsider her unconquerable belief in a kind world and good neighbours. While she ponders the identity of the letter-writer Mma Ramotswe has a further set of problems to solve, both professional and personal. There is an adopted child's poignant search for her true family, and Mr J. L. B. Matekoni's pursuit of an expensive miracle for their own foster daughter Motholeli. With these latest developments on Tlokweng Road, Alexander McCall Smith reveals with all his brilliant storytelling skill that there are very few troubles that cannot be solved with kindness, and very few dry seasons that do not end with welcome rain.

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.

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.

Dr. Cronje, of mixed Xhosa and Afrikaner heritage, seeks the help of the wise detective Precious Ramotswe. He is troubled by a series of mysterious deaths occurring at the same time in a specific hospital bed, prompting an investigation into the unsettling pattern.

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 latest installment from THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY series Mma Ramotswe's friend will persuade her to stand for election to the City Council. 'We need women like her in politics,' Mma Potokwani says, 'instead of having the same old men every time . . .' To be elected, Mma Ramotswe must have a platform and some policies. She will have to canvas opinion. She will have to get Mma Makutsi's views. Her slogan is 'I can't promise anything - but I shall do my best'. Her intention is to halt the construction of the Big Fun Hotel, a dubious, flashy business near a graveyard - an act that many consider to be disrespectful. Mma Ramotswe will take the campaign as far as she can, but lurking around the corner, as ever, is the inextinguishable Violet Sephotho.

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.

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.

A look at the lives of the residents of an apartment building in Edinburgh.

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.

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.

The story of Bertie and his dysfunctional family continues in this fifth instalment alongside the familiar cast of favourites - Big Lou, Domenica, Angus Lordie, Cyril and others - in their daily pursuit of a little happiness. With customary charm and deftness, Alexander McCall Smith has again given us a clever, witty and utterly delightful new novel.

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.

Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are called to a safari lodge in Botswana's Okavango Delta to carry out a delicate mission on behalf of a former guest. The Okavango makes Precious appreciate once again the beauty of her homeland: it is a paradise of teeming wildlife, majestic grasslands and sparkling water. However, it is also home to rival safari operators, fearsome crocodiles and disgruntled hippopotamuses. What's more, Mma Makutsi still does not have a date for her wedding to Phuti Radiphuti and is feeling rather tetchy herself. But Precious knows that with a little patience, just as the wide river will gently make its way round any obstacle, so will everything work out for the best in the end . . .

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.

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?

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.

Spring is coming slowly to Sweden - though not quite as slowly as Detective Ulf Varg's promised promotion at the Department of Sensitive Crimes. For Varg, referred by his psychoanalyst to group therapy at Malmoe's Wholeness Centre, life now seems mostly a circle of self-examination, something which may or may not be useful when it comes to the nature of his profession and the particularly sensitive cases that have recently come to light. All in a day's work for Detective Varg, except that one of his new investigations involves fellow detective Anna; it will require every ounce of self-discipline he has in order to remain professional. The other, more curious case is centred around internationally successful novelist Nils Personn-Cederstroem. According to his girlfriend, Cederstroem is being blackmailed - but by whom and for what reason? Accompanied by his irritating but kindly colleague Blomquist, Varg begins his enquiries and soon the answers fall neatly into place. Nothing and no one is ever that simple, however, and not for the first time he learns as much about his own emotional and moral landscape as he does about the motives of others. Now Varg must make a possibly life-changing decision. Will he choose his own happiness over that of his heart's desire?

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

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.