Ladies' Detective Agency 01 - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (29 page)

Friends, Lovers, Chocolate

Volume 2

While taking care of her niece Cat’s delicatessen, Isabel meets a heart transplant patient who has had some strange experiences in the wake of his surgery. Against the advice of her housekeeper, Isabel is intent on investigating. Matters are further complicated when Cat returns from vacation with a new boyfriend, and Isabel’s fondness for him lands her in another muddle.

The Right Attitude to Rain

Volume 3

When Isabel’s cousin from Dallas arrives in Edinburgh, she introduces Isabel to a bigwig Texan whose young fiancée may just be after his money. Then there’s her niece, Cat, who’s busy falling for a man whom Isabel suspects of being an incorrigible mama’s boy. Isabel is advised to stay out of it all, but the philosophical issues of these matters of the heart prove too tempting for her to resist.

“Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh’s complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman.”

—The New York Times Book Review

The Careful Use of Compliments

Volume 4

There’s a new little Dalhousie on the scene, and while the arrival of Isabel’s son presents her with the myriad wonders of life, it doesn’t diminish her curiosity about other things. While attending an art auction, she discovers a mystery revealed in one of the paintings, launching her into yet another intriguing investigation.

The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday

Volume 5

A doctor’s career has been ruined by allegations of medical fraud and Isabel cannot ignore what may be a miscarriage of justice. Meanwhile, there is her baby, Charlie, who needs looking after; her niece, Cat, who needs someone to mind her deli; and a mysterious composer who has latched on to Jamie, making Isabel decidedly uncomfortable.

“Whimsical. … [A] memorable cast of characters
.…
[McCall Smith’s] fans are sure to embrace these moral
peregrinations among the plaid.”

—San Francisco Chronicle

The Lost Art of Gratitude

Volume 6

When Minty Auchterlonie takes Isabel into her confidence about the complicated troubles at the investment bank she heads, Isabel finds herself going another round: Is Minty to be trusted? Or is she the perpetrator of an enormous financial fraud? As always, there is no end to the delight in accompanying Isabel as she makes her way toward the heart of every problem.

THE 44 SCOTLAND STREET SERIES

“Will make you feel as though you live in Edinburgh. … Long live the folks on Scotland Street.”

—The Times-Picayune
(New Orleans)

44 SCOTLAND STREET

Volume 1

All of Alexander McCall Smith’s trademark warmth and wit come into play in this novel chronicling the lives of the residents of a converted Georgian town house in Edinburgh. Complete with colorful characters, love triangles, and even a mysterious art caper, this is an unforgettable portrait of Edinburgh society.

ESPRESSO TALES

Volume 2

The eccentric residents of 44 Scotland Street are back. From the talented six-year-old Bertie, who is forced to arrive in pink overalls for his first day of class, to the self-absorbed Bruce, who contemplates a change of career in between admiring glances in the mirror, there is much in store as fall settles on Edinburgh.

LOVE OVER SCOTLAND

Volume 3

Complications continue in the lives of the denizens of 44 Scotland Street. From conducting perilous anthropological studies of pirate households to being inadvertently left behind on a school trip to Paris, the wonderful misadventures of these residents will charm and delight.

“McCall Smith’s assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. … [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid
and seamless.”

—San Francisco Chronicle

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BERTIE

Volume 4

There is never a quiet moment in the tenement on 44 Scotland Street. Pat is forced to deal with the reappearance of Bruce, which has her heart skipping—and not in the most pleasant way. Angus Lordie’s dog, Cyril, has been taken away by the authorities, accused of being a serial biter, but Domenica has unexpectedly offered to help free him. And Bertie, the beleaguered Italian-speaking prodigy and saxophonist, now has a little brother, Ulysses, who he can only hope will distract his mother, Irene.

The sensational fifth installment in the “utterly enchanting” 44 Scotland Street series

—Chicago Sun-Times