Alexander McCall Smith

To forvirrende saker lander på Mma Ramotswes detektivpult: Først advokat Mma Sheba, som mistenker at en bedrager stiger fram som nevø og arving til en avdød farmer. Mma Ramotswe besøker gården for å finne ut alt hun kan om den selvoppnevnte nevøen. Deretter kommer eieren til en nyåpnet skjønnhetssalong og ber om hjelp til å finne ut hvorfor hennes salong er forfulgt av uhell. Hun har fått et skremmende omen i posten, og det går rykter om at hun bruker produkter som er farlige for kundens hud. Mma Makutsi har ikke sagt noe, men det blir mer og mer tydelig at hun er gravid…"Det er som å møte igjen gamle venner." THE BOSTON GLOBE

Pappa var alltid best! For Mma Ramotswe har alltid hennes far, avdøde Obed Ramotswe, vært det store forbildet. Hun føler at hun vet alt om livet hans - men gjør hun egentlig det? Foreldre kan av og til overraske, og vi oppdager at ting ikke var helt som vi trodde. Det samme gjelder Mma Makutsi, som også blir overrasket av sin egen fortid. Det rolige livet i Damenes detektivbyrå blir forstyrret av en mann som dukker opp i Gaborone. Ham vil Mma Ramotswe virkelig ikke møte. Og enda mindre hennes mann J. L. B. Matekoni.«Smith leverer noen viktige leksjoner om menneskelig skrøpelighet og verdien av veldedighet» PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Mens Botswana venter på regn for å gi næring til landet, går Precious Ramotswes tanker til kjærlighet og vennskap som viktig næring for den menneskelige sjelen. I et bryllup møter Mme Ramotswe en gammel venninne, som er lei seg fordi hennes eneste datter har vendt seg bort fra henne. Ikke nok med det, en gammel kjenning har samtidig mistet alle pengene sine og funnet trøst i en karismatisk og mystisk pastor, som har trollbundet flere kvinner i regionen. Damenes detektivbyrå bestemmer seg for å undersøke problemene. I mellomtiden er deltidsdetektiv Charlie engstelig for hvordan han skal få faren til Queenie-Queenier til å godkjenne ekteskapet deres.

Damenes detektivbyrå nr. 1 hjelper ofte folk med å finne ting de har mistet, men de har aldri måttet hjelpe noen å finne seg selv. Før nå. To godhjertede søsken har tatt seg av en kvinne uten hukommelse, kjent bare som «Mrs». Mma Makutsis familiesituasjon og jobb som detektiv hindrer henne ikke fra å starte forretning på egen hånd. Hun åpner «Kjekkasens luksuskafé» for Gaborones mest fasjonable middagsgjester. Ikke én gang «Frk 97 %» er forberedt på å takle temperamentsfulle kokker, fulle kelnere og alle utfordringene som følger med ved å drive egen forretning. Det er noe J. L. B Matekoni har erfaring med, og nå må han treffe tøffe valg som vil få store følger for både hans bilverksted og detektivdamene i nabohuset.

Botswana trenger kvinner som Mma Ramotswe i politikken, heller enn de samme gamle mennene som blir valgt om og om igjen. Det mener hennes venninne Mma Potokwane. Eieren av Damenes detektivbyrå lar seg overtale. For å bli valgt til bystyret, må Mma Ramotswe ha en politisk plattform og noen gode saker å kjempe for – eller mot. Etter å har rådført seg med kollega Mma Makutsi, velger hun slagordet: "Jeg kan ikke love noe - men jeg skal gjøre mitt beste". Hennes intensjon er å stoppe byggingen av Big Fun Hotel. Det prangende hotellet skal bygges respektløst nær en kirkegård. Mma Ramotswe tar opp kampen, men rundt hjørnet lurer Violet Sephotho, som kan komme med noen overakselser.

Mma Ramotswe må takle sin største utfordring hittil – en ferie! Det er lite å gjøre på Damenes detektivbyrå nr. 1. Faktisk så lite at Mma Ramotswe motvillig går med på å ta en ferieuke. I sitt fravær kan hun ikke la være å tenke på hvordan det går med byrået hennes, særlig da hun får høre at Mma Makutsi har tatt seg av en komplisert politisk sak. Når en kjent og respektert politiker skal få en utmerkelse, blir hans gode navn og rykte trukket i tvil av hans motstandere. Hans søster ber Damenes detektivbyrå nr. 1 undersøke de plagsomme anklagene, og det viser seg – som så ofte – at ting slett ikke er slik de ser ut.

En kvinne fra Australia oppsøker Damenes detektivbyrå. Hun ber Mma Ramotswe om hjelp til å finne barnepleieren som oppdro henne under barndommen i Botswana. Kvinnen ønsker å takke henne for å ha vært en så viktig del av livet hennes. Mma Ramotswe lykkes ofte med å løse saker, men denne viser seg å by på en rekke utfordringer og overraskelser. På kontoret har Mma Ramotswe også et helt team å administrere: Mr Polopetsi, deltidslærer i naturfag og ny assistent ved byrået, Charlie, tidligere lærling og ung mann som er altfor kjekk for sitt eget beste, samt den noe uortodokse, men hjertevarme medsjefen, Grace Makutsi. Precious og Grace er en historie om det å være detektiv og medmenneske. Dessuten noen leksjoner om takknemlighet og plikt.

Temperaturen stiger i Gaborone, og Mma Ramotswe lurer på om det er årsaken til at virksomheten i detektivbyrået går tregt. Med færre saker å håndtere, har Mma Ramotswe tid til å tenke på de nye naboene sine, et par som har et ganske ustabilt forhold. Men så kommer en fjern kusine av Mma Ramotswe med en bønn om hjelp, og byrået bestemmer seg for å stille opp med selvtillit og åpne hjerter. En familiesak, må da være en enkel oppgave, eller? I mellomtiden skjer det noe rart med Mma Ramotswes varebil, som tar Charlie og J. L. B. Matekoni ut på en hårreisende nattekspedisjon. Mma Ramotswe blir minnet om behovet for å se en sak fra alle sider, og deretter finne en løsning – helst over en deilig kopp te og en skive av hennes venninne Mma Potokwanes fruktkake.

During WW2 there was a rumour that German spies were landing by parachute in Britain, dressed as nuns... Conradin Muller was an unusual spy. He was recruited in Hamburg in June 1943, much against his will, and sent on his first, and only, mission in late September that year. He failed to send a single report back to Germany, and when the War came to an end in May 1945, he fell to his knees and wept with relief. From a highly reluctant German spy who is drawn to an East Anglian nunnery as his only means of escape, to the strange tale of one of the Cambridge spy ring's adventures with a Russian dwarf, these are Alexander McCall Smith's intriguing and typically inventive stories from the world of espionage.'Spy-masterful storytelling' Sunday Post'Delightfully old-fashioned and prudent of prose, McCall Smith unspools his tales' Daily Mail'[Adds] another treasure to McCall Smith's already glittering library' New York Journal of Books

The Perfect Passion Dating Company at No. 24 Mouse Lane in Edinburgh's New Town is run by Katie Donald who has an innate instinct for bringing people together. She has developed a skill for finding out what it is that people really want. Along the way, Katie learns profound lessons about her own desires as she works at better understanding others. Although Katie has little in the way of direct experience, with the help of her amiable and handsome office neighbour William Kidd, she soon finds herself making matches for the lonely hearts tired of meeting online – and who want a more personal touch. For fans of Alexander McCall Smith's many beloved series and romantic standalone novels, The Perfect Passion Company shows him at his most perceptive, playful, and generous. In the way that only McCall Smith can, this novel offers a glimpse inside the psychology of matchmaking, the search for love and companionship, and the mysterious spark of attraction that can, at times, catch hold of us all. Two stories that wind their way into this wonderful novel were previously available in different forms as e-book only shorts.

From the beloved author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency comes a fabulous new novel in three parts: The Perfect Passion Company, tender tales of love and companionship from Scotland's most low-key dating agency. As the new manager of the Perfect Passion Company, Katie's mission is to help the lonely hearts of Edinburgh. With the assistance of her amiable and handsome office neighbor, William, she finds herself using a personal touch to find matches for the city's lovelorn citizens. When an airline pilot comes to her looking for a woman to take care of him, Katie sends him to cooking school. The case of a hotelier with a particularly overbearing mother may require a delicate two-pronged approach. And for a client who has a habit of talking so much she does not even seem to draw breath--well, Katie doesn't turn down a case just because it's challenging. Along the way, Katie learns that her work may be a little broader in scope than she had originally thought, and there may be something to learn about her own future happiness as well. With the tenderness of which only McCall Smith is capable, The Perfect Passion Company charmingly illuminates the psychology of matchmaking, the search for love and compassion, and the mysterious spark of attraction that can, at times, catch hold of us all.

Glasgow for Bertie is the promised land. The city of pies and Irn Bru, far from his controlling mother, Irene – his place of escape. But how will he respond to the news of the proposed merging of Edinburgh and Glasgow? A new member of Bertie’s class at school is causing ripples in his social circle. She is called Galactica MacFee and is going to be a match for Olive and her lieutenant, Pansy. And, an incredible new discovery: a Pictish stone, that is said to have the first-know written poem carved into it is the talk of the town. But, when the poem is eventually translated, it is thought it is best to keep it under wraps. In this new instalment in the perennially popular 44 Scotland series, we are back in the world of Angus and Domenico, Bruce, Matthew and Elspeth, and, of course, Bertie and his friend Ranald Braveheart Macpherson. Filled with Alexander McCall Smith’s trademark wit, warmth and humour, this new book is a must-read.

With a foreword by Alexander McCall Smith 'That which is uncooked is destined to be cooked, if has been prepared with cooking in mind' – The Enigma of Garlic Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street novels are loved and enjoyed by readers throughout the world. In each book there are countless scenes involving conversations around the table, in the kitchen, or in a cafe – friendship and food go well together. With this delightful cookbook readers can immerse themselves in the world of Edinburgh's New Town and recreate some of their favourite characters' signature dishes: enjoy Bertie's much-loved Panforte di Sienna, Angus Lordie's famous cheese scones or host your own Scotland Street supper.

In this latest installment in Alexander McCall Smith's cherished No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, two confounding cases compete for Mma Ramotswe's attention--and she may need to call in back up. "An escape from life's woes as well as a suggestion for how to make the whole deal more palatable--fragility, fruit cake, and all." --The Boston Globe Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni are enjoying a nice meal out at a peri-peri restaurant when an American woman named Julia approaches seeking Mma Ramotswe's help. Julia's beloved late grandfather was Botswanan, and he instilled in her an abiding love of his homeland. Now, years after his passing, Julia has come to visit the land he had spoken of so often and to find her relatives. Unfortunately, her grandfather's stories, while charming and entertaining, were somewhat light on detail; all Julia can remember are a few first names and some descriptions of his village. It's not a lot to go on, but if anyone is well poised to help, it's Mma Ramotswe, Botswana's premier detective. Meanwhile, a second case leads Mma Ramotswe to look for assistance from an unexpected quarter. For the first time, Charlie leads his own investigation at the detective agency, going undercover into a dubious, word-of-mouth get-together known as the Cool Singles Evening Club, where married men are encouraged to pretend to be single and meet women under false pretenses. Who could be behind such a distasteful venture? Getting to the bottom of this will be a tall order, to be sure, but Charlie is eager for the opportunity. As Mma Ramotswe learns more about Julia, she begins to understand that Julia's heartbreak runs deeper than she had initially realized. Together, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Potokwane must find a way to help their client heal and move forward--from both her past and her present. Julia had originally come to Botswana seeking family and connection, but in the warm embrace of Mma Ramotswe and Mma Potokwane, what she ends up finding is a home.

The twenty-fourth book in the multi-million copy bestselling and perennially adored No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. 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 shows great tact in dealing with this situation, and avoids harm to the innocent. And all the time, she and her assistant, Grace Makutsi, are getting on with their normal lives - which, of course, include birthdays and the buying of birthday presents. A new dress makes a fine present, but not if, when being tried on, it splits in a way that is thought to be irreparable. Mma Potokwani has dealt with situations far worse that, and in dealing with this local emergency she shows her characteristic wisdom. At the end of the day, disaster is averted. Life in Botswana, that far and lovely country of the title, continues smoothly, which is what Mma Ramotswe and her friends want - and most certainly deserve.

The twenty-fourth book in the multi-million copy bestselling and perennially adored No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

The twenty-third book in the perennially adored The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

In this latest installment in the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Grace Makutsi encounters a pair of quandaries that will require all of her and Mma Ramotswe's cleverness and generosity to resolve. "An escape from life's woes as well as a suggestion for how to make the whole deal more palatable--fragility, fruit cake, and all." --The Boston Globe Grace Makutsi's husband, Phuti Radiphuti, 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 firm seems interested only in profits. To make matters worse, they have a slick new advertising campaign that seems hard to beat. Meanwhile, Grace is approached by an old friend who has a troubled son. She and Phuti agree to take Patience and Modise in and lend a hand, but things don't work out quite as intended, and the situation proves difficult for them to handle. It will require not only all of their persistence and dedication but also help from an unexpected quarter to find a solution that will make everyone happy. Faced with more than her fair share of delicate dilemmas, Mma Makutsi deals with it all with her usual graciousness. This--along with the kindness, generosity, and good sense for which the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is known--assures us that, in the end, each of these matters will be set right.

The latest in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series from the worldwide bestselling author, Alexander McCall SmithIt's the most anticipated event of the decade: Big Lou and Fat Bob's wedding and everyone is invited! After a wonderful day, Big Lou crashes back down to earth and finds that she is a victim of her own success. The lure of those famous bacon rolls is preventing her from leaving hungry customers without their daily dose of deliciousness - even to go for a long-awaited honeymoon. Will Big Lou find the happiness she so richly deserves? Everyone in Scotland Street hopes so, but, as Burns warned, the best laid plans... The relative peace and tranquillity of 44 Scotland Street is about to be disrupted. Irene is to return for a two-month stay, consigning Bertie to a summer camp. Not satisfied with that, she somehow manages to come between the enigmatic nun, Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna, and her friend, the hagiographer, Antonia Collie. Can a person really change, even after being struck by lightning? Bruce's metamorphosis and new-found outlook on life is put to the test as he prepares to leave his creature comforts for the monastic simplicity of Pluscarden Abbey. His house sitter, meanwhile, gets a little too comfortable in his new life and discovers that the talented Bruce Anderson's shoes are all too easy to slip into. With great taste comes great responsibility. 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.