Alexander McCall Smith

Even the arrival of her baby can't hold Mma Makutsi back from success in the workplace, and so no sooner than she becomes a full partner in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - in spite of Mma Ramotswe's belated claims that she is only 'an assistant full partner' - she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe. Grace is a lady with a business plan, but who could predict temperamental chefs, drunken waiters and more?...

Isabel Dalhousie is a new mother and a connoisseur of philosophy; she'd rather not be a sleuth. But when a chance conversation at a dinner party draws Isabel into the case of a doctor whose career has been ruined, she cannot ignore what may be a miscarriage of justice.

The ever-so-pleased-with himself Bruce is puzzled by a familiar face as he meets his new neighbour, Jonathan. The fact that Jonathan is his double shakes Bruce's vanity to the core, but then an idea occurs. The two young men embark on an outrageous joint venture, but will Bruce be two-faced in more senses than one?

Mma Ramotswe, normally a sound and peaceful sleeper, finds her slumbers disturbed by a dream of a tall man beneath an acacia tree. But she is not quite ready to discover what this vision may portend. Soon even Mma Makutsi, now in the first flush of married bliss, has to admit that untoward things are occuring around the agency.

Jeffrey works in Mr Prendergast's junk shop at weekends to earn extra pocket money. One day they uncover a mysterious machine. It turns out to be a joke-producing machine and soon everyone in town wants their own joke. Everyone, that is, except the miserable owner of the next-door shop, who is determined to throw a spanner in the works.

Beloved and bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith lends his delightful touch to the Austen classic, 'Emma'.

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.

Isabel Dalhousie is drawn into the investigation when an anonymous letter arrives at a local boarding school suggesting that one of the shortlisted candidates for the position of headmaster has a compromising past. But which one is it? She turns to her fiance Jamie for advice, but he too appears to have something to hide.

His loving wife Betty plans a trip to Ireland for his 40th birthday and almost immediately things go wrong. The seats in economy class on the plane are too small and Irish bathroom furniture is not as commodious as he'd have liked. And all the time Fatty must put up with the unthinking cruelty of strangers.