-
-
Order of Alexander McCall Smith Books
If you’ve ever found yourself chuckling over a philosophical dilemma, falling in love with the slow pace of Botswana, or wondering how a cup of bush tea could solve life’s greatest mysteries, then chances are, you’ve wandered into the literary universe of Alexander McCall Smith—and let’s be honest, it’s a delightful place to be.
Born on August 24, 1948, in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe), McCall Smith was quite literally born into a world of stories. The sun-scorched lands of southern Africa would go on to inspire one of his most famous fictional worlds—The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. But don’t let the gentle charm of his writing fool you. Behind that ever-present twinkle in his prose is a man of serious academic prowess and a life as richly layered as his characters.
The Academic Who Slipped Into Fiction
Alexander McCall Smith didn't take the conventional road to literary fame. Before becoming a beloved author of bestsellers, he was an accomplished legal scholar and professor of medical law. Yes, you read that right—medical law. After studying at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, he attended the University of Edinburgh, where he earned a PhD in law. (You wouldn’t guess that the man behind Precious Ramotswe was once a towering figure in bioethics, right?)
But perhaps that’s what makes his writing so unique—his deep understanding of human nature, ethics, and the quiet, often absurd comedy of life. As a professor, McCall Smith taught law at the University of Botswana, which would later become the inspiration for the homeland of his most iconic character. Eventually, he returned to Scotland, where he became a professor at the University of Edinburgh. Oh, and he helped draft the constitution of Zimbabwe. No big deal.
A Late Bloomer in the World of Fiction
Many writers publish their breakthrough novels in their twenties or thirties, but McCall Smith was a literary late bloomer. He was already well into his fifties when the first book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series was published in 1998. But once it hit the shelves, there was no turning back. The book became an international hit, and the rest—well, it’s a story still unfolding, one gentle mystery at a time.
From the moment Precious Ramotswe opened her tiny detective agency “for all kinds of problems and difficulties,” readers fell in love. But Alexander didn’t stop there. He went on to write several series, including The Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries, The 44 Scotland Street Novels, and The Corduroy Mansions Series. Each series has its own flavor, its own pace, and its own musings on life, love, ethics, and tea—lots of tea.
A Man of Many Talents (and a Sense of Humor)
It’s easy to imagine McCall Smith as a serious scholar in tweed—but then you hear about his love of playing the bassoon (yes, he’s part of a group called The Really Terrible Orchestra, which is as delightfully self-aware as it sounds). Or that he once wrote the lyrics for a children's opera. His ability to not take himself too seriously—despite his numerous honorary doctorates and being a Commander of the British Empire—is part of what makes him so wonderfully readable.
He has often joked about his meteoric rise as an “overnight success after 25 years of trying,” and that irony flows through his interviews and books alike. His characters are never flashy. They’re kind, observant, sometimes flawed, but always endearing. Much like the man himself.
Legacy in Ink and Thought
While Alexander McCall Smith is very much alive and still writing prolifically well into his seventies, his influence on modern literature is already firmly cemented. He’s that rare author who can make you laugh, ponder, and feel deeply all in the same chapter. His novels may lack the high-octane thrills of typical mystery stories, but they offer something rarer—emotional intelligence, moral nuance, and a gentle nudge toward kindness.
And if you think his stories are only for fans of detective fiction, think again. McCall Smith writes for children, adults, scholars, romantics, cynics, and dreamers alike. His books are not about solving crimes; they’re about understanding people—and that’s a mystery worth solving every time.
So what now?
If you’ve never read his work, consider this your invitation to step into his literary world. And if you’re already a fan, then you know—you don’t read an Alexander McCall Smith novel. You live in it for a while, smile at the characters, and carry their wisdom with you long after the last page is turned.
Because in a world of chaos and complexity, sometimes what we really need is a good story, a kind detective, and a cup of red bush tea.
Publication Order of Series Books
Publication Order of 44 Scotland Street
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| 44 Scotland Street | 2005 | Amazon |
| Espresso Tales | 2005 | Amazon |
| Love Over Scotland | 2006 | Amazon |
| The World According to Bertie | 2007 | Amazon |
| The Unbearable Lightness of Scones | 2008 | Amazon |
| The Importance of Being Seven | 2010 | Amazon |
| Bertie Plays the Blues | 2011 | Amazon |
| Sunshine on Scotland Street | 2012 | Amazon |
| Bertie’s Guide to Life and Mothers | 2013 | Amazon |
| The Revolving Door of Life | 2015 | Amazon |
| The Bertie Project | 2016 | Amazon |
| A Time of Love and Tartan | 2017 | Amazon |
| The Peppermint Tea Chronicles | 2019 | Amazon |
| A Promise of Ankles | 2020 | Amazon |
| Love in the Time of Bertie | 2021 | Amazon |
| The Enigma of Garlic | 2023 | Amazon |
| The Stellar Debut of Galactica Macfee | 2024 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Corduroy Mansions
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Corduroy Mansions | 2009 | Amazon |
| The Dog Who Came in from the Cold | 2010 | Amazon |
| A Conspiracy of Friends | 2011 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Isabel Dalhousie
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The Sunday Philosophy Club | 2004 | Amazon |
| Friends, Lovers, Chocolate | 2005 | Amazon |
| The Right Attitude to Rain | 2006 | Amazon |
| The Careful Use of Compliments | 2007 | Amazon |
| The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday | 2008 | Amazon |
| The Lost Art of Gratitude | 2009 | Amazon |
| The Charming Quirks of Others | 2010 | Amazon |
| The Forgotten Affairs of Youth | 2011 | Amazon |
| The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds | 2012 | Amazon |
| The Novel Habits of Happiness | 2015 | Amazon |
| A Distant View of Everything | 2017 | Amazon |
| The Quiet Side of Passion | 2018 | Amazon |
| The Geometry of Holding Hands | 2020 | Amazon |
| The Sweet Remnants of Summer | 2022 | Amazon |
| The Conditions of Unconditional Love | 2024 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Precious and the Puggies | 2010 | Amazon |
| Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill | 2012 | Amazon |
| Precious and the Missing Lion | 2013 | Amazon |
| Precious and the Zebra Necklace | 2015 | Amazon |
Publication Order of Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| Portuguese Irregular Verbs | 1997 | Amazon |
| The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs | 1998 | Amazon |
| At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances | 2003 | Amazon |
| Unusual Uses for Olive Oil | 2011 | Amazon |
| Your Inner Hedgehog | 2021 | Amazon |
Publication Order of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | 1998 | Amazon |
| Tears of the Giraffe | 2000 | Amazon |
| Morality for Beautiful Girls | 2001 | Amazon |
| The Kalahari Typing School for Men | 2002 | Amazon |
| The Full Cupboard of Life | 2003 | Amazon |
| In the Company of Cheerful Ladies | 2004 | Amazon |
| Blue Shoes and Happiness | 2006 | Amazon |
| The Good Husband of Zebra Drive | 2007 | Amazon |
| The Miracle at Speedy Motors | 2008 | Amazon |
| Tea Time for the Traditionally Built | 2009 | Amazon |
| The Double Comfort Safari Club | 2010 | Amazon |
| The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party | 2011 | Amazon |
| The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection | 2012 | Amazon |
| The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon | 2013 | Amazon |
| The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café | 2014 | Amazon |
| The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine | 2015 | Amazon |
| Precious and Grace | 2016 | Amazon |
| The House of Unexpected Sisters | 2017 | Amazon |
| The Colors of All the Cattle | 2018 | Amazon |
| To the Land of Long Lost Friends | 2019 | Amazon |
| How to Raise an Elephant | 2020 | Amazon |
| The Joy and Light Bus Company | 2021 | Amazon |
| A Song of Comfortable Chairs | 2022 | Amazon |
| From a Far and Lovely Country | 2023 | Amazon |
| The Great Hippopotamus Hotel | 2024 | Amazon |
| In the Time of Five Pumpkins | 2025 | Amazon |
Publication Order of The School Ship Tobermory
| Title | Year | Amazon Links |
|---|---|---|
| School Ship Tobermory | 2015 | Amazon |
| The Sands of Shark Island | 2016 | Amazon |
| The Race to Kangaroo Cliff | 2018 | Amazon |
| The Secret of the Dark Waterfall | 2019 | Amazon |
The Sunday Philosophy Club
The Sunday Philosophy Club series introduces us to Isabel Dalhousie, a philosopher in Edinburgh who finds herself involved in a range of moral dilemmas and mysteries. This series mixes philosophy with intriguing cases, often related to ethics, relationships, and lifes more puzzling questions. As the...
Buy Now44 Scotland Street
The 44 Scotland Street series follows the lives of residents in a fictional Edinburgh apartment complex. The characters are quirky and loveable, ranging from Bertie, the young child prodigy, to his somewhat quirky mother, Irene. As the series progresses, McCall Smith weaves in new characters and sit...
Buy NowThe Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
In The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine, Mma Ramotswe faces a new challenge when her assistant, Mma Makutsi, steps into the spotlight to run the agency. What follows is an exploration of leadership, independence, and personal growth. McCall Smith uses this shift in dynamic to offer profound insights int...
Buy NowThe Good Husband of Zebra Drive
In The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, McCall Smith returns to the world of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and introduces a more personal mystery for Mma Ramotswe to solve. The case involves a man whose wife has passed away under mysterious circumstances, and Mma Ramotswe must uncover the truth. Alo...
Buy NowIn the Company of Cheerful Ladies
Mma Ramotswes world continues to evolve in In the Company of Cheerful Ladies. The mystery this time centers on a seemingly ordinary casea lost dogbut it opens doors to larger, more complex moral questions. As the case unfolds, McCall Smith offers a critique of societal norms, expectations of women, ...
Buy NowThe Kalahari Typing School for Men
In this fourth book of the series, Mma Ramotswe finds herself solving cases that touch on gender roles, masculinity, and identity. The mystery surrounding a typing school for men, the involvement of a wealthy man, and the growing mystery of Mr. J.L.B. Matekonis assistant make for a compelling plot t...
Buy NowMorality for Beautiful Girls
This third installment in the series delves deeper into Mma Ramotswes personal and professional life. Her detective agency faces a new set of challenges, as she investigates a case involving a beauty pageant and a troubled young woman. In the background, the plot also weaves in Mma Ramotswes relatio...
Buy NowTears of the Giraffe
In this sequel to The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe continues to navigate the delicate balance between solving mysteries and managing her personal life. The book opens with a haunting case involving the disappearance of a man, and through the investigation, McCall Smith explores themes...
Buy NowThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The first book in the series introduces us to the delightful Mma Precious Ramotswe, the first female private detective in Botswana. Set against the backdrop of the African landscape, this novel captures the intricacies of human nature, relationships, and cultural nuances. Mma Ramotswe, who inherits ...
Buy Now