Alexander McCall Smith je známy svojim majstrovským rozprávačstvom, ktoré často skúma ľudskú povahu s láskavosťou a jemným humorom. Jeho štýl sa vyznačuje pokojným tempom, prenikavými postrehmi a poetickým jazykom, ktorý čitateľov vtiahne do svojich príbehov. Smith sa často zameriava na témy etiky, morálky a zložitosti ľudských vzťahov. Jeho dielo je oslavou obyčajného života a hlbokej múdrosti, ktorú možno nájsť v každodenných skúsenostiach.
Druhá kniha o prevej dámskej detektívnej kancelárii v Gaborone nás poteší ďalšími príbehmi z exotického prostredia Botswany. Opäť sa stretávame so sympatickou korpulentnou Precious Ramotswe, majiteľkou detektívnej kancelárie, i jej pravou rukou – sekretárkou paní Makutsi, ktorá vyrieši svoj prvý samostatný prípad. I teraz budeme sledovať, ako sa vyvíja harmonický vzťah pani Ramotswe s priateľom J. L. B. Matekonim, a naviac sa zoznámime i s prírastkami do ich spoločnej domácnosti.
Najlepšie svetové čítanie.1. 61 hodín-Lee Child: Bývalý vojenský policajt a známy tulák Jack Reacher rád berie spravodlivosť do vlastných rúk. Tentoraz ho náhoda zaviedla do zabudnutého mesta v Južnej Dakote, kde práve udreli kruté mrazy a vládne tu aj istý nepokoj. Čoskoro sa ukáže, že za hranicami mesta striehne vrah...2. Zoznam tajných želaní-Martina Reilly: Dvanásťročný Mark je plný pochybností a želá si, aby všetko bolo ako predtým a mohli žiť s mamou, otcom a bratom ako šťastná rodina. No niečo sa zadrhlo. Mark si vezme do hlavy, že ich ušomraný sused Jeremy je Santa Claus, a jedného dňa mu doručí zoznam svojich tajných želaní...3. Kde vládne tieň-Michael Ridpath: Detektíva Magnusa Jonsona, napoly Islanďana a napoly Američana, vyšlú z domovského Bostonu na surovo malebný Island, aby tamojšej polícii pomáhal s vyšetrovaním závažnejšej kriminality. Čakajú ho tam hneď tri vraždy a všetky zrejme súvisia s nálezom ságy starej osemsto rokov.4. Dievča, ktoré naháňalo mesiac-Sarah Addison Allen: Vitajte v Mullaby, v pitoresknom mestečku v Severnej Karolíne, kde žije muž taký vysoký, že dovidí za obzor, a kde existujú rodinné tajomstvá, za ktorými stoja...vari len čary. Keď sa sem k svojmu starému otcovi prisťahuje sedemnásťročná Emily Benedictová, nestačí sa čudovať...
Zanovité dcéry. Stratení manželia. Záletní partneri. Neobvyklí podvodníci. Ak máte problém, s ktorým vám nik nevie pomôcť, navštívte Precious Ramotsweovú, jedinú – a najlepšiu – botswanskú súkromnú detektívku. Možno nemá tradičné vyšetrovacie metódy a spôsobmi sa asi nepodobá slečne Marplovej, no nechýba jej zápal, vtip a intuícia. Navyše má po svojom boku pána J. L. B. Matekoniho, očarujúceho majiteľa autoservisu Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Precious sa vydáva po stopách zmiznutého dieťaťa a pri tom sa ocitne v spleti zvláštnych i nebezpečných situácií. Vtedy sa jej Matekoniho priateľstvo a pomoc zídu ako soľ.
Deon Meyer - Kobra: Cambridge profesor matematiky si prenajme penzión pri Kapskom Meste, má falošný pas a je pod ochranou tímu dobre vycvičených bodyguardov. Po nájdení všetkých členov jeho ochranky postrelených sa objavujú otázky o jeho súčasnej polohe. Linda Francis Lee - Sklenená kuchyňa: Portia Cuthcartová má dar variť jedlá s "pridanou hodnotou", ktoré sú šité na mieru konkrétnym ľuďom a nesú nádych tajomna. Tento dar sa však stáva aj jej prekliatím, keď sa snaží začať nový život ako normálna žena, ktorá sa nevenuje "čarovaniu s jedlom". Julia Dahl - Neviditeľné mesto: Reportérka Rebeka Robertsová je vyslaná, aby zmapovala otřesný policajný prípad, keď je na hromade šrotu v Brooklyne nájdené telo ženy. Ukazuje sa, že toto úmrtie je súčasťou zložitých záhad. Alexander McCall Smith - Hostina Špekyho O'Learyho: Cornelius O'Leary, sympatický obchodník so starožitnosťami z Arkansasu, sa vydáva do Írska, krajiny svojich predkov, a jeho výlet je plný tragikomických karambolov.
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!
Keltská mytológia je bohatý a úchvatný svet plný smrteľníkov, bohov a bohýň. Ukrýva v sebe predstavy o paralelných vesmíroch, o skutočnom svete i o svete nadpozemskom.
Tento príbeh je prerozprávaním mýtu o Angusovi, známej a obľúbenej postave z keltskej mytológie, a to spôsobom, akým sa mýtus zachoval v Írsku a v Škótsku. Angus je darcom snov, je Erosom, stelesnením mladosti. Patrí k vľúdnym a láskavým postavám, je pekný na pohľad a hravý. Na rozdiel od niektorých iných mýtických postáv Angus nikdy nemoralizuje a nepoučuje: jeho doménou sú sny a láska - dva javy, ktoré sú pre ľudí také tajuplné. Angus nám pomáha stretnúť sa s vlastnými snami. No je aj niečím viac: symbolizuje mladosť a prudkú, vášnivú lásku, ktorú môžeme zakúsiť v mladosti, ktorú si však môžeme pamätať aj vo veku, keď sa k nám pomaly, ale isto plazí staroba. Roky nadobudnuté skúsenosti nás robia mrzutými a opatrnými, no aj vtedy v nás ešte žije Angus - Angus rojko.
THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Book 5 Fans around the world adore the best-selling 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. Still engaged to the estimable Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe understands that she should not put too much pressure on him, as he has other concerns, especially a hair-raising request from the ever persuasive Mma Potokwane, matron of the orphan farm. Besides Mma Ramotswe herself has weighty matters on her mind. She has been approached by a wealthy lady to check up on several suitors. Are these men interested in the lady or just her money? This may be a difficult case, but it's just the kind of problem Mma Ramotswe likes and she is, as we know, a very intuitive lady.
Ex-CID. Ex-New York. Ex-cellent' reads the sign outside the Satisfaction Guarantee Detective Agency. Cephas Buthelezi certainly talks the talk, Precious discovers, but would he have the wherewithal to deal with her current case - a man who has been attacked by ostrich rustlers, and is eager to reassess his life? Meanwhile, there are difficulties at the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, where one of the apprentices has discovered the Lord, problems at home with the mysterious death of a hoopoe, and romantic complications when Mma Makutsi sets up a typing school for men . . .
From animal fables to mysterious forces residing in the landscape, this collection demonstrates the wealth and variety of African folk tales and the particular magic of Africa's spiritual roots: a sense of unity with the environment.
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.
'The whole world has become a prison, and Alfred Furnace is its master.
Monsters rule the streets, beasts of pure fury that leave nothing but murder
and madness in their wake. I have to find a way to use my powers to destroy
Furnace, but in doing so I risk becoming the very force that kills us all.'
The gripping third instalment in Alexander Gordon Smith's epic series about
Furnace, a terrifying underground prison for teenagers - now with the
bestselling US cover. We had one last shot at freedom and we failed.
Enigmatic Images of People by Unknown Photographers
207 stránok
8 hodin čítania
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 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.
The gripping fourth installment in an epic series about Furnace - a
terrifying, underground prison for teenagers - now with a stunning new cover
treatment. Alex thought that escape was impossible.
The second book in Alexander Gordon Smith's no-holds-barred teen series, where
the terror has only just begun - now with the bestselling US cover. We thought
we'd made it, we thought we were free.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 . . .
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?
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
