Alexander McCall Smith Reading Order

19 books (2005–2026)

The 44 Scotland Street series comprises 18 books published from 2005 to 2025, with the ongoing saga still being written by Alexander McCall Smith. These literary fiction entries should be read in publication order, beginning with the first novel and continuing through the most recent installment. The series blends mystery, thriller elements, and literary storytelling across its expanding collection of interconnected tales.

Start with 44 Scotland Street, the first of 18 books in the 44 Scotland Street series.

#	Title
1	44 Scotland Street 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Espresso Tales 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Love Over Scotland 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The World According to Bertie 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Unbearable Lightness Of Scones 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Importance of Being Seven 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Bertie Plays the Blues 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Sunshine on Scotland Street 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Revolving Door of Life 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	A Time of Love and Tartan 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Bertie Project 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Peppermint Tea Chronicles 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	A Promise of Ankles 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Love in the Time of Bertie 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	The Enigma of Garlic 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	The Stellar Debut of Galactica Macfee 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Bertie's Theory of Ice Cream 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	The Prime of Bertie Pollock 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (1992–2008)

Alexander McCall Smith's Akimbo series consists of five complete adventure novels published between 1992 and 2008, with each book following a young protagonist encountering different African wildlife and mysteries. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Akimbo and the Lions and continuing through Akimbo and the Crocodiles Man, Akimbo and the Elephants, Akimbo and the Snakes, and concluding with Akimbo and the Baboons. This young adult series blends mystery and wildlife themes across standalone yet interconnected stories.

Start with Akimbo and the Lions, the first of 5 books in the Akimbo series.

#	Title
1	Akimbo and the Lions 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Akimbo and the Crocodile Man 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Akimbo and the Elephants 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Akimbo and the Snakes 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Akimbo and the Baboons 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

20 books (2000–2022)

Alexander McCall Smith compiled 18 anthologies spanning from 2000 to 2022, featuring collections of short stories, mysteries, and essays across literary fiction, crime, and creative nonfiction. The series appears to be complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with A Treasury of Five-Minute Stories. These standalone collections showcase work from various authors and offer diverse themes ranging from classic British mysteries to contemporary travel writing and modern etiquette.

Start with A Treasury of Five-Minute Stories, the first of 18 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	A Treasury of Five-Minute Stories 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	A New Omnibus of Crime 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	One City 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Sunday Night Book Club 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Best British Mysteries IV 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Crimespotting 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Midsummer Nights 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Ox-Tales 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Imagined Lives 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 7 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	No Rest for the Dead 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 8 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	What You Wish For 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales From Great Fiction Writers 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	How Rude! Modern Manners Defined 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	OxCrimes: 27 Killer Stories from the Cream of Crimewriters 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	The Lonely Planet Travel Anthology 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Lent Talks of Broadcasts 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Who Built Scotland 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	The People's City: One City Trust 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2013–2016)

The Austen Project is a four-book literary series published between 2013 and 2016 that reimagines Jane Austen's classic novels for contemporary readers. Each installment was written by a different author, beginning with Joanna Trollope's take on Sense and Sensibility, followed by Alexander McCall Smith's Emma, Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey, and Curtis Sittenfeld's Eligible. The series is complete and should be read in publication order. These modern adaptations blend literary fiction with mystery and thriller elements as they translate Austen's timeless stories into current settings and circumstances.

Start with Sense & Sensibility(By: Joanna Trollope), the first of 4 books in the Austen Project series.

#	Title
1	Sense & Sensibility(By: Joanna Trollope) 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Emma 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Northanger Abbey(By: Val McDermid) 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Eligible(By: Curtis Sittenfeld) 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

27 books (1980–2020)

Alexander McCall Smith's Children's series comprises 27 complete books published between 1980 and 2020, following publication order from White Hippo through The Bubblegum Tree and beyond. These whimsical stories blend mystery and literary elements with humor and imagination, appealing to young readers. The series should be read in the order it was published to fully appreciate the author's evolving storytelling style across four decades.

Start with White Hippo, the first of 27 books in the Children's series.

#	Title
1	White Hippo 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Film Boy 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Joke Machine 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Marzipan Max 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Girl Who Changed the Weather 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Calculator Annie 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Springy Jane 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	My Chameleon Uncle 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Who Invented Peanut Butter? 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Paddy and the Ratcatcher 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Banana Machine 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Doughnut Ring 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Princess Trick 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Billy Rubbish 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	The Bubblegum Tree 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	The Watermelon Boys 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	The Popcorn Pirates 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Monkey Boy 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Teacher Trouble 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	The Spaghetti Tangle 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	The Muscle Machine 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Boing Boing 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Hari & His Electric Feet 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	Freddie Mole 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	Max Champion and the Great Race Car Robbery 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	The Great Clown Conundrum 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27	Noah Wild and the Floating Zoo 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2009–2010)

The Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith comprises three complete novels published between 2009 and 2010. This literary fiction mystery series should be read in publication order, beginning with Corduroy Mansions, followed by The Dog Who Came in from the Cold, and concluding with A Conspiracy of Friends.

Start with Corduroy Mansions and read in order.

#	Title
1	Corduroy Mansions 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Dog Who Came in from the Cold 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	A Conspiracy of Friends 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2013–2023)

The Detective Varg series consists of five mystery novels by Alexander McCall Smith, published between 2013 and 2023, following publication order beginning with Varg in Love. The series appears to be complete, with subsequent entries titled The Department of Sensitive Crimes, The Talented Mr. Varg, The Man with the Silver Saab, and The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf. These mysteries blend literary fiction with thriller elements across the author's signature storytelling style.

Start with Varg in Love, the first of 5 books in the Detective Varg series.

#	Title
1	Varg in Love 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Department of Sensitive Crimes 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Talented Mr. Varg 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Man with the Silver Saab 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2019–2019)

3 books (1990–1993)

Alexander McCall Smith's Harriet Bean series consists of three complete books published between 1990 and 1993 and should be read in publication order. The trilogy includes The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean, Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats, and The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean, with each entry building on the previous story.

Start with The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

16 books (2004–2026)

The Isabel Dalhousie series comprises 15 books published between 2004 and 2024, with the sequence still ongoing. Written by Alexander McCall Smith, this mystery and literary fiction series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Sunday Philosophy Club. The books follow the life and observations of Isabel Dalhousie as she navigates philosophy, relationships, and the complexities of everyday life in Edinburgh.

Start with The Sunday Philosophy Club, the first of 15 books in the Isabel Dalhousie series.

#	Title
1	The Sunday Philosophy Club 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Friends, Lovers, Chocolate 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Right Attitude to Rain 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Careful Use of Compliments 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday / The Comfort Of Saturdays 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Lost Art of Gratitude 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Charming Quirks of Others 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Forgotten Affairs of Youth 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Novel Habits of Happiness 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	A Distant View of Everything 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Quiet Side of Passion 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Geometry of Holding Hands 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	The Sweet Remnants of Summer 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	The Conditions of Unconditional Love 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	The Subtle Pleasures of Indiscretion 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2011–2016)

Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series includes three short works published between 2011 and 2016, following publication order: The Perils of Morning Coffee, At the Reunion Buffet, and Sweet, Thoughtful Valentine. This complete collection of novellas and stories offers readers a concise entry point into the character's world within the broader Isabel Dalhousie universe. Each piece stands as an independent entry while contributing to the overall arc of the series.

Start with The Perils of Morning Coffee and read in order.

2 books (1997–1999)

Alexander McCall Smith's Max & Maddy series comprises two complete mysteries published between 1997 and 1999. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery followed by Max & Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery. This short series blends mystery and literary elements with young adult appeal.

Start with Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery and read in order.

#	Title
1	Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Max & Maddy and the Chocolate Money Mystery 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

34 books (2022–2025)

The Mysterious Profiles series is an ongoing collection of 33 books published between 2022 and 2025 that should be read in publication order. Rather than following a single protagonist, this series features multiple mystery and thriller characters across different authors, including Alex Delaware, Aloysius X. L. Pendergast, Jack Reacher, Charlie Parker, and Inspector Morse, among others. The compilation brings together established detective and crime-solver characters from various literary traditions, blending mystery, thriller, and literary fiction elements. Begin with the first entry to experience how the series organizes and presents these diverse investigative figures.

Start with Alex Delaware(By: Jonathan Kellerman), the first of 33 books in the Mysterious Profiles series.

2 books (2006–2006)

Alexander McCall Smith's Myths series comprises two complete books published in 2006, both of which should be read in publication order. The series begins with Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams and concludes with The Fire Gospel, co-written with Michel Faber. These literary works explore mythological themes and exist at the intersection of McCall Smith's fiction and more experimental storytelling.

Start with Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams and read in order.

#	Title
1	Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Fire Gospel(By: Michel Faber) 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

27 books (1998–2026)

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is an ongoing mystery series by Alexander McCall Smith comprising 27 books published from 1998 to 2026. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and continuing through subsequent installments including Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, and The Kalahari Typing School for Men. With new entries still being released, this literary mystery series offers readers a complete arc while remaining open to future additions.

Start with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the first of 27 books in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

#	Title
1	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Tears of the Giraffe 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Morality for Beautiful Girls 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Kalahari Typing School for Men 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Full Cupboard of Life 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	In the Company of Cheerful Ladies 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Blue Shoes and Happiness 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Good Husband of Zebra Drive 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Miracle at Speedy Motors 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Tea Time for the Traditionally Built 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Double Comfort Safari Club 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Precious and Grace 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	The House of Unexpected Sisters 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	The Colors of All the Cattle 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	To the Land of Long Lost Friends 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	How to Raise an Elephant 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	The Joy and Light Bus Company 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	A Song of Comfortable Chairs 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	From a Far and Lovely Country 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	The Great Hippopotamus Hotel 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	In the Time of Five Pumpkins 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27	The Big Cats Dance Party 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2012–2012)

1 book (2014–2014)

#	Title
1	A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith's Edinburgh 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2017–2019)

Alexander McCall Smith's Paul Stuart series consists of two complete novels published between 2017 and 2019. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with My Italian Bulldozer followed by The Second-Worst Restaurant in France. This literary mystery series blends the author's characteristic wit with engaging plots across its two-book arc.

Start with My Italian Bulldozer and read in order.

#	Title
1	My Italian Bulldozer 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Second-Worst Restaurant in France 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2009–2015)

Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases is a five-book mystery series published between 2009 and 2015, now complete. The books follow in publication order, beginning with The Great Cake Mystery and concluding with Precious and the Zebra Necklace. This series chronicles the early detective cases of Precious Ramotswe as she begins her career as Botswana's first female private investigator.

Start with The Great Cake Mystery, the first of 5 books in the Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases series.

#	Title
1	The Great Cake Mystery 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Precious and the Monkeys 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Precious and the Mystery of the Missing Lion 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Precious and the Zebra Necklace 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (2003–2026)

This six-book series follows the adventures of Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld across publications spanning from 2003 to 2026. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances and continuing through The Lost Language of Oysters, the most recent entry. The series remains ongoing, with Alexander McCall Smith continuing to add to Von Igelfeld's story through literary fiction that blends humor with engaging narratives. Each installment builds upon the professor's world, making sequential reading essential for following character development and recurring themes.

Start with At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances, the first of 6 books in the Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld series.

#	Title
1	At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Portuguese Irregular Verbs 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Unusual Uses for Olive Oil 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Your Inner Hedgehog 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Lost Language of Oysters 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2014–2017)

This complete series of two novellas by Alexander McCall Smith was published between 2014 and 2017, with each entry illustrated by a different artist. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Good Dog Lion illustrated by David Dean, followed by Freddie Mole, Lion Tamer illustrated by Kate Hindley. These short illustrated works blend literary fiction with imaginative storytelling for young readers.

Start with Good Dog Lion(With: David Dean) and read in order.

#	Title
1	Good Dog Lion(With: David Dean) 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Freddie Mole, Lion Tamer(With: Kate Hindley) 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

14 books (1989–2023)

Alexander McCall Smith's Short Story Collections series comprises 14 books published between 1989 and 2023, presenting a diverse range of short fiction spanning multiple genres and styles. The series includes African folktales, contemporary stories, poetry, and tales exploring themes of romance, ambition, and human connection. These works should be read in publication order, beginning with Children of Wax: African Folk Tales and concluding with The Private Life of Spies and the Exquisite Art of Getting Even. The series appears to be complete.

Start with Children of Wax: African Folk Tales, the first of 14 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#	Title
1	Children of Wax: African Folk Tales 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	"Trouble at the North Pole" and Other Stories 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Perfect Hamburger and Other Delicious Stories 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Baboons Who Went This Way and That: Folktales from Africa 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Book That Changed My Life 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Trains and Lovers 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Chance Developments 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Pianos and Flowers 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	In a Time of Distance and Other Poems 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Marvellous Mix-ups 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Tiny Tales: Stories of Romance, Ambition, Kindness, and Happiness 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	The Private Life of Spies and the Exquisite Art of Getting Even 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

9 books (1989–2026)

Alexander McCall Smith's Standalone Novels series comprises seven books published between 1989 and 2024, with the series remaining ongoing. Each novel stands independently and should be read in publication order, beginning with Uncle Gangster. The collection spans McCall Smith's work across mystery, literary fiction, and other genres throughout his career.

Start with Uncle Gangster, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Uncle Gangster 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	La's Orchestra Saves the World 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Forever Girl 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Good Pilot, Peter Woodhouse 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Pavilion in the Clouds 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Winds from Further West 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Isle of Good Karma 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Private Side of Friendship 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2020–2020)

4 books (2023–2025)

The Perfect Passion Company is an ongoing series by Alexander McCall Smith with four books published between 2023 and 2025. Readers should begin with A Laborer in the Vineyard of Love and continue in publication order through Cook For Me, The Perfect Passion Company, and Looking for You. The series blends mystery and literary fiction elements across its interconnected novels.

Start with A Laborer in the Vineyard of Love, the first of 4 books in the The Perfect Passion Company series.

#	Title
1	A Laborer in the Vineyard of Love 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Cook For Me 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Perfect Passion Company 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Looking for You 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2015–2019)

The School Ship Tobermory is a four-book young adult series by Alexander McCall Smith, published between 2015 and 2019. The complete series follows publication order, beginning with School Ship Tobermory and continuing through The Sands of Shark Island, The Race to Kangaroo Cliff, and The Secret of the Dark Waterfall. Each installment builds on the adventures and mysteries encountered aboard the titular school ship and its voyages to exotic locations.

Start with School Ship Tobermory, the first of 4 books in the The School Ship Tobermory series.

#	Title
1	School Ship Tobermory 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Sands of Shark Island 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Race to Kangaroo Cliff 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Secret of the Dark Waterfall(With: Iain Mcintosh) 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

8 books (2009–2020)

The Writers on Writers series comprises eight critical essays published between 2009 and 2020, each exploring the life and work of a significant literary figure. Contributors including Phillip Lopate, C.K. Williams, Michael Dirda, Colm Tóibín, Michael Wood, John Burnside, and Roy Foster examine writers such as Susan Sontag, Walt Whitman, Arthur Conan Doyle, W.H. Auden, Elizabeth Bishop, William Empson, Henry Miller, and Seamus Heaney. This complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Notes on Sontag. Each volume stands independently while contributing to a broader literary conversation about influential writers and their legacies.

Start with Notes on Sontag(By: Phillip Lopate), the first of 8 books in the Writers on Writers series.

#	Title
1	Notes on Sontag(By: Phillip Lopate) 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	On Whitman(By: C.K. Williams) 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	On Conan Doyle(By: Michael Dirda) 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	What W. H. Auden Can Do for You 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	On Elizabeth Bishop(By: Colm Tóibín) 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	On Empson(By: Michael Wood) 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	On Henry Miller: Or, How to Be an Anarchist(By: John Burnside) 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	On Seamus Heaney(By: Roy Foster) 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1988–1990)

This complete three-book series by Alexander McCall Smith was published between 1988 and 1990 and should be read in publication order. The books are Alix and the Tigers, Suzy Magician, and The Tin Dog. The series blends mystery and literary fiction with young adult appeal.

Start with Alix and the Tigers and read in order.

#	Title
1	Alix and the Tigers 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Suzy Magician 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Tin Dog 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible