It’s the most anticipated event of the decade—Big Lou and Fat Bob’s wedding—and everyone is invited! But the relative peace and tranquillity of 44 Scotland Street is about to be disrupted. Domineering Irene is set to return for a two-month stay, consigning young Bertie to a summer camp. Not content 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. As always, characters reflect on, or expostulate on a variety of subjects, exposing the reader to small doses of gentle philosophy in the process. Childhood games, customer service, the comfort of continuity, envy, sonnets, Neanderthals, historical guilt, vanilla poetry, prayers and barking, bagpipes and belonging, oppression, justice and the blessing of benign government, the loss of the Gaelic language,and categories of rows in a shared flat: all these feature. And of course, McCall Smith can’t resist a dig at the Turner Prize. There is so much to adore about these gentle books. In my opinion they are treasures. Not only are they homey but also refreshing and written with great beauty. Fans of this author ought to find this required reading. If you have not read any of his works, do not miss this and his other series. The latest in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series from the worldwide bestselling author, Alexander McCall Smith

The novel tells the story of Pat, a student during her second gap year and a source of some worry to her parents, who is accepted as a new tenant at 44 Scotland Street (a real street) in Edinburgh's very wealthy New Town (coordinates: 55°57′35″N 3°11′42″W / 55.95962°N 3.19492°W / 55.95962; -3.19492), and her various roommates and neighbours. She falls in love with her narcissistic flatmate Bruce, meets the intriguing and opinionated anthropologist Domenica Macdonald and her friend Angus, and works at an art gallery for Matthew, who was given the gallery as a sinecure position by his wealthy father.In these affable, humorous books Alexander McCall Smith follows the lives of a group of people who reside in Edinburgh's "New Town" neighborhood. Many of the characters live in apartments at 44 Scotland Street - and others are their neighbors, friends and acquaintances. Olive and Pansy indulge in cancel culture but are unable to get Tofu to react as intended; Irene coins the term “toxic caninity” with reference to the gold-toothed Cyril; Sister Maria-Fiore reveals a past in the Vatican’s Intelligence Service and puts it to good use in discovering the truth about Fat Bob. But Domenica thought: I really would like things to be forever. I would like to be able to sit at this table once a week, perhaps, with these friends. I would like to talk about the things we talk about, the small things, whatever happened in the world. I would like to wake up in the morning and not think that things were getting worse. I would like not to have to listen to the exchange of insults between politicians. I would like to hear of people co-operating with one another and helping others and bringing succour and comfort to the needy and... and I would like not to think that we were still in the seventeenth century, as divided amongst ourselves as they were at that time, pitted against each other, with one vision of the good battling another, and people despising others for their opinions.”

Some of the storylines in this particular instalment were a little jarring. Still, at least there was no Nudist association or Duke of Johannesburg storyline. Bertie’s trip to Glasgow with his father, Stuart, ends with Bertie winning money at cards off Lard O’Connor, a legendary Glasgow gangster. In the course of this adventure, Irene and Dr. Fairbairn, the psychotherapist, are engaged in a web of dark secrets and hidden agendas. I don't remember when (if ever) was the last time I read a novel published first in a newspaper. Mircea Eliade comes to mind, althout I am not sure if 1 I finished reading that particular thing I am thinking about (no idea which novel btw :D) 2 it got published in *daily* or rather *weekly* instalments... Anyways, 44 Scotland Street is published daily and I was intrigued by the concept. One might think reading this is a utterly waste of time, but I enjoy this particular reading and it goes quite smoothly, which is something I need now. Let's see for how many weeks or months, hehe. It feels at time as if watching some sitcom, so, perfect for what I had in mind. And, particularly, why NOW - when his fame and enormous royalties have put him into the class of MUST-READ COZY MYSTERY AUTHORS?For theresidents 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. Scotland Street is an episodic novel by Alexander McCall Smith, the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The story was first published as a serial in The Scotsman, starting 26 January 2004, every weekday, for six months. The book retains the 100+ short chapters of the original. It was partially influenced by Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, a famous serial story. It is the first book in a series of the same name. The series now has 15 books, as of 2021.

There, under the table, with its distinct sub-tabular smells, Cyril’s self-restraint was frequently tested almost to breaking point as he contemplated the ankles that he might so easily and deliciously nip. He did not bite; lesser dogs did that…”His characters, the likable ones (which are neariy all of them), are wise people. I enjoy hearing their thoughts. They are kind and always know the right thing to do or say. I am often moved by what they do. Bruce, Antonia, and Sister Maria...finding their hopes, dreams intersecting in a profound and life changing way. Bruce, a strikingly handsome surveyor, is a narcissist who thinks all women should want to date him. This story was first published as a serial in the Scotsman Newspaper, and 44 Scotland Street was the first book in the series that adopted the same title. In this first book, McCall Smith sketches his characters with charm and uniqueness, provoking both amusement and empathy.

At the gallery, Pat’s new job in Paris presents the ever-kind Matthew with a staffing problem. At Big Lou’s café, as part-owner, he tries to interest Big Lou in varying the menu. But at home, Matthew can only contemplate his good fortune: the love of Elspeth and his triplets, and work of James, the excellent au pair. Thus, he is surprised to find himself twice engaging in house-breaking. Domenica is an independent anthropologist who's interested in people, especially the new renters moving into the ground floor of 44 Scotland Street.

Personally, I think maybe one of his retired academic legal cronies one day stared him in the eye over a few pints of dark brown Guinness, an’ muttered, “Aye, Sandy me lad, yer rich an’ famous - so why not now GET WI’ THE TIMES? And so, one imagines, realizes the inveterately sensible and polite Alexander McCall Smith, turning a staid and placid corner of sedate old Edinburgh, and coming unawares upon some of the Road Kill of modern life. Bertie was composed of goodness, and sometimes goodness means that you take the blame for things you haven’t done. You accept it. You bear it. And he had borne so much in his brief seven years that a little more would not make much difference.” Once again, Bruce, the supreme narcissist and serial seducer, is engaged in his conceited and hurtful behaviour. Does he succeed this time and escape his karma?