Order of Alexander McCall Smith Books

Alexander McCall Smith is a Scottish author (though born in Rhodesia) of crime fiction and children’s books. He is the author of several series, including the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld Entertainment, Isabel Dalhousie, 44 Scotland Street and more. Aside from being a novelist, he also writes medical law and bioethics non-fiction books.

Though his non-fiction writings and children’s books date back to 1978, Alexander McCall Smith became a novelist when he published The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency in 1999. Below is a list of all of McCall Smith’s fiction books in order of when they were originally published (which is also their chronological order):

Publication Order of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Books

Publication Order of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Collections

Publication Order of Professor Dr. Von Igelfeld Books

Publication Order of Isabel Dalhousie Books

Publication Order of Isabel Dalhousie Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of 44 Scotland Street Books

Publication Order of Myths Books

Publication Order of Corduroy Mansions Books

Publication Order of The School Ship Tobermory Books

Publication Order of The Perfect Passion Company Books

Publication Order of Paul Stuart Books

Publication Order of Detective Varg Books

Publication Order of Detective Varg Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Akimbo Books

(with LeUyen Pham)

Publication Order of Harriet Bean Books

Publication Order of Max & Maddy Books

Publication Order of Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases Books

Publication Order of Young Corgi Books

Publication Order of The Big-Top Mysteries Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Children's Books

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Austen Project Books

Publication Order of Mysterious Profiles Books

Publication Order of Writers on Writers Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Notes: In the Company of Cheerful Ladies is also known as The Night-Time Dancer. The Great Cake Mystery was also published as Precious and the Puggies (Scots language version) and Precious and the Monkeys in English. The Comfort of Saturdays is the UK title of The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday. Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill was published in Scots as Precious and the Mischief at Meerkat Brae.

No Rest for the Dead is a collaborative novel that contains contributions from many different authors. Trouble At the North Pole and Other Stories also contains stories by Lisa Bruce, Berlie Doherty and Effin Older. One City is a collaboration with Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh.The Books That Changed My Life, Ox-Tales: Air, What You Wish For: A Book for Darfur and Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People each contain contributions from many other authors. The non-fiction book Better Than Fiction is co-authored with Joyce Carol Oates and D.B.C. Pierre.

If You Like Alexander McCall Smith Books, You’ll Love…

• Richard Osman
• Jacqueline Winspear
• Donna Leon

Alexander McCall Smith Synopses: The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse is a standalone novel by Alexander McCall Smith. During the war, Val Eliot, a young woman working on an English farm, meets Mike, a nearby U.S. Air Force pilot. Val realizes that Peter Woodhouse, a Border Collie, would actually be safer with Mike when she rescues him from his abusive owner. Thus, Peter Woodhouse moves into a new residence on the air force base, and Val falls in love. Val becomes Mike’s fiancée, and Peter Woodhouse transforms into Dog First Class, the base’s canine mascot who bravely accompany the officers on their missions. Peter Woodhouse brings Ubi, a German corporal, into their orbit after a disaster jeopardizes their future, igniting a friendship that is fraught with danger but rich in rewards.

Hari and His Electric Feet is a children’s novel by Alexander McCall Smith. Hari is a dreamer who can do something unusual. He uses the few dollars he makes from washing cars to go to the movies to see and learn from his favorite Bollywood films. Then, one day, Mr. Ram, a man on a mission to settle disputes both near and far, spots Hari’s gloriously fancy footwork. Because Hari’s magical dancing has such an effect on everyone, he is soon invited to the White House, where his electric feet bring peace to the president and his family.

The Forever Girl by Alexander McCall Smith is a standalone title. The close-knit expat community on Grand Cayman Island, an idyllic place for children to grow up, is where Amanda and her husband David are raising their son and daughter, and they consider themselves fortunate to be there. Sally, their first child, has always followed her heart. When she was four years old, she decided she preferred to be called Clover and then fell in love with James, her best friend.

However, for adults, the reassuring embrace of island life can become confined, particularly when confronted with challenging circumstances. Amanda realizes that she is no longer in love with David at the same time that Clover falls in love with James and that she is attracted to someone else. Clover discovers, to her dismay, that James appears to be moving away from her as Amanda tries to navigate the new path her heart is leading her down. She also feels like she might have lost him for good when they leave the island for boarding school—James goes to England, Clover goes to Scotland. She finds herself torn between a desire to move forward with her life and the old feelings that she just can’t let go of as Clover moves on to university, rarely seeing James but always holding him in her heart.

4 Responses to “Order of Alexander McCall Smith Books”

1. maryanna mayer: 10 months ago

   First discovered the books about Botswana ! ! ! several others and THEN the Isabel Dalhousie series . Always thought I was a fast reader, but Alexander McCall Smith can write faster than I can read . Full of life & goodness ….mostly.

   Reply

2. Alan Andrews: 4 years ago

   Love McAll Smith’s books. Will another “#1 Ladies” volume be released soon? God, I hope so.

   Reply

3. Norma Lyle: 4 years ago

   I love Precious Ramotswe and her family and friends. Thank you Alexander McCall Smith for creating this enjoyable world to share with us, your public.

   Reply

4. 'grandma' Jeanne: 8 years ago

   I have just discovered Alexander McCall Smith’s books. Someone left three paperbacks at the women’s locker room at the Y. I have been hooked ever since. I spend much of my free time reading about Precious and her life.
   What a great author..so sensitive and insightful into people and the sweet, gentle people of Africa…Botswana to be specific.
   I thank him and recommend his books.

   Reply