Reviews
"McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." -- San Francisco Chronicle "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." -- Newsday "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." -- The Independent (London) "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." -- Chicago Sun-Times "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." -- San Francisco Chronicle "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." -- The New York Times "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . [McCall Smith's] writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, [his] novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." -- Newsday "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." -- The Dallas Morning News "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming." -- The Globe and Mail (Toronto) "[McCall Smith] captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." -- USA Today, "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . �His� depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "�McCall Smith's� accomplished novels . . . �are� dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." --"The Independent" (London) "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." --"Chicago Sun-Times" "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . �His� depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." --"The New York Times" "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . �McCall Smith's� writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan "�McCall Smith's� accomplished novels . . . �are� dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, �his� novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints hishometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas Morning News" "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . �He� is prolific and habit-forming." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) "�McCall Smith� captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." --"USA Today", "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." -- San Francisco Chronicle "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." -- Newsday "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." -- The Independent (London)"Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." -- Chicago Sun-Times "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." -- San Francisco Chronicle "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." -- The New York Times "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . [McCall Smith's] writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, [his] novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." -- Newsday "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." -- The Dallas Morning News "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming." -- The Globe and Mail (Toronto)"[McCall Smith] captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." -- USA Today, Praise for Alexander McCall Smith: "There's no mystery as to why Alexander McCall Smith's books are everywhere.... His works are engaging, delightful events, immersing readers in a world that is foreign, yet familiar, where good people try to do their best in life, with mixed results." --"Calgary Herald "McCall Smith is a splendid storyteller." --"The Globe and Mail "[His] writing [is] very accessible, yet the prose so beautiful." --Amy Tan "McCall Smith is a treasure of a writer whose books deserve immediate devouring." --"The Guardian (London), "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --San Francisco Chronicle "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --Newsday "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." --The Independent (London) "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." --Chicago Sun-Times "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --San Francisco Chronicle "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." --The New York Times "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . [McCall Smith's] writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, [his] novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --Newsday "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --The Dallas Morning News "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming." --The Globe and Mail (Toronto) "[McCall Smith] captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." --USA Today, "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." --"The Independent" (London) "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." --"Chicago Sun-Times" "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." --"The New York Times" "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . [McCall Smith's] writing is accessible and the prose isbeautiful." --Amy Tan "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, [his] novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas Morning News" "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) "[McCall Smith] captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." --"USA Today", "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --San Francisco Chronicle "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --Newsday "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." --The Independent(London) "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." --Chicago Sun-Times "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --San Francisco Chronicle "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." --The New York Times "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . [McCall Smith's] writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, [his] novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --Newsday "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --The Dallas Morning News "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming." --The Globe and Mail(Toronto) "[McCall Smith] captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." --USA Today From the Trade Paperback edition., " McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" " [McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" " McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." --"The Independent" (London) " Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith ' mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." --"Chicago Sun-Times" " McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" " McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." --"The New York Times" " Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . [McCall Smith's] writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan " [McCall Smith' s] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, [his] novels aregentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" " Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas Morning News" " Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) " [McCall Smith] captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." --"USA Today", "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . ÝHisš depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "ÝMcCall Smith'sš accomplished novels . . . Ýareš dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." --"The Independent" (London) "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." --"Chicago Sun-Times" "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . ÝHisš depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." --"The New York Times" "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . ÝMcCall Smith'sš writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan "ÝMcCall Smith'sš accomplished novels . . . Ýareš dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, Ýhisš novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints hishometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas Morning News" "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . ÝHeš is prolific and habit-forming." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) "ÝMcCall Smithš captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." --"USA Today", "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . ÝHis¨ depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "ÝMcCall Smith's¨ accomplished novels . . . Ýare¨ dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities. . . . .These novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "McCall Smith's writing . . . harks back to a more tranquil age, where gentle ironies and strict proprieties prevail. . . . The pleasure of the novel lies in its simplicity." --"The Independent" (London) "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." --"Chicago Sun-Times" "McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . ÝHis¨ depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books . . . to readers." --"The New York Times" "Pure joy. . . . The voice, the setting, the stories, the mysteries of human nature. . . . ÝMcCall Smith's¨ writing is accessible and the prose is beautiful." --Amy Tan "ÝMcCall Smith's¨ accomplished novels . . . Ýare¨ dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, Ýhis¨ novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." --"Newsday" "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints hishometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas Morning News" "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . ÝHe¨ is prolific and habit-forming." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) "ÝMcCall Smith¨ captures the cold, foggy, history-drenched atmosphere of Edinburgh . . . with a Jane Austen-like attention to detail." --"USA Today"
