Books, books and more books

Throughout his life, Alexander has written and contributed to more than 100 books. All are listed here along with the original publisher for each book and date of publication. Most have gone on to be published in various languages and editions across the world.

Fiction

Fiction

Titles by Date of Publication

  • 2024, The Perfect Passion Company, Polygon
  • 2023, The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee, Polygon
  • 2023, From a Far and Lovely Country, Little,Brown
  • 2023, The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf, Little, Brown
  • 2023, The Private Life of Spies, Little, Brown
  • 2023, Cook for Me, Polygon (e)
  • 2022, The Exquisite Art of Getting Even, Polygon
  • 2022, A Song of Comfortable Chairs, Little, Brown
  • 2022, The Enigma of Garlic, Polygon
  • 2022, The Captain’s Cabin, Jamie’s Farm
  • 2022, The Sweet Remnants of Summer, Little, Brown
  • 2021, The Joy and Light Bus Company, Little, Brown
  • 2021, Love in the Time of Bertie, Polygon
  • 2021, The Man with the Silver Saab, Little, Brown
  • 2021 Tiny Tales, Polygon
  • 2021, Your Inner Hedgehog, Abacus
  • 2020, A Promise of Ankles, Polygon
  • 2020 In A Time of Distance, Polygon
  • 2020 How to Raise an Elephant, Little, Brown
  • 2020 Tiny Tales, Polygon
  • 2020 The Geometry of Holding Hands, Little, Brown
  • 2020 The Talented Mr Varg, Little,Brown
  • 2019 Pianos and Flowers, Polygon
  • 2019 To The Land of Long Lost Friends, Little, Brown
  • 2019 The Peppermint Tea Chronicles, Polygon
  • 2019 The Second Worst Restaurant in France, Polygon
  • 2019 The Department of Sensitive Crimes, Little, Brown
  • 2018 A Gathering: A Personal Anthology of Scottish Poems, Polygon
  • 2018 The Colours of All the Cattle, Little, Brown
  • 2018 The Quiet Side of Passion, Little, Brown
  • 2017 The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse, Polygon
  • 2017 A Time of Love and Tartan, Polygon
  • 2017 A Distant View of Everything, Little,Brown
  • 2017 The House of Unexpected Sisters, Little,Brown
  • 2016 Precious and Grace, Little, Brown
  • 2016 The Bertie Project, Polygon
  • 2016 My Italian Bulldozer, Polygon
  • 2015 Chance Developments, Polygon
  • 2015 The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine, Little,Brown
  • 2015 The Revolving Door of Life, Polygon
  • 2015 The Novel Habits of Happiness, Little,Brown
  • 2014 Emma, Harper Collins
  • 2014 The Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café, Little,Brown
  • 2014 Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party, Polygon
  • 2013 The Forever Girl, Polygon
  • 2013 The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, Little,Brown
  • 2013 Bertie’s Guide to Life and Mothers, Polygon
  • 2012 The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection, Little,Brown
  • 2012 Sunshine on Scotland Street, Polygon
  • 2012 Trains and Lovers, Polygon
  • 2012 The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, Little,Brown
  • 2011 Unusual Uses for Olive Oil, Abacus
  • 2011 The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, Little,Brown
  • 2011 The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party, Little,Brown
  • 2011 Bertie Plays the Blues, Polygon
  • 2011 A Conspiracy of Friends, Polygon
  • 2010 The Charming Quirks of Others, Little,Brown
  • 2010 The Double Comfort Safari Club, Little,Brown
  • 2010 The Dog Who Came in From the Cold, Polygon
  • 2009 The Importance of Being Seven, Polygon
  • 2009 The Lost Art of Gratitude, Little,Brown
  • 2009 Corduroy Mansions, Polygon
  • 2009 Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, Little,Brown
  • 2008 The Unbearable Light of Scones, Polygon
  • 2008 The Miracle at Speedy Motors, Little,Brown
  • 2008 The Comfort of Saturdays, Little,Brown
  • 2008 La’s Orchestra Saves the World, Polygon
  • 2007 The World According to Bertie, Polygon
  • 2007 The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, Abacus
  • 2007 The Careful Use of Compliments, Little,Brown
  • 2006 The Right Attitude to Rain, Little,Brown
  • 2006 One City, with Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh, Polygon
  • 2006 Love Over Scotland, Polygon
  • 2006 Dream Angus, Canongate
  • 2006 Blue Shoes and Happiness, Abacus
  • 2006 African Folk Tales: The Baboons Who Went This Way and That, illustrated by Naomi Holwill, Canongate
  • 2005 Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, Little,Brown
  • 2005 Espresso Tales, Polygon
  • 2004 44 Scotland Street, Polygon
  • 2004 The Sunday Philosophy Club, Little,Brown
  • 2004 The Girl Who Married a Lion: And Other Tales from Africa, Canongate
  • 2004 The 2½ Pillars of Wisdom, contents: ‘At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances’; ‘Portuguese Irregular Verbs’; ‘The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs’, Abacus
  • 2004 In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Polygon
  • 2003 The Full Cupboard of Life, Polygon
  • 2003 The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs, illustrated by Iain McIntosh, Polygon
  • 2003 Portuguese Irregular Verbs, illustrated by Iain McIntosh, Polygon
  • 2002 The Kalahari Typing School for Men, Polygon
  • 2001 Morality for Beautiful Girls, Polygon
  • 2000 Tears of the Giraffe, Polygon
  • 1998 The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Polygon
  • 1995 Heavenly Date and other stories, Canongate
  • 1989 Children of Wax: African Folk Tales, Canongate

Titles by Series

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series
  • 2023, From a Far and Lovely Country, Little,Brown
  • 2022, A Song of Comfortable Chairs, Little, Brown
  • 2021 The Joy and Light Bus Company, Little, Brown
  • 2020 How to Raise an Elephant, Little, Brown
  • 2019 To the Land of Long Lost Friends, Little, Brown
  • 2018 The Colours of All the Cattle, Little, Brown
  • 2017 The House of Unexpected Sisters, Little,Brown
  • 2016 Precious and Grace, Little, Brown
  • 2015 The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine, Little,Brown
  • 2014 The Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café, Little,Brown
  • 2013 The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon, Little,Brown
  • 2012 The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection, Little,Brown
  • 2011 The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party, Little,Brown
  • 2010 The Double Comfort Safari Club, Little,Brown
  • 2009 Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, Little,Brown
  • 2008 The Miracle at Speedy Motors, Little,Brown
  • 2007 The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, Abacus
  • 2006 Blue Shoes and Happiness, Abacus
  • 2004 In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Polygon
  • 2003 The Full Cupboard of Life, Polygon
  • 2002 The Kalahari Typing School for Men, Polygon
  • 2001 Morality for Beautiful Girls, Polygon
  • 2000 Tears of the Giraffe, Polygon
  • 1998 The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Polygon
The Portuguese Irregular Verbs Series
  • 2021 Your Inner Hedgehog, Abacus
  • 2011 Unusual Uses for Olive Oil, Abacus
  • 2004 The 2½ Pillars of Wisdom, contents: ‘At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances’; ‘Portuguese Irregular Verbs’; ‘The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs’, Abacus
  • 2003 The Full Cupboard of Life, Polygon
  • 2003 The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs, illustrated by Iain McIntosh, Polygon
  • 2003 Portuguese Irregular Verbs, illustrated by Iain McIntosh, Polygon
The Sunday Philosophy Club Series
  • 2022, The Sweet Remnants of Summer, Little, Brown
  • 2020 The Geometry of Holding Hands, Little, Brown
  • 2018 The Quiet Side of Passion, Little, Brown
  • 2017 A Distant View of Everything, Little,Brown
  • 2015 The Novel Habits of Happiness, Little,Brown
  • 2012 The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds, Little,Brown
  • 2011 The Forgotten Affairs of Youth, Little,Brown
  • 2010 The Charming Quirks of Others, Little,Brown
  • 2009 The Lost Art of Gratitude, Little,Brown
  • 2008 The Comfort of Saturdays, Little,Brown
  • 2007 The Careful Use of Compliments, Little,Brown
  • 2006 The Right Attitude to Rain, Little,Brown
  • 2005 Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, Little,Brown
  • 2004 The Sunday Philosophy Club, Little,Brown
The 44 Scotland Street Series
  • 2023, The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee, Polygon
  • 2022, The Enigma of Garlic, Polygon
  • 2021, Love in the Time of Bertie, Polygon
  • 2020 A Promise of Ankles, Polygon
  • 2019 The Peppermint Tea Chronicles, Polygon
  • 2017 A Time of Love and Tartan, Polygon
  • 2016 The Bertie Project, Polygon
  • 2015 The Revolving Door of Life, Polygon
  • 2013 Bertie’s Guide to Life and Mothers, Polygon
  • 2012 Sunshine on Scotland Street, Polygon
  • 2011 Bertie Plays the Blues, Polygon
  • 2009 The Importance of Being Seven, Polygon
  • 2008 The Unbearable Light of Scones, Polygon
  • 2007 The World According to Bertie, Polygon
  • 2006 Love Over Scotland, Polygon
  • 2005 Espresso Tales, Polygon
  • 2004 44 Scotland Street, Polygon
The Corduroy Mansions Series
  • 2011 A Conspiracy of Friends, Polygon
  • 2010 The Dog Who Came in from the Cold, Polygon
  • 2009 Corduroy Mansions, Polygon
The Detective Varg Series
  • 2023, The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf, Little, Brown
  • 2021 The Man with the Silver Saab, Little, Brown
  • 2020 The Talented Mr Varg, Little, Brown
  • 2019 The Department of Sensitive Crimes, Little, Brown
The Perfect Passion Company Series
  • 2024, The Perfect Passion Company, Polyon

General Non- Fiction

General Non- Fiction
  • 2023 I Think of You & Other Poems, Polygon
  • 2020 In A Time of Distance & Other Poems, Polygon
  • 2018 A Gathering: A Personal Anthology of Scottish Poetry, Polygon
  • 2017 Who Built Scotland, HES
  • 2014 A Work of BeautyAlexander McCall Smith’s Edinburgh, RCAHMS
  • 2013 What WH Auden can Do for You, Princeton University Press

For Younger Readers

For Younger Readers
  • 2019 The Secret of the Dark Waterfall, BC Books
  • 2019 The Case of the Vanishing Granny, Barrington Stoke
  • 2017 The Race to Kangaroo Cliff, BC Books
  • 2016 The Sands of Shark Island, BC Books
  • 2016 Freddie Mole: Lion Tamer, Bloomsbury
  • 2015 School Ship Tobermory, BC Books
  • 2015 Precious and The Zebra Necklace, Polygon
  • 2014 Good Dog Lion, Barrington Stoke
  • 2013 Precious and the Mystery of the Missing Lion, Polygon
  • 2012 Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill, Polygon
  • 2011 Precious and the Monkeys, Polygon
  • 2010 Precious and the Puggies, B&W
  • 2008 Akimbo and the Baboons, Bloomsbury
  • 2006 Akimbo and the Snakes, Bloomsbury
  • 2000 Monkey Boy, illustrated by Tania Hurt-Newton, Hippo
  • 1999 The Popcorn Pirates, illustrated by Georgien Overwater, Hippo
  • 1997 Chocolate Money Mystery, illustrated by Georgien Overwater, Hippo
  • 1997 Bursting Balloons Mystery, illustrated by Georgien Overwater, Hippo
  • 1996 The Watermelon Boys, illustrated by Lis Toft, Viking
  • 1996 The Bubblegum Tree, illustrated by Georgien Overwater, Hippo
  • 1995 Billy Rubbish, illustrated by Martin Chatterton, Methuen Children’s
  • 1994 Who Invented Peanut Butter?, illustrated by Tony Ross, Methuen Children’s
  • 1994 The Banana Machine, illustrated by Nick Ward, Blackie Children’s
  • 1994 Teacher Trouble, Young Corgi
  • 1994 Paddy and the Ratcatcher, illustrated by I. Bates, Heinemann Young Books
  • 1994 Crazy Crocs, with Malorie Blackman, Longman
  • 1993 The Muscle Machine, illustrated by Terry McKenna, Hamish Hamilton
  • 1993 The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean, with Jean Baylis, Blackie
  • 1993 My Chameleon Uncle, with Elke Counsell, Blackie Children’s
  • 1993 Akimbo and the Crocodile Man, illustrated by M-Y. Low, Methuen Children’s
  • 1992 The Princess Trick, illustrated by Katinka Kew, Blackie Children’s
  • 1992 The Doughnut Ring, illustrated by Glenys Ambrus, Hamish Hamilton
  • 1992 Springy Jane, illustrated by E. Counsell, Blackie
  • 1992 Calculator Annie, illustrated by Jon Riley, Chivers
  • 1992 Akimbo and the Lions, illustrated by M-Y. Low, Methuen Children’s
  • 1991 The Spaghetti Tangle, Methuen Children’s
  • 1991 Marzipan Max, Blackie Children’s
  • 1991 Harriet Bean and The League of Cheats, with Jean Baylis, Blackie Children’s
  • 1990 The Tin Dog, Young, Cogi
  • 1990 The Ice-Cream Bicycle, illustrated by Stephanie Ryder, Viking
  • 1990 The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean, with Jean Baylis, Blackie
  • 1990 Suzy’s Magician, Young Corgi
  • 1990 Jeffrey’s Joke Machine, illustrated by Robert Barlett, Blackie
  • 1990 Akimbo and the Elephants, Mammoth
  • 1989 Uncle Gangster, Methuen Children’s
  • 1988 Mike’s Magic Seeds, Young Corgi
  • 1988 Film Boy, illustrated by Joanna Carey, Methuen Children’s
  • 1988 Alix and the Tigers, illustrated by Jon Miller, Young Corgi Books
  • 1987 On the Road, Chambers
  • 1982 The Perfect Hamburger, illustrated by Laszlo Acs, Hamilton
  • 1982 The Little Theatre, illustrated by Peter Rush-Jansen, Macdonald
  • 1980 The White Hippo, illustrated by Michael clifford, Hamish Hamilton

Academic Titles

Academic Titles
  • 2000 Justice and the Prosecution of Old Crimes, with Daniel Shuman, American Psychological Association (USA)
  • 2001 Errors, Medicine and the Law, with Alan Merry, Cambridge University Press
  • 1997 Forensic Aspects of Sleep, editor with Colin Shapiro, Wiley
  • 1993 Duty to Rescue: the Jurispendence of Aid, editor with Michael A. Menlowe, Dartmouth
  • 1992 The Criminal Law of Botswana, with Kwame Frimpong, Juta (South Africa)
  • 1992 Scots Criminal Law, with David Sheldon, Butterworths
  • 1990 Family Rights: Family Law and Medical Advance, editor with Elaine Sutherland, Edinburgh
  • 1986 Butterworths Medico-Legal Encyclopaedia, with J. K. Mason, Butterworths
  • 1983 Law and Medical Ethics, with J. K. Mason, Butterworth