Alexander McCall Smith Books in Order
Quick answer
New to Alexander McCall Smith? Begin with the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Start with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (1998), the first book. Precious Ramotswe's Botswana stories build on each other, so publication order is best.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency reading guide →- 1.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency(1998)
Start here - 2.
Tears of the Giraffe(2000)
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
Blue Shoes and Happiness(2006)
- 8.
- 9.
- 10.
- 11.
- 12.
- 13.
- 14.
- 15.
- 16.
- 17.
Precious and Grace(2016)
- 18.
- 19.
- 20.
- 21.
How to Raise an Elephant(2020)
- 22.
- 23.
- 24.
- 25.
- 26.
In the Time of Five Pumpkins(2025)
Newest
44 Scotland Street
44 Scotland Street reading guide →- 1.
44 Scotland Street(2005)
Start here - 2.
Espresso Tales(2005)
- 3.
Love Over Scotland(2006)
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
Bertie Plays The Blues(2011)
- 8.
- 9.
- 10.
- 11.
The Bertie Project(2016)
- 12.
- 13.
- 14.
A Promise of Ankles(2020)
- 15.
- 16.
The Enigma of Garlic(2022)
- 17.
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee(2023)
Newest
Isabel Dalhousie
Isabel Dalhousie reading guide →- 1.
The Sunday Philosophy Club(2004)
Start here - 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
The Comfort of Saturdays(2008)
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
- 10.
- 11.
- 12.
- 13.
- 14.
- 15.
The Conditions of Unconditional Love(2024)
Newest
Professor Dr von Igelfeld
Professor Dr von Igelfeld reading guide →- 1.
Portuguese Irregular Verbs(1997)
Start here - 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
Your Inner Hedgehog(2021)
- 6.
The Lost Language of Oysters(2025)
Newest
Detective Varg
Detective Varg reading guide →- 1.
The Department of Sensitive Crimes(2019)
Start here - 2.
The Talented Mr. Varg(2020)
- 3.
- 4.
The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf(2023)
Newest
Alexander McCall Smith FAQ
What order should I read Alexander McCall Smith's books in?
The longest series we cover is The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (26 books). For The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series: Start with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (1998), the first book. Precious Ramotswe's Botswana stories build on each other, so publication order is best.
How many series has Alexander McCall Smith written?
We cover 5 Alexander McCall Smith series: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, 44 Scotland Street, Isabel Dalhousie, Professor Dr von Igelfeld, Detective Varg.
Which Alexander McCall Smith book on BookPath was published earliest?
The earliest Alexander McCall Smith book in our reading-order coverage is "Portuguese Irregular Verbs" (1997), from the Professor Dr von Igelfeld series. We only list books that belong to series we cover, so this is not necessarily Alexander McCall Smith's debut.