A Promise of Ankles

We are back in Scotland Street, where Bertie is now living with his father and younger brother, Ulysses, his mother, Irene, having gone off to Aberdeen (at long last, in the view of some).

Bertie's father has found a friend, and is trying to get to know her better. Irene, though, may have other ideas. Big Lou is developing her coffee bar, aided by her new business partner, Matthew, father of triplets and dealer in art. Bruce, the confirmed narcissist, meets a charming dental hygienist. Will he reform and settle down? The mysterious Italian nun who arrived in Scotland with Antonia, one of the residents of Scotland Street, is becoming more enigmatic. Her meteoric social rise, however, continues unabated. She is now on the board of the Scottish National Gallery and is planning a rehang of the nation's paintings. Will she get away with that?

“'The spell this volume casts is as strong as ever, I am already longing for volume 15 ... There is a ribbon of humour running throughout and the characters are varied, memorable and very well drawn but I think it is Alexander McCall Smith's voice, so full of warmth and kindness and love of Edinburgh and its people which gives these stories their unique flavour'”

'The spell this volume casts is as strong as ever, I am already longing for volume 15 ... There is a ribbon of humour running throughout and the characters are varied, memorable and very well drawn but I think it is Alexander McCall Smith’s voice, so full of warmth and kindness and love of Edinburgh and its people which gives these stories their unique flavour'

'With its vividly surreal cast of outlandish characters - including 'aphorism coining socialite nun' Sister Maria, and 'chino-wearing narcissist'’ Bruce - and McCall Smith’s wonderfully wry delivery, A Promise of Ankles will not disappoint'

'Once again, old friends are met, time moves steadily on and we all gain a little wisdom as the Promise of Ankles unfolds, gently, seamlessly and in a most elegantly enjoyable fashion, courtesy of the master of words Alexander McCall Smith. Perfect summer reading.'

'Sumptuous, fun, witty, cleverly constructed and highly entertaining. Just what the doctor ordered in these hard times'

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the highly successful No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which has sold over twenty-five million copies. Since then he has devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers throughout the world. These include the 44 Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in the Scotsman, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, the Von Igelfeld series and the Corduroy Mansions novels.

We are back in Scotland Street, where Bertie is now living with his father and younger brother, Ulysses, his mother, Irene, having gone off to Aberdeen (at long last, in the view of some). Bertie's father has found a friend, and is trying to get to know her better. Irene, though, may have other ideas. Big Lou is developing her coffee bar, aided by her new business partner, Matthew, father of triplets and dealer in art. Bruce, the confirmed narcissist, meets a charming dental hygienist. Will he reform and settle down? The mysterious Italian nun who arrived in Scotland with Antonia, one of the residents of Scotland Street, is becoming more enigmatic. Her meteoric social rise, however, continues unabated. She is now on the board of the Scottish National Gallery and is planning a rehang of the nation's paintings. Will she get away with that?

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