McCall Smith built up a loyal fanbase around the world with his No 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels; a feat he has repeated with his 44 Scotland Street books. The comings and goings at the eponymous Edinburgh New Town house first appeared in The Scotsma

McCall Smith built up a loyal fanbase around the world with his No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels; a feat he has repeated with his 44 Scotland Street books.

The comings and goings at the eponymous Edinburgh New Town house first appeared in The Scotsman in 2004 to great acclaim, and the first serial novel, 44 Scotland Street, collected the first batch of stories and instantly became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

Love Over Scotland is the third such compilation, and follows Bertie's heroic struggle against his mother and her henchman, Dr Fairbairn; Pat becomes the object of the attentions of a mysterious admirer; Cyril the dog has a brush with disaster; and Big Lou provides coffee and advice for the characters.