Category: Mystery

Lifespan: (August 24, 1948 - Present)

Interesting & Unique Facts: Smith is a respected expert on medical law and bioethics and hasserved on various international committees concerned with these issues. He is also internationally known as a writer of fiction, most widely known as the creator of the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series.

Born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, Alexander McCall Smith was educated at CBC Bulawayo before moving to Scotland to study law. After returning to southern Africa to teach law at the University of Botswana, he returned once more to Edinburgh, where he lives today with his wife, Elizabeth (an Edinburgh doctor), and their two daughters Lucy and Emily.

He is also an amateur bassoonist.

Author's work in order (with publication dates):

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series

• No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
• Tears of the Giraffe
• Morality for Beautiful Girls
• Kalahari Typing School for Men
• Full Cupboard of Life
• In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
• Blue Shoes and Happiness
• The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
• The Miracle at Speedy Motors
• Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
  

The Sunday Philosophy Club Series

• The Sunday Philosophy Club
• Friends, Lovers, and Chocolate
• The Right Attitude to Rain
• The Careful use of Compliments
• The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday
• The Lost Art of Gratitude
  

The 44 Scotland Street Series

• 44 Scotland Street
• Espresso Tales
• Love over Scotland
• The World According to Bertie
• The Unbearable Lightness of Scones
  

Professor Dr. von Igelfeld Entertainments Series

• Portuguese Irregular Verbs (2003)
• The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs (2003)
• At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances (2003)

Other Novels

• La's Orchestra Saves the World (2008)
• Corduroy Mansions (2009)
  

Short Story Collections

• Children of Wax: African Folk Tales (1991)
• Heavenly Date: And Other Flirtations (1995)
• The Girl Who Married a Lion: And Other Tales from Africa (2004)

Children's Books

• The Perfect Hamburger (1984)
• Alix and the Tigers (1988)
• The Tin Dog (1990)
• Calculator Annie (1991)
• The Popcorn Pirates (1991)
• Akimbo and the Lions (1992)
• The Doughnut Ring (1992)
• Akimbo and the Crocodile Man (1993)
• Paddy and the Ratcatcher (1994)
• The Muscle Machine (1995)
• The Bubblegum Tree (1996)
• Bursting Balloons Mystery (1997)
• The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean (1997)
• Chocolate Money Mystery (1999)
• Teacher Trouble (2000)
• Akimbo and the Elephants (2005)
• Dream Angus (2006)
• Akimbo and the Snakes (2006)
• Akimbo and the Baboons (2008)