1
of
1
A Promise of Ankles
Series: 44 Scotland Street
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 3,733 ratings, 411 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
Unit price
/
Unavailable
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY
Found a better price? Request a price match
A Promise of Ankles
$2799
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Book 14 in the delightful 44 Scotland Street series, by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Book 14 in the delightful 44 Scotland Street series, by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith
At the bottom of a sharply descending street—in the topographical sense—in Edinburgh's Georgian New Town, new residents have moved in to number 44 Scotland Street, joining the already well-known and much-loved denizens of that remarkable building. They appear to be a bit of a mystery, but so, too, do other things. What exactly did Sister Maria-Fiore, the aphorism-coining socialite nun, find on the No. 23 bus? Could it be the remains of a hitherto unknown Neanderthal, homo Watsoniensis?
On the romantic front, long-suffering Stuart's hopes of kindling a new relationship are dashed, thanks to chino-wearing narcissist Bruce, effortlessly exercising his powers of charm. The Promised Land beckons for Bertie who is off to Glasgow for a school exchange that takes him doon the watter. Back in Edinburgh, the Duke of Johannesburg's desire to learn a new language, involving his Gaelic-speaking driver Padruig, has gone horribly wrong; to be immersed in a language, it seems, can be a captivating linguistic mistake. And the patrons of Big Lou's café are in for a gastronomic treat. In other words, everything in Edinburgh is absolutely normal.
'Perfect escapism' Sunday Times, South Africa
'A vividly surreal cast of outlandish characters [and] McCall Smith's wonderfully wry delivery' Scottish Field
Series: 44 Scotland Street
View all-
44 Scotland Street
Immediately recognisable are the Edinburgh chartered surveyor, stalwart of the Conservative Association, who dreams of membership of Scotland's most exclusive golf club. We have the pushy Stockbridge mother, and her prodigiously talented five-year-old son, who is making good progress with the saxophone and with his Italian. Then there is Domenica Macdonald who is that type of Edinburgh lady who sees...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
A Promise of Ankles
Book 14 in the delightful 44 Scotland Street series, by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith At the bottom of a sharply descending street—in the topographical sense—in Edinburgh's Georgian New Town, new residents have moved in to number 44 Scotland Street, joining the already well-known and much-loved denizens of that remarkable building. They appear to be a bit of a...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers
As summer blooms in Edinburgh's gardens and Bertie Pollock's birthday appears on the horizon, all at 44 Scotland Street is not cake and sunshine. Newlywed Angus Lordie has been booked by his bride into what he must not call the loony bin; Bruce's first encounter with hot wax brings more anguish than he bargained for; and Bertie's birthday dreams of...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Love in the Time of Bertie
The latest in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series from the worldwide bestselling author, Alexander McCall Smith. Life for Bertie seems to be moving at a pace that is rather out of his control. Upstairs, at 44 Scotland Street, his father Stuart is powerless to stop overbearing Irene and her determination that Bertie will travel to deepest, coldest Aberdeen...Paperback$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Importance Of Being Seven
Despite inhabiting a great city renowned for its impeccable restraint, the extended family of 44 Scotland Street is trembling on the brink of reckless self-indulgence. Matthew and Elspeth receive startling—and expensive—news on a visit to the Infirmary, Angus and Domenica are contemplating an Italian ménage à trois, and even Big Lou is overheard discussing cosmetic surgery. But when Bertie Pollock—six...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Bertie Project
Bertie's respite from his overbearing mother, Irene, is over. She has returned from the Middle East, only to discover that her son has been exposed to the worst evils of cartoons, movies, and Irn Bru, and her wrath falls upon her unfortunate husband, Stuart. Meanwhile, Bruce has fallen in love with someone other than himself; Big Lou wants to adopt...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Revolving Door of Life
For seven-year-old Bertie Pollock, life in Edinburgh's most celebrated fictional street has just got immeasurably better. The enforced absence of his endlessly pushy mother Irene—currently consciousness-raising in a Bedouin harem (don't ask)—has manifold and immediate blessings: no psychotherapy, no Italian lessons, and no yoga classes. Bliss. For Scotland Street's grown-ups, life throws up some new dilemmas. Matthew makes a discovery...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee
Book 17 in the hugely popular 44 Scotland Street series by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith Glasgow for Bertie is the promised land. The city of pies and Irn Bru, far from his controlling mother, Irene - his place of escape. But how will he respond to the news of the proposed merging of Edinburgh and Glasgow? A new...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee
Glasgow for Bertie is the promised land. The city of pies and Irn Bru, far from his controlling mother, Irene—his place of escape. But how will he respond to the news of the proposed merging of Edinburgh and Glasgow? A new member of Bertie's class at school is causing ripples in his social circle. She is called Galactica MacFee and...Hardback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Unbearable Lightness Of Scones
To the casual observer, the great enlightened city of Edinburgh, home of no-nonsense philosophers and cream teas, might appear immune to the rollercoaster of strong emotions. But at 44 Scotland Street, as Matthew and Elspeth embark on the risky enterprise of married love, the raffish portrait painter Angus Lordie has a premonition of disaster. And soon enough, Irene Pollock is...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Peppermint Tea Chronicles
The Peppermint Tea Chronicles is the thirteenth book in the delightful 44 Scotland Street series, by worldwide bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith. It is summer in Scotland Street (as it always is), and for the habitués of Edinburgh's favourite street, some extraordinary adventures lie in waiting. For the impossibly vain Bruce Anderson—he of the clove-scented hair gel—it may finally be...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The World According To Bertie
Long-suffering child genius Bertie Pollock has much to contend with in the latest instalment of life at 44 Scotland Street, not least the birth of his brother Ulysses. Bertie had hoped that caring for a new baby would command all of his mother's attention, but he quickly sees that his dream of being left to his own devices is not...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
A Promise of Ankles by Alexander McCall Smith features a quirky array of characters set against a charming Edinburgh backdrop, crafting a narrative that blends humour and thoughtfulness. Critics praise its ability to provide perfect escapism, especially in challenging times, with witty humour and profound reflections on love, justice, and more. The warmth and kindness in McCall Smith's storytelling make this offering as enchanting as ever.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780349144719
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 03 June 2021
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Abacus
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 26.0mm
Width: 126.0mm
Height: 194.0mm
Weight: 260g
Pages: 336
About the Author
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of over one hundred books on a wide array of subjects, including the award-winning The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He is also the author of the Isabel Dalhousie novels and the world's longest-running serial novel, 44 Scotland Street. His books have been translated into forty-six languages. Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and holds honorary doctorates from thirteen universities. He was knighted by the King in 2024.
Also by Alexander McCall Smith
View all-
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Wayward daughters. Missing husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective. Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she's got warmth, wit, and canny intuition on her side,...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips early August -
The Full Cupboard Of Life
The Full Cupboard Of Life continues the delightful story of Mma Ramotswe, who remains engaged to Mr J.L.B. Matekoni following the events of the first book. Yet, she finds herself pondering when a date for the wedding will finally be set, all the while being careful not to exert too much pressure on her fiancé. Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, however, has...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Miracle At Speedy Motors
BOOK 9 IN THE BELOVED NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIES The one with the poison pen letter . . . For the first time in her career as Botswana's no. 1 lady detective, Mma Ramotswe suffers a blow to her faith in the goodness of humanity (and of her neighbours in particular) when she receives a threatening letter. But she...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
As the countdown to Mma Makutsi's wedding begins, all is not as it should be at the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. While investigating unpleasant occurrences on a southern cattle-post, Mma Ramotswe, always on the side of the weak against the strong, has reason to reflect on Rule No.3 of The Principles of Private Detection: never lie to the client. Apprentice...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon
As Botswana awaits the familiar blessing of the rains and the resumption of the eternal cycle, seismic upheaval is taking place at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Not only is Mr J. L. B. Matekoni attempting to reform himself into a modern husband, but after her marriage to Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Ramotswe's challenging but irreplaceable associate Mma Makutsi has...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Limpopo Academy Of Private Detection
Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi have always relied on the advice of the classic guide to their trade, The Principles of Private Detection. But who is the eminent author, Mr Clovis Andersen, and what if he were to come to Botswana? That seems a very unlikely possibility, and yet... When Mr Andersen visits Botswana on holiday, he is delighted and...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café
Even the arrival of her baby can't hold Mma Makutsi back from success in the workplace. No sooner does she become a full partner in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency—despite Mma Ramotswe's belated claims that she is only 'an assistant full partner'—she also launches a new enterprise of her own: The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café. Grace Makutsi is...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Precious and Grace
Precious and Grace is the seventeenth book in the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The one with the woman who lost her past . . . Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi's friendship is tested by a curious case: a client who left Botswana thirty years ago and remembers little of her past. The quest for the truth takes...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Colours of all the Cattle
The nineteenth book in the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series The one with the election . . . When Ramotswe enters politics to oppose the construction of the dubious-sounding 'Big Fun Hotel', her opponent turns out to be local troublemaker, Violet Sephotho. But the general air of excitement cannot eclipse important matters of detection. Charlie, assigned a mysterious...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
THE SIXTEENTH BOOK IN THE BELOVED NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE SERIES The one with Mma Ramotswe's summer holiday . . . The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine follows Mma Ramotswe as she takes a break, leaving important tasks in the capable hands of Mma Makutsi, co-director of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. However, Mma Ramotswe soon finds herself interfering...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Joy and Light Bus Company
Catch up on the latest from Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, and other favourites in this new instalment of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. "Mma Ramotswe is a glorious creation" - Mail on Sunday Mma Ramotswe knows she is very lucky indeed. She has a loving family, good friends, and a thriving business doing what she...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
How to Raise an Elephant
The latest instalment from the beloved The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series Catch up on the latest from Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and other favourites in this new instalment of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. As the temperature rises in Gaborone, Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, wonders whether the...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
More from General Fiction
View all-
The Wedding People
'BEST READ OF THE YEAR SO FAR' THE TIMES 'BOOKS AS FUN AS THIS ONE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN' GUARDIAN Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people — but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall...Paperback$2399Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseLand
Inspired by the mapping of Ireland in the mid nineteenth century, Land, the new novel from the author of Hamnet, is at once intimate and epic: a portrait of a family navigating a legacy of upheaval and loss with love and hope. On a windswept peninsula stretching out into the Atlantic, Tomás and his reluctant son, Liam, are working for the great...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set
The Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set by Brandon Sanderson is a landmark fantasy series that has captivated readers worldwide. Renowned for its innovative magic system, intricate world-building, and compelling characters, this trilogy is a must-have for any fantasy enthusiast. Immerse yourself in a world shrouded in ash, where a once-hopeful land is ruled by the tyrannical Dark Lord, known as the...Set$6800Elsewhere:$7500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Deal
Welcome to Briar U! Get ready for your newest obsession . . . Discover the addictive world of the Off-Campus series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy! Read The Deal now for the perfect fake-dating romance! She's about to make a deal with the college bad boy . . . Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Throne of Glass Box Set (Paperback)
Enter the realm. Unleash the darkness. Live the legend. Discover the worldwide phenomenon of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Throne of Glass series in this gorgeous 8-book box set! In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not...Set$12400Elsewhere:$15500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Crescent City Paperback Box Set
A beautiful box set containing all three paperback instalments of the Crescent City series from #1 bestselling global phenomenon Sarah J. Maas. BOUND BY BLOOD. TEMPTED BY DESIRE. UNLEASHED BY DESTINY. Maas has established herself as a fantasy fiction titan - Time Think Game of Thrones meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a drizzle of E.L. James – Telegraph Spiced...Set$5499Elsewhere:$7000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Project Hail Mary
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL A BARACK OBAMA READING PICK A lone astronaut. An impossible mission. An ally he never imagined. 'The most enjoyable hard SF I have read in years' GUARDIAN 'Weir's finest work to date... This is the one book I read last year that I am certain I can recommend to anyone, no matter who, and know...Paperback$2099Elsewhere:$2800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Signed BookplateNew ReleaseLight Wielder
THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO METAL SLINGER, AKA THE BOOK WITH THE PLOT TWIST THAT BROKE THE INTERNET Sail the seas. Master the blade. Protect your heart. What would you do to have it all? READERS ARE GOING WILD FOR *METAL SLINGER* ‘The BEST plot twist to ever grace my Kindle’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The author is a mastermind. Romantasy is back!!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Signed CopyNew ReleaseThe Ballad of Falling Dragons
☽ Raeve and Kaan will return in the highly anticipated sequel to the #1 internationally bestselling phenomenon, When The Moon Hatched. Prepare for more danger, magic, romance, and dragons! ☽ The #1 Sunday Times bestselling sensation When the Moon Hatched continues with the second book in The Moonfall Series, The Ballad of Falling Dragons… Discover the phenomenon everyone's falling for:...Paperback$3000Elsewhere:$3899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Dungeon Crawler Carl
The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman-now with bonus material exclusive to the print edition! You know what's worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what's worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...Paperback$2399Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
There Is No Antimemetics Division
Mind-bending science fiction about antimemes: ideas that attack memory, identity, and the fabric of reality itself. An antimeme is an entity with self-censoring properties. Some are benign, but others, less so... These entities can feed on your most cherished memories, the things that make you you—and you'll never even know anything changed. And they aren't just feeding on us. They're...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
General Fiction lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Hannah's listGeneral Fiction
Gothic Reads for Dark Nights
With the advent of movie adaptations like Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein, it looks like pop culture is seeing a revival of the...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Shirl's listGeneral Fiction
Shirl's Top 10 Most Recommended Books
These are my Top 10 books that I always recommend to my friends and whānau when they ask for recommendations for getting...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listGeneral Fiction
Books to Escape a Reading Slump
A reading slump can be a frustrating feeling and hard to break out of, but we've gathered together a list of crowd...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listGeneral Fiction
Lizzy's Pride Fiction Picks!
June marks Global Pride Month so in case you're looking for your next great fiction read, here's a list of some of...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listGeneral Fiction
Readers’ Top 100 Novels of All Time - from The Guardian
There was some controversy when The Guardian released their critics and authors list of the top 100 novels of all time, but...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Shirl's listGeneral Fiction
Shirl's Favourite Books of 2026
The first half of 2026 has been packed with brilliant books, making it hard to choose favourites but here are a few...View the list
