Just So Stories

New South Books

Publisher: Polygon

9781846977169

December 2025/Hardback

AUD$39.99, NZD$44.99

My holiday reading was for pure pleasure, and not necessarily review books – just books that I had been wanting to read for my own interest or enjoyment. However, when it comes to Alexander McCall Smith, and particularly the Bertie books, that can very happily and pleasurably combine both.

I have yet to read an AMS book that I haven’t enjoyed, be it prose or poetry, and, most definitely, have never put down a Bertie book feeling let-down. I have many friends in my literary circle who agree whole-heartedly.

Bertie and all the Scotland St crowd are an absolute drawcard – a shining star in what is sometimes a dearth of warm, enjoyable, easy-to-read-but-still-with-depth novels. While the humour sparkles throughout, AMS also draws out the many quirks and personality peculiarities of a wide array of Dunediners, some born there and some imported who now consider themselves part of the very fabric of the city.

Whether it’s sweet and smart little Bertie himself, or his school nemesis, the horrid Olive [I really do want to just smack her!] or if it’s Big Lou who has made Edinburgh her home and also provided a home for a waif who might otherwise have been lost in the system. Perhaps it’s narcissistic Bruce, who thinks he is the centre of everyone’s universe but really is just tolerated because these are essentially a bunch of kind people. Maybe it’s Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna, that enigmatic nun who somehow is bewitching every high class institution in the city to fund her lifestyle, while at the same time she is squirreling away a piece of the actual Stone of Scone. And poor Matthew and Elspeth having to endure some downright nasty new neighbours but with determination provide refuge for the poor dog who has also been enduring them as their so-called pet.

As usual, Bertie is being beleaguered by his odious mother, who even though she’s left the family and is now shacked up with a fisherman on the remote coast, still wants to control them (of course, she does! That’s Irene’s only modus operandi) but with superb justice her latest scheme to provide Bertie with dual citizenship Irish/Scottish including Irish culture ‘lessons’ backfires beautifully on her – very sweet poetic justice. And he also has to deal with Olive, still bossing him around like the pretentious little madam she is, while he staunchly defends his dear friend, Ranald. The two of them have a lovely, and completely unexpected, adventure in subterranean Edinburgh. I long for the day when Bertie’s essential kindness and good nature abandon him just long enough to give Olive a really good telling-off, although it’s true he’s starting to bite back with more vigour.

It’s all just the delicious combination of humour, philosophy, insightful thinking and judgements and the multiple little dramas we have come to know and love, particularly in this series. Needless to say, it was read in just two sittings and always with the feeling of regret that it was already done. And also needless to say -it’s a 5 ✥✥✥✥✥rating for readers who appreciate the finer things in life.