I think I’ve only read one book by this author and I didn’t enjoy it much. The Winds From the West I absolutely loved and I’ve listened to it in almost a single sitting. It’s simple but profound; a story of Everyman in many ways. How does one deal with the injustices of life and the difficulties caused by those we live and work with?

Neil is a lecturer whose work life is destroyed by an unwarranted complaint from a student. He makes a stand against his boss, ruthless and unpleasant , Henrietta and at the same time he’s questioning his personal life and love. He walks away from it all to Mull where he ponders. It’s introspective, but so relatable. Values are challenged and he has to work for resolution in every way. It’s really well narrated and there’s much food for thought in this story of our times. I really enjoyed it.

Another hit for me from AMS who consistently delivers. Beautifully narrated too which can make so much difference. A gentle but no means light storyline and a book filled with goodies you love and baddies you don’t.

2.5 🌟 rounded up.

This title got off to a brilliant start for me, it does one of my favourite things in that it’s a little voice in your head ear amongst a massive furore asking you what you think. I love being made to question my values by an author.

From part 2 onwards the story became a little bit disjointed for my liking, the mc moves to a remote island meets some people, ponders revenge, and really that seems to be it. The novel is very conversation heavy, which is no bad thing, I’d have loved to love it a little bit more.

The narration was really nice, although I did experience some minor sound issues.

My thanks to Bolinda audio and NetGalley for this ALC 🎧

This is the latest from Alexander McCall Smith, a rumination on the state of the world, located specifically in Edinburgh and the Scottish Isle of Mull, explored through the characters he creates and develops. I listened to this on audio, almost 8 hours long, ably narrated by James Rottger, the drama and people relayed well and keeping my interest throughout the storytelling. Dr Neil Anderson reflects on how your life path can be dictated by small things, a chance visit to a Turkish barbar's shop that led to him acquiring a public health position at Edinburgh University. Here soon after he meets Chrissie, the couple slipping into a relationship that results in him moving in with her, perhaps with insufficient thought.

The dynamics of Neil's workplace change drastically for the worse when a ruthlessly ambitious, manipulative, and unprincipled Henrietta is appointed the director. This is to have professional repercussions for him when a student makes a baseless complaint about what he is supposed to have said, and Henrietta refuses to support him, insisting that he makes a public apology. It is not an order he submit to, and he is encouraged by others to fight the injustice. When his personal life has to endure a painful betrayal, it pushes Neil to the edge, he decides to leave it all behind, making his way to Mull, to stay in a place owned by his gay best friend, James. Neil finds solace in the landscape and the sea, helping him to put things in perspective, and connects with a network of local people. There is Maddie, married to Stuart, who might keep goats, but loves poetry, and then Neil meets Jill, the local vet.....

Through the character of Neil, a man not easily stirred into action on his own behalf, despite being urged to do so by James, the author pushes for a less confrontational approach in a world where division and conflict are becoming the norm. There are detailed philosophical discussions on many issues, political, personal, global and local, and Neil boards a abandoned rust bucket of a Russian boat where 2 cubs are discovered and rescued. Whilst there are times when it feels as if some aspects have been shoe horned in clumsily, overall this is a enjoyable and entertaining read, sorry, listen, which fans of the author and many other readers might like too. Many thanks to Bolinda Audio for an ALC.

The story is that of coupling without any real love between the lead Niall and Chrisie, just a lot of affection and attraction atleast initially from one of them.

The coupling ends in betrayal and Niall moving to a fairly remote island,to his friends farmhouse to lick his wounds. As he makes sense of the betrayal he faced he slowly moves on and maybe takes baby steps to falling in love again.

I was very much interested in reading a lovestory from the author, though it holds strong mystery vibes, his trademark. Overall it is an interesting story that I enjoyed.

The audio is in 3rd person and it did the job, I wasn't a fan though and would've liked a few more or atleast the audio to be a duet.

Another lovely book from one of my favourite authors. I love Alexander McCall Smith's books because they are gentle, witty and meandering, therefore very easy to read / listen to. He has such an excellent grasp of humanity, relationships and life in general. This one is a standalone novel, set in Edinburgh and Mull; Neil leaves Edinburgh suddenly after various unpleasant work and relationship based events, and heads to Mull to stay in a friend's cottage. I enjoyed the story very much, as well as the excellent narration.
With grateful thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audiobooks for my advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I did like this book but I listened to the audiobook and I found myself having to concentrate more than normal on the narrator.
I enjoyed it and thought it was a good story. I felt for the main character and it kept me interested.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.