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 member of Bertie's class at school is causing ripples in his social circle. She is called Galactica MacFee and is going to be a match for Olive and her lieutenant, Pansy. And, an incredible new discovery: a Pictish stone, that is said to have the first-know written poem carved into it is the talk of the town. But, when the poem is eventually translated, it is thought it is best to keep it under wraps. In this new instalment in the perennially popular 44 Scotland Street series, we are back in the world of Angus and Domenico, Bruce, Matthew and Elspeth, and, of course, Bertie and his friend Ranald Braveheart Macpherson.

PRAISE FOR THE 44 SCOTLAND STREET SERIES:

'Perfect escapist fiction' The Times

'Simple, elegantly written and gently insightful' Good Book Guide

'A joyous, charming portrait of city life and human foibles' Sunday Express

'Does for Edinburgh what Armistead Maupin did for San Francisco... A light-hearted, genial soap opera' Financial Times