The Prime of Bertie Pollock: A Novel

44 Scotland Street #19

by Alexander McCall Smith

Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori Montagna, who is suffering from an acute identity crisis, wants to know more about her own past, and after doing a DNA test, she discovers that she has a relative she didn't know about. But her newfound family causes a bit of a rift between her and her flatmate, Antonia Collie. Can they work out their differences?

Bertie's dream of moving to the promised land – the Dear Green Place – comes crashing down as he learns that he is to move to the far northeast – Peterhead, near Aberdeen, leaving poor Ranald Braveheart Macpherson a little heartbroken and lost. Will the boys ever be reunited in the Georgian splendour of New Town Edinburgh?

And for Bruce, it's a case of history repeating itself. After getting all the attention he craves – landing a starring role in a new television series – the universe has one way of putting him in his place. Even in modern Scotland, lurking Calvinist tendencies might still strike.

Genres: Scotland, Fiction, Humor

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2026

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this book I remembered what a resident at the nursing home I worked at once told me. Some kids deserve a good smack. Every time Olive was mentioned that memory popped into my head. As much as I know Mccall Smith likes his books to be relaxing and gentle reads just once I would love for some of these people to get their comeuppance, for something to happen to them to put them in their place. Olive and Irene are the biggest bullies and yet they are usually shown kindness or continue to get away with their abuse of poor Bertie book after book. Bertie is described as a sweet kind hearted boy, but I see a child who has been beat down by his mother and the school bully so much he's learned to keep his mouth shut, because he's afraid of what might happen when he does open his mouth to defend himself. In real life Bertie will probably grow up to be a rebellious alcoholic or worse which is probably why he remains age seven for most of the series.
Also I was shocked to learn Sister Maria Fiore is thirty five? I thought she was much older like 50s or 60s the way she's written.
Anyway rant slightly over, back to another trip to Scotland Street. As usual this book was filled with asides and ramblings that made parts of it kind of boring. The Bertie parts were the best and even they were infuriating. I wish Stuart would go to court to protect his children (or child given Ulysses dubious parentage) from their abusive mother cause she is definitely abusive. She bullies poor Bertie and neglects Ulysses throughout the series and this book. Now she's decided to drag Bertie out of school and have him join her up north in the fishing village she's living in. A place where they speak a different language and where he knows no one, and as usual she doesn't really care how traumatic it will be for him. At least it seems the people in Peterhead have clued in about what a terrible person she is and Irene ends up in an even further flung place by her own choosing. May she be eaten by a polar bear.
Poor Bertie gets into trouble because of Olive being the worst, and refuses to defend himself. But hey he gets to meet King Charles and it's a cute moment except again he shows kindness to Olive even though we all know she's never showed any kindness to anyone in her life and never will. Seriously do better Bertie before all the anger and resentment bubble up and explode and you end up doing something really awful to yourself or others. And fir heaven's sake Stuart listen to your mother and do something about your I'm assuming ex wife.
Poor Big Lou it seems is never allowed happiness. She's another unrealisticly happy person. Also the Fat Bob plot is a repeat from a few books ago, like almost identical and since the first time it happened wasn't mentioned I suspect Mccall Smith is writing so many different books he's getting things mixed up or forgetting them entirely. But she may have found happiness with a Singaporean scholar. We can only hope the author will leave her alone and allow her to be happy.
Speaking of repeated storylines Bruce is back and about to star in a reality TV show about his brush with lightning and results in history repeating itself. I actually liked this story because for once the girl involved had some standards and told him to bugger off instead of gushing all over him, the makeup girl pointing out all his flaws had me giggling and also IKEA being the light you walked toward during a near death experience was kind of funny too as was the ending of his story.
Angus isn't around much which is good cause he's boring and a cure for insomnia, he's working on a series on paintings about Scottish history and he and Matthew talk about it and that's all we see of either of them for most of the book. I like Matthew and Elspeth is my hero for being the only character to actually put Olive in her place. That scene was so long ago but so glorious it still lives rent free in my head.
Finally we have Sister Maria Fiore who took a DNA test and learns she has a brother who also lives in Scotland. There's a bit of a twist to this story, not much of one as it was heavily foreshadowed. She and Antonia have a falling out over it but you know it'll work out, it always does. Also I'm still shocked at her age.
As much as I enjoy the relaxing nature of these books, it is starting to get to the point where people like Big Lou and little Bertie come across more as robots than real people. No one is that good all the time and it would be nice to see Big Lou break down and have a good long sobbing ugly cry or for Bertie to get upset over the constant bullying from his mother and Olive and stand up for himself. That teacher was also dumb for having Bertie and Olive in the office together. You split them up and get both sides of the story. Especially since it was said the teacher knew all about Olive. Being a teacher you'd think she'd know how tough is to give your side of things while your bully is sitting right there intimidating you. Poor Bertie. Maybe I'm more angry about this now given that the news is all about bullies who seem to be getting away with everything lately but this story line really pissed me off and I want revenge for that poor boy who's been so ill treated by most of the women in his life, except his grandmother.

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

As heart-warming and hilarious as ever.

[Adele · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

A rich dose of philosophical musings dispensed through the antics of the residents of Scotland St and its environs.

[John Scholz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so annoyed with McCall Smith, and his editors and publishers. Bertie is my favourite character, so I bought this book thinking it would be about Bertie. However only a portion is about him. The rest is a meandering disjointed rehash of previous plot lines, and the most boring characters who don't get up to much at all except walk the dog or have coffee at Big Lou's and discuss things that have no relevance to anything. Even the Bertie bit is totally implausible - Bertie's father and grand-mother allow Irene to destroy Bertie's happiness and they make zero effort to stop it. All they do is talk about it between themselves, with Bertie's father professing his adoration for Bertie but not lifting a finger to help him or even challenging Irene. Ridiculous! I used to be a fan of McCall Smith, but no more. It is unethical to mislead loyal fans with a title that is not what the book is about, and also rest on reputation and write so lazily. I want my money back!

[Bookwormbadger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful addition to this gentle and lovely series set in and and 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh. These characters feel so familiar now, and of course like many who love this series, my favourite is the forever 7 years old boy, Bertie Pollock.
Always entertaining and gently thought provoking with the inclusion of McCall's trademark philosophical discussions and following similar themes and patterns, I love the comforting familiarity of this series.
Excellent narration as always from David Rintoul.
With grateful thanks to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for my advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Wondrously Bookish Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my starting point into this beloved series, so I couldn't testify as to the worthiness of this particular new addition to the series. One thing I can say though is that the cosy atmosphere, the fully rounded characters and the intriguing plot have turned me into a new of the book.

I'll make sure to go back and read this form the beginning, especially if I can get my hands on the audiobook version, because David Rintoul made this positively delectable.

Many grateful thanks to Bolinda and Netgalley for this ALC.

[Catherine McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

To read a book by Alexander McCall Smith is to be reunited with old friends. Returning to Scotland Street again you are caught up with the goings on of Edinburgh. You want to grab Bertie and give him a huge hug and promise him that one day he and Ranald will get to Glasgow and they will never have to see Irene or Olive and Patsy again. You learn more about the history of Scotland, and her people, and you finish off with a heartfelt poem from Angus. It is always worth the trip to Scotland Street.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never thought I'd give only 2 stars to a 44 Scotland St book but I got a little bored with it. Perhaps I was just in the wrong mood for his ethos of life and the writing it inspires. Usually I like his books a lot.

[Trish · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Philosophical and touching as usual. The plight of small Bertie was heart wrenching and I loved that he got his moment of gracious glory. Does Richard have a Swatch car or a Smart car? I think we should be told. Maybe it runs by clockwork!

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be the first of the Bertie series to stall my interest. Too much repetition in the introductions of the characters and where in the past very little of consequence happening was part of the charm, this really grates the nerves.

[Karla Karstens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always beautiful!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more of a 2.5. There has always been a tinge of Scottish sentimentality, but I feel there was a bit too much this time. But I still love the characters.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm and humorous as always with a couple of pantomime villains and poor Bertie, their victim.

[Ronald Schoedel III · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites of the entire series, possibly.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful as always to catch up with the goings on in Edinburgh/Scotland Street ... but how I wish for Olive (and Patsy) to get their comeuppance and leave Bertie (and Ranald) in peace!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous as usual with all the same old characters we know so well

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’ve read the previous 18 books in this series then you’ll get exactly as expected. A cosy read. 75% is retelling what happened in the previous 18 books. And then in the new plot lines for several characters every one of their chapters summarizes what you learned in their earlier chapter.
And Bertie’s brother, Ulysses, disappeared from his guardian’s memories many times during the book (not part of the plot). The author seemed to forget about childcare while the adults were doing other things.
And there is still annoying is the overuse of 2 characters’ full, ridiculous names every time they’re mentioned. Completely unnecessary unless the author needed to meet letter count before publishing deadline. All other characters are called by their singular first names.
Finish the whole thing off with the routine house catchup with a poem and you have #19 book in the series completely meeting expectations. All while Bertie has barely got 1 year older.