Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Espresso Tales  By  cover art

Espresso Tales

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith, creator of the beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels, crafts the second irresistible installment in his Scotland Street series. Espresso Tales follows the charming and immensely popular 44 Scotland Street as all the favorite residents of that Edinburgh address return.

Between glances in the mirror, vain Bruce contemplates a new career as a wine merchant. His troubled flatmate, Pat, finds himself looking for true love at a nudist picnic. Precocious Bertie, now six years old, prepares for kindergarten despite the horror of being forced to wear pink overalls. Meanwhile, his domineering mother, Irene, and his psychologist, Dr. Fairbarn, struggle with dark secrets as Bertie plots his rebellion against them.

It's business as usual in the Georgian townhouse at 44 Scotland Street, and McCall Smith's innumerable fans wouldn't have it any other way.

©2005 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2006 Record Books LLC

Critic reviews

"McCall Smith's pacing is impeccable." (Publishers Weekly)
"Robert Ian Mackenzie's impeccable take on the characters reveals their trials, tribulations, blind spots, and charms." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Espresso Tales

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    437
  • 4 Stars
    225
  • 3 Stars
    83
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    415
  • 4 Stars
    122
  • 3 Stars
    41
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    344
  • 4 Stars
    154
  • 3 Stars
    61
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Meet more of McAall''s Quirky Characters

Uneven charater s. Usually author has ALL people, however minor interesting. But here only 2 stand out , but those make it worth the read. You find yourself rooting for the smothered 6 yr old genius . The portrayals of the narcissistic roommate, and the psychciatrist are hilarious & right on. Worth the read just for those .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

Great narrator and excellent story! Captivating simple story. Reading it you feel like you are part of this word. Victoria

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

love this book

If you could sum up Espresso Tales in three words, what would they be?

Absolutely charming characters!

Which scene was your favorite?

Bertie visits the psychologist and identifies Mummy as person who keeps him from enjoying his little boy life

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Could have done

Any additional comments?

I had read previously, but enjoy the narrator's voice and style. I let him read me to sleep every night. I love this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mrs Doubtfire

Wonderful story but sometimes I can't help thinking the narrator sounds like mrs doubtfire when ever he reads the women's parts.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great AMS story

I’m a big Smith fan. Great story. However, the quality of the audio is disappointing. Don’t let that deter you; just keep that in mind.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Scotland St Series

I enjoyed the book but I wish the author written more in detail about the main characters and left out the boring characters. Also, the performance suffered, because the reader went right from the end of one chapter without pausing, and stating the number of the next Chapter. This wasn’t the case after every chapter but enough to be disconcerting as there was no definite, ending to a chapter. You found yourself trying to listen very hard for the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Stories-Lovable Characters

Depth of character thoughts and emotions in these people, except for Bruce. Angus is my favorite. I’d like to be more like him.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great set of stories

Alexander McCall Smith is a storyteller to treasure! It took awhile to let go of Botswana. But the story (or stories, I should say) were well worth it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fab

Loved it especially Bertie and Stuart's assertiveness class ! Trip to the Burrell! Must Listen! Now to Book 3

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Getting to Make Friends in Edinburgh!

After this second 44 Scotland Street story, I feel like I'm making friends with people who live in Edinburgh. I almost feel I am with them at the coffee shop or dinner table experiencing the camaraderie. (I wish I were!) Each character is drawn with attention to detail, their stories with richness of imagination and charm. You are privy to the inner sanctums of their hearts and minds, and you watch their interactions with each other, misunderstandings, mistakes, caring. My favorite character is perhaps Cyril, the dog with the golden tooth. Good biting, Cyril.

When I first started these stories, I favored Smith's #1 Ladies Detective Agency Stories. Those stories hang together more as individual books and are, to a degree, more accessible, as I've not been to Edinburgh and Edinburgh is one of the stars of these stories. But after finishing #2 in this series, I am finding it equally as compelling as the #1 Ladies Detective Agency. I'm hooked and ready to move on to the third in the series - gotta see how things evolve, just like in real life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!