There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed and other parts less so. I found the friendship between Neil and James really strange. When talking he would often talk around asking if things were because he was gay. I thought that as a friend of years who was apparently absolutely fine with his friends sexuality it was odd that he kept talking about it so indirectly. However the actual story of this I liked, I liked that it didn’t become a revenge story as it so easily could have.

I am a big fan of Alexander McCall Smith’s books so I was thrilled to be given the chance to listen to this new stand alone novel on audio. As with all audiobooks, the narrator is key and James Rottger does a great job conveying the philosophical and contemplative nature of the writing through his narration.

The book examines some very topical issues like cancel culture and how we can become the victim of someone else’s agenda. It looks at ‘the butterfly effect’; how one small insignificant event can lead to significant changes in your life.

As with many of Alexander McCall Smith’s books, Scotland plays its part. Neil leaves the buzz and chaos of Edinburgh to spend time in Mull and reflect on recent events. Mull is beautifully described and provides the perfect setting for Neil to consider what is important in his life and consider the path he wants to take.

Thought provoking as always, I enjoyed listening to this latest story from Alexander McCall Smith and would definitely recommend the audiobook but be warned you may be left with a yearning to escape to Mull!

3.5 ⭐️

I’ve been reading Alexander McCall Smith’s books for as long as he’s been writing them and always enjoy his gentle reflections on life as displayed through his many wonderful characters. This one, however, a rare standalone, fell slightly short of the mark for me.

It’s the story of Neil Anderson, a medical doctor and lecturer at Edinburgh University, whose comfortable life blows apart when he faces a baseless, career-ending accusation at work and is simultaneously betrayed by his live-in girlfriend. Neil retreats to the tiny Hebridean island of Mull to lick his wounds and assess his options moving forward.

What follows is a quiet exploration of injustice and how to rise above it with good grace by reflecting on the more important things in life and ultimately finding an inner peace. It all sounds rather trite, but as is his wont, McCall Smith embellishes Neil’s story with some light philosophical meanderings on topics as diverse as nature – both its healing power and its deterioration—politics, and revenge versus forgiveness, among many others.

This was a relatively short audiobook, beautifully narrated by James Rottger and a pleasant accompaniment to my daily walk. However, I really wanted more from it. I loved the descriptions of Mull and the way Neil found resolution but felt an overall lack of cohesion given the multitude of ideas thrown at the reader.

I hugely admire McCall Smith’s intellect and his ability to ponder serious life questions in an unassuming way, but I have to say that this is probably my least favorite of all his books I’ve read.

I've read lots of Alexander McCall Smith books, but this was not my favourite. To me - and I'm probably in the minority here - the story is interesting and would make a fantastic short story, but there isn't enough to keep my interest for a full book. I must confess I lost interest in the characters part-way through. The book started quite fast paced and then just slowed right down with what felt like fillers.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an enjoyable read for me, though the storyline felt a bit fragmented.

The main character’s move to a remote island, meeting new people, and reflecting on revenge made for an intriguing premise, but ultimately, it felt like the plot didn’t go much beyond that

This is a gentle, character-led story that follows Neil, a doctor and lecturer, whose career and life are aquaplaning. That is, until his new boss decides to use an unsubstantiated and meritless complaint (from an angry young man with nothing important to worry about) to her advantage.
Her clumsy handling of the situation and misjudgement cause Neil to make a life-changing decision. His personal life implodes at just the wrong (or perhaps, right) moment, and a good friend jumps in to offer him a lifeline.
This story illustrates the erroneous nature of assumptions, the importance of perspective, the peace that comes with forgiveness and the freedom that making your own choices can bring.
As you’d expect from an Alexander McCall Smith novel, it’s beautifully written, and while I found the pace a little slow, this was very much in-keeping with the character of this story.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the chance to listen to an ARC. The Winds from Further West is out now.

The Winds from Further West is a gently paced romance about self-exploration which also introduces the reader to the quiet beauty of the Hebrides islands in Scotland.
Dr. Neil Anderson goes through some abrupt changes in his life when a university student misinterprets something he says, puts his job in jeopardy, and this snowballs into a whole new life arc for him. The characters in this story were very realistic, not all of them were likeable but they had quite a few tough and awkward conflicts to work through which really made me think about the grey areas in life and what I'd do in this kind of situation.

The audiobook was beautifully narrated by James Rottger, with several different accents that transport you right to Edinburgh and the Hebrides.

I'd always heard good things about Alexander McCall Smith, but as a large bulk of his work was a series, I'd never quite got round to delving into it. I was therefore happy to give this standalone novel a go.

Through the story of Dr Neil Anderson and a misinterpreted innocuous remark, McCall Smith explores modern cancel culture, workplace ambition, and betrayal. I found Neil really interesting and nuanced - was he a bit of a drip, or too emotionally unattached, or instead was he the only grown up in the room, and right to take things in his stride and move on? My only complaint was that I felt that the last couple of chapters were rushed - it could have easily been a bit longer once Neil decided what to do.

Overall, a gentle but thought provoking listen that I very much enjoyed.

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.