"A collection of offbeat stories about dating and love" by the New York Times-bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies‘ Detective Agency (Booklist). Known for his sharp-witted mysteries set in Botswana and Sweden and numerous other literary works, Alexander Mc Call Smith here presents an assortment of short fiction revolving around casual dates, romantic encounters, and other human entanglements-which often don’t proceed as expected and may turn shocking, compulsive, complicated, or sometimes, completely disastrous. But when it comes to matters of the heart, we human don’t give up easily…"The author’s fondness for globetrotting settings is once again in evidence, with the tales taking place in various European countries, Australia, and, of course, southern Africa. Some of the stories are curiously peculiar; some are darkly funny; but all of them remind us of why dating is such a precarious endeavor. Smith’s characters possess the quirkiness of Hiaasen creations; just imagine them on an episode of Blind Date. For love stories without the sap, you can’t go wrong here."-Booklist"Reminiscent of Roald Dahl in their dark ironies…deftly written and droll."-Michel Faber, author of The Book of Strange New Things"Captivating."-Publishers Weekly