Unexpected!

The Winds from Further West: A Novel by Alexander McCall Smith  

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Strangely haunting, yet arresting tale of a honest, decent man Dr. Neil Anderson. Neil is a medical researcher and lecturer in Public Health at Edinburgh University.

Neil’s reported by a student for using improper language about people who live in a downtrodden area. He didn’t. The student is a would be activist. Neil’s ambitious head of department decides that Neil must apologise to the class. She can make political mileage out of this!

Neil refuses and resigns. At the same time he finds out his partner Chrissie Thomson is having an affair. Neil comes home early and walks in on Chrissie and her lover. 

Neil heads off to the Isle of Mull, off the West Coast of Scotland, to think things through. He stays in a house belonging to his gay friend James. 

Neil finds himself becoming more involved with his neighbors in this very different community on the Isle. 

An interesting fellow James who has strong ideas on injustices and retribution.

James is further annoyed on the part of Neil when Neil finds out that Chrissie has been employed by his ex boss to carry on with Neil’s research and lectures. Hmmm!

A winsome treatise on thoughts, actions, life and choices run through this rather fascinating tale from McCall Smith.

A Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.