Alexander McCall Smith
On-Sale Dates is a record of book on-sale dates, each checked against publisher and retailer sources and re-checked nightly.
Next book from Alexander McCall Smith
Next: The Isle of Good Karma, goes on sale 20 Jul 2027, in 270 days. Status: Pending.
Different places start the on-sale day at different moments. What the stores state about the day is further down this panel, under its heading.
One source, Apple Books (US), gives 20 Jul 2027. A second source is needed before this is listed.
The stores' record is still partly boilerplate: no jacket art on file.
What the on-sale day means
Not one of Apple Books and Kobo names an hour or a time zone for a digital pre-order. What each store says happens on the on-sale day is in its own sentence below.
An on-sale date is the first day a store is allowed to sell the book. That rule is written down at Penguin Random House, Penguin Random House UK and Hachette UK Distribution.
Every quoted sentence in full, with its link
- Apple Books
When your pre-ordered item becomes available, your payment method is billed and you receive an email.
- Kobo
You’re billed for the book on the day it’s released, not the day you pre-order.
- Penguin Random House
The date that a title is allowed to go “on-sale” and appear on shelves and on display in stores for customers to purchase
- Penguin Random House UK
These titles are supplied to retailers in advance to enable stock to be available for sale on publication day, but must not be sold or otherwise supplied to consumers before the Controlled Publication Date.
- Hachette UK Distribution
The Customer shall not sell or make available to the general public or any third party any Goods before the publication date of such Goods unless authorised specifically in writing by Hachette UK Distribution.
Reader questions and answers
Is The Isle of Good Karma out yet?
The Isle of Good Karma is not out yet. It goes on sale on 20 Jul 2027, and the date stands at Pending. Apple Books (US) is the first source on file to state that day.
What's the next book's release date?
The Isle of Good Karma goes on sale on Tuesday 20 Jul 2027, and the date stands at Pending. One source on file states that same day. The date has stood unchanged since 21 Oct 2026.
Does The Isle of Good Karma have an audiobook?
No audiobook of The Isle of Good Karma is listed anywhere the site checks, and the alert fires on the day one is.
When does the paperback come out?
No paperback of The Isle of Good Karma is listed anywhere the site checks, and the alert fires on the day one is.
Books and editions
| Books and editions | Tier | Region | On-sale date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Prime of Bertie Pollock | |||
| Ebook | Pending | US | Unverified: 13 Apr 2027 |
| Ebook | Released | UK | 6 Aug 2026 |
| Audiobook | Released | UK | 1 Jul 2026 |
| The Isle of Good Karma | |||
| Hardcover A format expected for a book of this kind, not listed. | No date | US | Date not held yet Get an alert |
| Paperback A format expected for a book of this kind, not listed. | No date | US | Date not held yet Get an alert |
| Ebook | Pending | US | Unverified: 20 Jul 2027 |
| Audiobook A format expected for a book of this kind, not listed. | No date | US | Date not held yet Get an alert |
| No date Not yet listed: Hardcover US, Paperback US, Audiobook US Get an alert | |||
Release rhythm
- The Prime of Bertie PollockFirst on record Released on 1 Jul 2026
- The Big Cats Dance Party2 months after The Prime of Bertie Pollock Released on 15 Sep 2026
Change log
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 9 Sep 2026, No date became 15 Sep 2026. Title accepted from discovery: Apple Books (US) listing.
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 10 Sep 2026, Pending became Listed. Nightly check: Apple Books (US), Google Books.
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 10 Sep 2026, No date became 3 Sep 2026. Edition first seen: Apple Books (UK).
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 10 Sep 2026, No date became 3 Jul 2026. Edition first seen: Apple Books (UK).
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 11 Sep 2026, Pending became Released. Nightly check: Apple Books (UK).
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 14 Sep 2026, the store first named Chipo Chung in the audiobook credits. Apple Books (UK) names who reads.
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 14 Sep 2026, Listed became Pending. The Google Books record counted here is the record another country's edition stands on, so it is not a second source for this one.
- The Big Cats Dance Party: On 15 Sep 2026, Pending became Released. Nightly check: Apple Books (US), Google Books.
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 9 Sep 2026, No date became 13 Apr 2027. Title accepted from discovery: Apple Books (US) listing.
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 10 Sep 2026, Pending became Listed. Nightly check: Apple Books (US), Google Books.
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 10 Sep 2026, No date became 6 Aug 2026. Edition first seen: Apple Books (UK).
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 10 Sep 2026, No date became 1 Jul 2026. Edition first seen: Apple Books (UK).
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 11 Sep 2026, Pending became Released. Nightly check: Apple Books (UK).
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 14 Sep 2026, the store first named David Rintoul in the audiobook credits. Apple Books (UK) names who reads.
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 14 Sep 2026, Listed became Pending. The Google Books record counted here is the record another country's edition stands on, so it is not a second source for this one.
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 15 Sep 2026, Pending became Listed. Nightly check: Apple Books (US), Google Books.
- The Prime of Bertie Pollock: On 6 Oct 2026, Listed became Pending. Nightly check: Apple Books (US).
- The Isle of Good Karma: On 21 Oct 2026, No date became 20 Jul 2027. Title accepted from discovery: Apple Books (US) listing.