About the Author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the highly successful No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which has sold over twenty-five million copies. Since then he has devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers throughout the world. These include the 44 Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in the Scotsman, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, the Von Igelfeld series and the Corduroy Mansions novels.

Reviews

'A page-turner with many happy endings. Perfect'
*Daily Express*

'A great place to visit if you need cheering up'
*The Scotsman*

'A twisting plot line, told in McCall Smith's usual entertaining style, makes this a great read'
*Waterstones Book Quarterly*

This is the second entry in McCall Smitth's "Corduroy Mansions" series. It features most of the same beloved characters, but the title derives from William French's Pimlico terrier, Freddie de la Hay, becoming a spy for M16. This is not the only component of the work: there is a budding romance; a young man who is questioning his sexuality; a naOve and gullible brother; and the author of an autobiography of a yeti. There is something about this series that is highly reminiscent of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. It is more about the people than the plot. It focuses on how some eccentrics and some regular folks deal with life in general, and it does so with gentle humor. Verdict Recommended where character-driven gentle reads (for example, those of Clyde Edgerton, Nick Hornby, or even Helen Fielding) are popular. [See Prepub Alert, 12/20/10.]-Susan Hayes, Chattahoochee Valley Libs., Columbus, GA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.