Review by Pam Marr Rybinski
Fans of “The NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY” series will enjoy this novel featuring Freddie de la Hay, a Pimlico terrier, who happily co-habits with William French, a bit of a failure of a wine merchant, in the apartment complex called Corduroy Mansions. Other rather weird characters wander in and out of the plot, exhibiting their takes on life and happiness. The real action remains with Freddie, who is recruited by MI6 to infiltrate a Russian spy ring.
McCall Smith helps us think about life, the world, good, evil, success, every odd little thing. For instance: How many of us would let our beloved canine be taken from us for the good of our country? How would we feel if we did? Exactly how would our beloved canine feel without us?
“The Washington Times” review cleverly sums up McCall Smith’s skill: he “specializes in subplots that punctuate the book like polka dots, relying on his considerable literary skills to link them into a merry pattern of human events.” C’est vrai!
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