A Conspiracy of Friends (Corduroy Mansions) - Hardcover

McCall Smith, Alexander

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0307907236 ISBN 13: 9780307907233

Publisher: Pantheon Books, 2012

Synopsis

CORDUROY MANSIONS - Book 3

In the Corduroy Mansions series of novels, set in London’s hip Pimlico neighborhood, we meet a cast of charming eccentrics, including perhaps the world’s most clever terrier, who make their home in a handsome, though slightly dilapidated, apartment block.

It seems the universe itself is conspiring against the residents of Corduroy Mansions, as they all find themselves struggling with their nearest and dearest. Oedipus Snark’s mother, Berthea, is still at work on her scathing biography of her son—the only loathsome Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament; literary agents Rupert Porter and Barbara Ragg are still battling each other for first crack at the manuscript ofAutobiography of a Yeti; fine arts graduate Caroline Jarvis is busy exploring the blurry line between friendship and romance; and William French is still worrying that his son, Eddie, may never leave home, even though Eddie’s got a new wealthy girlfriend. But uppermost in everyone’s mind is William’s faithful terrier, Freddie de la Hay—without a doubt the only dog clever enough to have been recruited by MI6—who has disappeared while on a mystery tour around the Suffolk countryside. Will Freddie find his way back to Pimlico? Is Corduroy Mansions starting to crumble?

Readers will be captivated once again by McCall Smith’s genius for storytelling, his insight into his beautifully crafted characters and his eye for the quirky details of modern life.

About this title

Review:

"McCall Smith is by turns hilarious at capturing foibles and meditative about the huge role chance and the plots of others play in our lives. Fascinating fare. How can a writer as prolific as McCall Smith continue to be so popular? Ask his millions of fans, who will be waiting in line for this one."
--"Booklist "(starred)

"Teeming with charm, this confection takes its cue from Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" . . . There are as many plots in this genial, satisfying narrative as there are characters, and it's a testament to Smith's gifts as a storyteller that he's able to bind the whole together with such a slender narrative thread. His ample humor and grace helps."
--"Publishers Weekly "(starred review)

"This third volume of Chekhovian soap opera is every bit as addictive as the first two. Fans will be sad to see any of the plots tied up, even by happy endings, and hope for more complications next season."
--"Kirkus Reviews"

PRAISE FOR THE CORDUROY MANSIONS SERIES
"[Here is a] wonderful world of realistic characters getting up to real mischief in McCall Smith's velvety prose and vivid imagination."
--"USA Today"

"McCall Smith is a writer of such fond, heartfelt geniality that fans will be grateful that the series has just begun."
--"Entertainment Weekly"

"McCall Smith cooks up a delicious story that seems part Restoration comedy and part Victorian novel, tossed with a dash of mystery and a dollop of satire . . . Comfortable, easy, homey."
--"The Washington Post"

"McCall Smith's generous writing and dry humor, his gentleness and humanity, and his ability to evoke a place and a set of characters without caricature or condescension have endeared his books to readers."
--"The New York Times"

"A heart-warming read. . . . [and] an excellent tonic for whatever ails you."
--"The Toronto Star"
"McCall Smith cooks up a delicious story . . . with a dash of mystery and a dollop of satire. . . . Comfortable, easy, homey."
--"The Washington Post"
"Fascinating fare. . . . McCall Smith is by turns hilarious . . . and meditative."
--"Booklist" (starred review)
"Teeming with charm. . . . ample humor and grace."
--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)
"This third volume of Chekhovian soap opera is every bit as addictive as the first two."
--"Kirkus Reviews
"
"You cannot beat McCall Smith for subtle musings shot through with insight and wit. His deft characterization enlivens the inner workings of everyday characters. His work offers a heartening view of [the] world."
--"The Daily Telegraph "(London)
"[Full] of warmth and wisdom and easy, accomplished writing that begs for a comfy chair."
--"The Times" (London)
"Whimsical. . . . McCall Smith 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."
--"The Washington Times
"
"Quirky and original. . . . Told with warmth, wit and intelligence, and McCall Smith's cast of characters are beautifully observed."
--"Daily Express"

A heart-warming read. . . . [and] an excellent tonic for whatever ails you.
The Toronto Star
McCall Smith cooks up a delicious story . . . with a dash of mystery and a dollop of satire. . . . Comfortable, easy, homey.
The Washington Post
Fascinating fare. . . . McCall Smith is by turns hilarious . . . and meditative.
Booklist (starred review)
Teeming with charm. . . . ample humor and grace.
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
This third volume of Chekhovian soap opera is every bit as addictive as the first two.
Kirkus Reviews

You cannot beat McCall Smith for subtle musings shot through with insight and wit. His deft characterization enlivens the inner workings of everyday characters. His work offers a heartening view of [the] world.
The Daily Telegraph (London)
[Full] of warmth and wisdom and easy, accomplished writing that begs for a comfy chair.
The Times (London)
Whimsical. . . . McCall Smith 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.
The Washington Times

Quirky and original. . . . Told with warmth, wit and intelligence, and McCall Smith s cast of characters are beautifully observed.
Daily Express"

Book Description:

* The third novel in the London-based Corduroy Mansions series from Alexander McCall Smith, comparable in warmth and humour to 44 Scotland Street, read by the inimitable Andrew Sachs.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pantheon Books
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0307907236
• ISBN 13: 9780307907233
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 261
• Illustrator: McIntosh Iain