I loved Mcall Smith's books about the Ladies Detective Agency in Africa. They are brilliant books. This was such a disappointment, it is a terrible book.
Plot wise... well, where is the plot?? It is incredably thin, with random, weak and pointless supposed red herrings. For a mystery story it is BAD, and the eventual solution was like a bit plot in the end and not really important.
The main characters are hardly loveable, rather out of touch and condescending towards the little people, ie. us people not born with big bank accounts so we have to have jobs to earn a living. You get the impression from this that such people have limited brain capacity as well, from his descriptions of the flat mates.
It's set in Edinburgh, but this is not real Edinburgh life. For the rich, upper class, middle aged snobs maybe. But for the majority not a chance. I lived in Edinburgh for three years so I do have a slight idea of what I am talking about!
So disappointed in this book that it is off to be bookcrossed, unlike my wonderful Ladies Detective Agency books. Maybe one day it will find a loving home...

RELEASE NOTES:

I saw this in Thirsk Oxfam shop! A book I had given to charity ages ago. I wonder if someone else has read it and already given it back to charity or if its taken this long to get on to the shelves.

Saw this in the Oxfam shop in Thirsk today.

RELEASE NOTES:

I didn't take it from Thirsk Charity shop, but I thought I would set it up like this so that a new release alert would come up in the system!

I didn't like it as much as the Botswana books - I didn't find Isabel Dalhousie as sympathetic a character as Precious Ramotswe. I don't think I would try another one in the series . It is good to read clear well punctuated English! My friend who loves the Number One Ladies Detective books did warn me that I wouldn't like this much _ I'll probably take it back to the Oxfam shop.