- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited (1 May 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1846971616
- ISBN-13: 978-1846971617
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 14 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 49,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Dog Who Came in From the Cold (Corduroy Mansions)
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Product Description
Review
'A page-turner with many happy endings. Perfect' --Daily Express
'A twisting plot line, told in McCall Smith's usual entertaining style, makes this a great read.' --Waterstones Book Quarterly
'A great place to visit if you need cheering up' --The Scotsman
Unlabel-able, but wonderful --myreadingfenzy.com
A wonderful collection of characters in this delightful read --Stratford Press
'A twisting plot line, told in McCall Smith's usual entertaining style, makes this a great read.' --Waterstones Book Quarterly
'A great place to visit if you need cheering up' --The Scotsman
Unlabel-able, but wonderful --myreadingfenzy.com
A wonderful collection of characters in this delightful read --Stratford Press
Book Description
* Second novel in he new London-based series from Alexander McCall Smith, comparable in warmth and humour to 44 Scotland Street
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Another fabulous offering from the ultimate master of story-telling. Definitely on a par with the fantastic 44 Scotland Street series. This latest book in the Corduroy Mansions series is a real treat, I'd read all the chapters in the Telegraph but it is so nice to have them all in one lovely volume. Highly recommend to Alexander McCall Smith fans old and new!
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have enjoyed McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series of books that were the precursor to the Corduroy Mansions (Corduroy Mansions 1) series of which The Dog Who Came in from the Cold is a sequel. Both series bear the stamp of being published in short chapters day by day in a newspaper, respectively The Scotsman and The Daily Telegraph. Maybe because I grew up in and know Edinburgh very well I prefer the Scotland Street books as they have a much greater sense of place: the city is part of the narrative, whereas, Pimlico doesn't really make an impression and its geography doesn't play an important part in the Corduroy Mansion's books. The author, McCall Smith, has lived and worked in Edinburgh for many years and I think it shows in the creation of a realistic background to his characters as they move around the city. I found the first book in the Corduroy Mansions series easier to get into than this second one: The Dog Who Came in from the Cold has too many characters and I kept forgetting who was whom. It did help to have read the two books in chronological order as most of the characters of the first book appear in the second, but with many more in the latter to add to my confusion. I would also say that this second book is more surreal than the first with the dog (Freddie de la Hay) of the title being recruited to work undercover for MI6 (hence the allusion in the title to the John Le Carre book, The Spy who came in from the Cold) to suss out the criminal activities of a Russian gang operating in London.
Some of the familiar characters are there from the first book, for example, William French, failed Master of Wine, father of layabout, Eddie, and owner of Freddie his dog been suborned for MI6 by agent Tilly Curtain; Barbara Ragg, publisher, and her new-found love, Hugo Macpherson; she having broken up her relationship with the odious MP Oedipus Snark. Barbera is still hoping to get the manuscript of the autobiography of a yeti, collected by the writer Errol Greatorex. I think you get the picture from the names that this is a very tongue-in-cheek book with some over-the-top characters and plot lines. More so than his other books I've read which are more realistic in depicting life, albeit a comfortable, middle-class, professional life devoid of harsh realities and none the worse for that.
McCall Smith is a skillful writer who carries one along in his up-market soap operas into which he cleverly injects though-provoking philosophical ideas and a commentary on modern life.
Some of the familiar characters are there from the first book, for example, William French, failed Master of Wine, father of layabout, Eddie, and owner of Freddie his dog been suborned for MI6 by agent Tilly Curtain; Barbara Ragg, publisher, and her new-found love, Hugo Macpherson; she having broken up her relationship with the odious MP Oedipus Snark. Barbera is still hoping to get the manuscript of the autobiography of a yeti, collected by the writer Errol Greatorex. I think you get the picture from the names that this is a very tongue-in-cheek book with some over-the-top characters and plot lines. More so than his other books I've read which are more realistic in depicting life, albeit a comfortable, middle-class, professional life devoid of harsh realities and none the worse for that.
McCall Smith is a skillful writer who carries one along in his up-market soap operas into which he cleverly injects though-provoking philosophical ideas and a commentary on modern life.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Dog Who Came In From The Cold is the second in the Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith. Once again we join the people of Corduroy Mansions and their friends. An acquaintance who works for MI6 visits wine merchant William French, and his Pimlico terrier, Freddie de la Hay, is drafted to serve his country. Berthea Snark's brother Terence Moongrove finds his new Porsche makes him feel amorous and is excited about water memory and morphic resonance. Caroline tries to decide whether she wants a relationship with comfortable James or exciting Tim. Barbara Ragg goes on vacation to Scotland with her new fiancé Hugh Macpherson and meets her future in-laws. Berthea Snark has to take action against a pair of charlatans out to fleece Terence. Dee lies and steals and tries to market her goods in a new way. Barbara's partner at the Ragg Porter Literary Agency betrays a trust and is caught out. Aussie flatmate Jo gives Caroline some very sound advice. There is a delightful piece on homeopathy and risotto gets a few mentions. William's feckless son Eddie berates him, with justification. And William effects a dramatic rescue. And throughout the happenings, we are treated to McCall Smith's gentle philosophy and wry humour. I found myself constantly smiling, chuckling, giggling and many occasions, laughing out loud. McCall Smith manages to examine issues in everyday life and still leave the reader feeling good and wanting more. I loved this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sheer delight!
I love all of Alexander McCall Smith's novels that I've read but only recently started on this series. Read more
Published 1 day ago by W. A. Bevan
Just what's needed ....
I find that I have become addicted to these books with their gentle humour. When life is stressing me out, I escape into an AMcS book. Read more
Published 25 days ago by EG Hej
Freddie de la Hay v Bertie
I had been feeling somewhat disloyal to Precious Ramotswe and the other characters in the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series as they had been replaced as my McCall Smith... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Vala
Subtle Charm Combined with Two Silly Plots
"Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?" -- Luke 14:34 (NKJV)
I was disappointed in this book. Read more
I was disappointed in this book. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Donald Mitchell
Not nearly enough dog
The usual well written and engaging McCall Smith character sketches are all here, but in a way that's partly the problem insofar as this time there are simply too many of them for... Read more
Published 7 months ago by reviewer
Freddie deserves a mention in the title
I read the first book in this series on line as it developed. An interesting concept but not one I would like to repeat too often. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Miss K. Wilshaw
The Dog who came in from the cold
Classic Alistair McCall Smith. Very funny and Freddy de la Hay is the best character ever - even if he is a dog!
Published 11 months ago by Penny Phelps
Monkey business over a dog
Another delightful book by Alexander McCall Smith about the charming quirks of the residents of a London town house. Read more
Published 11 months ago by matilda special, Belgium
Curduroy Mansions
I love this series! Alexander McCall Smith is so clever and is really observant about human behaviour! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Maya Stardust
The Dog that came in from the Cold
Having laughed 'til tears ran down my face at the fairly recent interview with McCall Smith on The Book Show, I bought this book with high anticipation. Read more
Published 12 months ago by eleanor
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