A Conspiracy of Friends (Corduroy Mansions Series)

I have been waiting so long to hear the UNABRIDGED third installment in the delightful Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith. These Abridged editions just will not do. How can one obtain the complete spoken text to these witty playful books? I only wish many others could share in the chuckles enjoyed in these delightful tales.

Loved the vastly different characters and their various issues. Intellectual without being superior, humorous without being silly. Great storyteller. I grew to love each character. I look forward to the next one!

Alexander Mc Call Smith displays his Anglo-centric, seldom anti-european views writing about people and relationships in this uncompelling, shallow, and slightly pretentious array of unorderly stories and shallow characters: it's a pain to get through. I'm half way and struggling hard.

A Conspiracy of Friends lives up to all the other Alexander McCall Smith books I've read. Great characters with clever, amusing, and creative stories. Terrence's race car experience is hilarious. And Oedipus sure does live up to his name. I can hardly wait for the next installment of Corduroy Mansions!

In London, from her mew house just behind Corduroy Mansions, noted psychoanalyst Berthea Snark continues writing her hostile exposé biography "My Son Oedipus"; as she hates the "only unpleasant Liberal Democrat" Member of Parliament. She is encouraged by Oedipus' former lover literary agent Barbara Ragg who loathes him too. At the same time, Berthea's fiancé Hugh is unhappy with her after they share some dark secrets; and Barbara's business partner Rupert Porter is irate with her and seeking revenge. Meanwhile Oedipus is named the Undersecretary for some department that he cannot recall its name.

Wine merchant William French panics when his significant other Freddie de la Hay the M16 Terrier (see The Dog Who Came in from the Cold) vanishes. At the same time William's son Eddie, funded by wealthy girlfriend Merle of the Windward Islands, hires designer Cosmo Bartonette to create a Hemingway-themed restaurant. William's neighbor Caroline Jarvis muses over a passionate relationship rather than just a friendship with her BFF James. Finally, Berthea's brother Terence Moongrove decides to own a racecar that he plans to drive in competition.

The ensemble cast starring in the latest Corduroy Mansions contemporary tale makes for an entertaining look at desires and needs; not all positive and friendly. The action is limited as much of the storyline focuses on inner turmoil and longings. Readers who enjoy a low keyed philosophical character study will appreciate the cleverly musings of A Conspiracy of Friends.

Harriet Klausner

Alexander McCall Smith write the most beguiling books, with many-faceted characters and delightful events. And sandwiched in are frequent comments about the nature of life, musings on cosmic questions, wry-but gentle-critiques on modern life. His books are the kind that are reread.