What We're Reading: Cathy

Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith

Meet Freddy de la Hay. He's an ex-sniffer dog for Heathrow Airport. He is also the newest resident at Corduroy Mansions in Pimlico, London. He joins a group of typical (odd?) Londoners who live in the flats . There is William, the wine merchant, who is trying to make his awful son Eddie move out. He's so desperate that he gets a dog (Freddy) and another roommate - a woman - to force the issue. The middle flat is occupied by 4 young women: Jenny who is secretary to the loathsome MP Oedipus Snark; Caroline, an art student; Dee, who works in a vitamin store; and Jo, who works at a wine bar. The bottom floor is occupied by the rather mysterious Mr. Wickramsinghe, an accountant. We bounce from one person to the next, following them through events both big (a near fatal accident) and small (a chewed up shoe). This book follows in the tradition of Mr. McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series.