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Corduroy Mansions
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 31
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- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 17
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 15
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 16
Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Temptation of Forgiveness by Donna Leon, read by David Sibley. When important information is leaked from inside the Venetian Questura, Commissario Guido Brunetti is entrusted with the task of uncovering which of his colleagues is responsible. But before Brunetti can begin his investigation, he is surprised by the appearance in his office of a friend of his wife's, who is fearful that her son is using drugs. A few weeks later, Tullio Gasparini, the woman's husband, is found unconscious with a serious head injury at the foot of a bridge, and Brunetti is drawn to pursue a possible connection to the boy’s behaviour. But the truth is not straightforward.
Publisher's Summary
Corduroy Mansions is the affectionate nickname given to a genteelly crumbling mansion block in London's vibrant Pimlico. This is the home patch of - among others - a lovelorn literary agent, possibly the first ever nasty Liberal Democrat MP and Freddie de la Hay, an urbane terrier trained to be vegetarian and respectful of feline rights.
Loafers, wine merchants, vitamin evangelists, and the occasional psychoanalyst pass each other on the stairs of this delightful metropolitan des res. With his trademark wit, charm and lightness of touch, Alexander McCall Smith introduces a colourful cast of characters, full of the life, laughter and humanity so beloved in his writing.
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What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars4
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3 Stars4
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Performance
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars4
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4 Stars6
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3 Stars1
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2 Stars0
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1 Stars0
Story
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars4
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4 Stars4
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3 Stars3
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2 Stars0
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1 Stars0
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Nuala Melinn
- 18-11-2019
Corduroy Mansions
Really enjoyed this book. Another great cast of characters from Alexander McCall Smith. Really looking forward to reading the next book in the series
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michaela
- 29-08-2016
One of my fav books
I love the gentle storyline and the characters in this wonderful novel. A very relaxing and enjoyable experience.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Susan McLean
- 22-06-2016
Another Enjoyable McCall-Smith
It was lovely but I am finding he repeats a lot of themes/sentiments in different books.
The narrator was good.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sadie-jane Nunis
- 08-09-2015
Andrew sachs ... fawlty tower genius
main reason why I didn't just read the book but listened to the audiobook as well is because it is read by the brilliant Andrew sachs
admittedly I thought it would start off great but I felt he didn't pick up momentum until a little later on in the book and then it got good.
looking forward to the other 2..
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Virginia Waldron
- 21-04-2014
Pointless
I wanted to like this book so much but it was utterly bland and tedious. The narrator was well chosen for such a waste of time.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ruth
- 13-08-2012
Really enjoyed this
Somehow works better in Audio than No1 Ladies detective series. Andrew Sachs has a great voice for Pimlico.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Vivien
- 08-08-2009
Like chocolate for the ears.
Aaaaah. Just relax and enjoy this novel. If you have read any of the 44 Scotland Street novels, you will know what to expect plot-wise - an array of characters all with (fairly minor and often amusing) problems. But the best bit for me was Andrew Sachs' narration. Remember the ad for a famous food store that featured a chocolate pudding with melted chocolate oozing out ('This is not just a chocolate pudding...')? Remember how it made you feel (apart from hungry!)? Well, that's the effect Andrew Sachs' voice has. Your muscles relax, the stresses of the day float away. if you want a relaxing, undemanding, amusing listen; download this one.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Maggi
- 15-10-2009
Scotland Street Re-Located
I found Corduroy Mansions very enjoyable and funny, as I have read the whole of the Edinburgh set "44 Scotland Street" and the subsequent books. Well drawn characters, including (as in Scotland Street) a very intelligent dog. A mixture of the well established and confident types, mixed with the "threshhold of life" student, will they-won't they affairs and a wonderfully drawn total innocent who drives into a field and thinks the track he made is a crop circle! I hope this will become a series, as you actually begin to care about the characters!
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- catsatcastle
- 20-08-2009
A delight
This is a charming, witty and gentle story and Andrew Sachs reads it superbly.
I have only gone as far as 4 stars because I felt there were some loose ends not quite tied up - I think I know why but it was a just a bit dissatisfying. However, it is only very minor and I would heartily recommend the book and especially this reading.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Steve_Morris
- 13-10-2014
Edinburgh is better
Would you consider the audio edition of Corduroy Mansions to be better than the print version?
I love the Scotland Street series, so I was looking forward to something else in the same genre. But somehow I didn't warm to the characters of Corduroy Mansions as much as their Scottish counterparts. It may be that I don't like London life as much as life in a provincial city. Nothing wrong with the style and format, and well read by Andrew Sachs, but not just quite so good for me.
Would you be willing to try another book from Alexander McCall Smith? Why or why not?
Yes I have read many of his books. I sometimes find the philosophising irritating, especially in the Isolbe Dalhousie novels.
Which character – as performed by Andrew Sachs – was your favourite?
The dreamy Morris Minor driving brother.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me smile at times.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Martin
- 16-04-2011
Wonderfully whimsical
I'd never really been interested in listening to Alexander McCall Smith's Ladies' Detective Agency novels, but had heard his Portuguese Irregular Verbs, which I had enjoyed. I then came across Corduroy Mansions, and found the whole thing immensely comfortable, witty, erudite and thoroughly British in its sense of whimsy. Superbly drawn characters equally superbly brought to life by Andrew Sachs, who is the perfect reader for this warm and charming book, somehow as familiar as a well worn pair of carpet slippers.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Heather
- 02-10-2010
Relaxing
This is an entertaining and gentle comedy. It bumbles along and is a relaxing listen. It's a bit like watching 'The Waltons' on TV, you can relax as you know everything will be turn out well in the end. It's what I would expect of an Alexander McCall Smith book and is beautifully narrated by Andrew Sachs.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jean
- 24-03-2010
A Lovely Listen
What a lovely listen - gentle, entertaining but insightful. And another wonderful dog with his patient, trusting, long-suffering human relationships.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 03-07-2019
Melodicalnarration by Sachs can discover at least 5 previously undiscovered syllables in the 'it'.
Humorous, whimsical, warm and entertaining. Good characterisation , grew fond of Characters. Addictive listening thanks to Sachs. Gentle but thought provoking.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Leigh
- 11-01-2018
But what happened to ...?
The master of cliff hangers! But how I long to know what has happened to all the different characters. How about a book which follows ONLY one character, Bertie or Isobel or Freddie. Brilliant stories but also calming listening in bed at the end of a busy day. Sends one to sleep with a smile.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Cassandra Watts
- 21-10-2017
Gentle
Very gentle story, little bits of silliness which make it relatable. A relaxing listen, ideal for bedtime :-)