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Corduroy Mansions
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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.
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Amateur sleuth Isabel Dalhousie is a philosopher who uses her training to solve unusual mysteries. She edits the Review of Applied Ethics, addressing such questions as "Truth telling in sexual relationships", and she also hosts The Sunday Philosophy Club at her house in Edinburgh. Behind the city's Georgian facades, its moral compasses are spinning with greed, dishonesty, and murderous intent.
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 92
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 84
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 84
Ten strangers, apparently with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N. Owen. Over dinner, a record begins to play, and the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The tension escalates as the survivors realise the killer is not only among them but is preparing to strike again...and again.
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The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
- By: Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
- Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 12
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- By Fern on 25-08-2017
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44 Scotland Street
- 44 Scotland Street, Book 1
- By: Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by: Hilary Neville
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 10
The story revolves around the comings and goings at No. 44 Scotland Street, a fictitious building in a real street in Edinburgh. Immediately recognisable are the Edinburgh chartered surveyor, stalwart of the Conservative Association, who dreams of membership of Scotland's most exclusive golf club. We have the pushy Stockbridge mother, and her prodigiously talented five-year-old son, who is making good progress with the saxophone and with his Italian.
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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Performance
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars4
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3 Stars1
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2 Stars0
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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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2 Stars0
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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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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 :-)
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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
- sandy
- 10-05-2017
enjoyable
took a little while to warm up to some of the characters but in the end they were developed quite nicely. i love that there is a dog (like 44 Scotland street). there isn't really a plot per se....it's more an introduction to the characters ready for the next few books.