Corduroy ​Mansions

Alexander McCall Smith - Sunshine ​on Scotland Street
With ​customary charm and deftness, Alexander McCall Smith gives us another installment in this popular series, now running in its eighth season in 'The Scotsman'. Anything could happen to Bertie and the gang, especially with an invitation to one of Scotland's premier jazz festivals -

Alexander McCall Smith - The ​Uncommon Appeal of Clouds
As ​a mother, wife, employer and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel Dalhousie is aware that to be human is to be responsible. So when a neighbour brings her a new and potentially dangerous puzzle to solve, once again Isabel feels she has no option but to shoulder the burden. A masterpiece painting has been stolen from Duncan Munrowe, old-fashioned philanthropist, father to two discontented children, and a very wealthy man. As Isabel enters into negotiations with the shadowy figures who are in search of a ransom, a case where heroes and villains should be clearly defined turns murky: the list of those who desire the painting - or the money - lengthens, and hasty judgement must be avoided at all cost. Morals, it turns out, are like Scottish clouds: complex, changeable and tricky to get a firm grip on; they require a sharp observational eye, a philosophical mindset, and the habit of kindness. Fortunately for those around her, Isabel Dalhousie is in possession of all three.

M. C. Beaton - Agatha ​Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Putting ​all her eggs in one basket, Agatha Raisin gives up her successful PR firm, sells her London flat, and samples a taste of early retirement in the quiet village of Carsely. Bored, lonely and used to getting her way, she enters a local baking contest: Surely a blue ribbon for the best quiche will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when Judge Cummings-Browne not only snubs her entry—but falls over dead! After her quiche’s secret ingredient turns out to be poison, she must reveal the unsavory truth… Agatha has never baked a thing in her life! In fact, she bought her entry ready-made from an upper crust London quicherie. Grating on the nerves of several Carsely residents, she is soon receiving sinister notes. Has her cheating and meddling landed her in hot water, or are the threats related to the suspicious death? It may mean the difference between egg on her face and a coroner’s tag on her toe…

M. C. Beaton - Agatha ​Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden
Eye ​of newt, toe of frog...and murder most foul! Left with bald patches thanks to the wicked doings of a murderer from a previous investigation, Agatha flees to coastal Wyckhadden to re-grow her lost locks. With hair tonic supplied by a local witch, Agatha's tresses begin to flow - but the witch is found bludgeoned to death. The odd elderly residents of Agatha's elegantly faded hotel seem innocuous, but as she delves deeper she discovers secrets best left and powerful motives for revenge. Balancing the amorous attentions of police inspector Jimmy Jessop with an ever more treacherous search for the killer, Agatha is at her wits' end - and ready to cast a spell of her own. Praise for "The Agatha Raisin Series": 'Sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non-PC, M.C. Beaton has created a national treasure' - Anne Robinson. 'M.C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' - "Publishers Weekly". 'The Miss Marple-like Raisin is a refreshing, sensible, wonderfully eccentric, thoroughly likeable heroine' - "Booklist".

M. C. Beaton - Agatha ​Raisin and the Vicious Vet
Agatha ​Raisin believes the new village vet has taken a shine to her, but before romance can bloom, he accidently kills himself. Oh well, there is still her distinguished military neighbour, and perhaps a common interest like a murder investigation will bring them closer together.

M. C. Beaton - Agatha ​Raisin and the Love from Hell
Love, ​like hell, is a four-letter word for Agatha...no happily ever after for her! Recently married to neighbour James Lacey, Agatha quickly finds that love is not all it's cracked up to be - soon the newly-weds are living in separate cottages and accusing each other of infidelity. Then, after a fight down the local pub, James vanishes - a bloodstain the only clue to his fate. Naturally, Agatha is Suspect Number One. Determined to clear her name - and find her husband - Agatha begins her investigation and promptly discovers a murdered mistress. Praise for "The Agatha Raisin Series": 'Sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non-PC, M.C. Beaton has created a national treasure' - Anne Robinson. 'M.C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' - "Publishers Weekly". 'The Miss Marple-like Raisin is a refreshing, sensible, wonderfully eccentric, thoroughly likeable heroine' - "Booklist".

Alexander McCall Smith - The ​World According to Bertie
The ​latest completely charming installment in the bestselling 44 Scotland Street series. There is never a quiet moment on 44 Scotland Street. In The World According to Bertie, Pat deals with the reappearance of Bruce, which has her heart skipping—and not in a pleasant way. Angus Lordie's dog Cyril has been taken away by the authorities, accused of being a serial biter. Unexpectedly, Domenica has offered to help free him. As usual, Big Lou is still looking for love, and handing out coffee and advice to the always contemplative Matthew. And Bertie, the beleaguered Italian-speaking six year old prodigy, now has a little brother, Ulysses, who Bertie hopes will help distract his pushy mother Irene. Beautifully observed, cleverly detailed, The World According to Bertie is classic McCall Smith and a treat for his avid fans as well as his first time readers

M. C. Beaton - Agatha ​Raisin and the Terrible Tourist
Cold-blooded ​murder heats up Agatha's summer holiday! Agatha travels to Cyprus, only to contend with her estranged fiance, an egregious group of truly terrible tourists, and a string of murders...In this sixth entertaining outing Agatha leaves the sleepy Cotswold village of Carsely to pursue love - and finds a murderer. Spurned at the altar, she follows her fleeing fiance James Lacey to Cyprus, where, instead of enjoying the honeymoon they'd planned, they witness the killing of an obnoxious tourist in a disco. Intrigue and a string of murders surround the unlikely couple, in a plot as scorching as the Cypriot sun! Praise for the "Agatha Raisin" series: 'M. C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' - "Publishers Weekly". 'The detective novels of M. C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' - "The Times". "Anyone interested in a few hours" worth of intelligent, amusing reading will want to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Agatha Raisin' - The Cleveland Pain Dealer. 'M C Beaton has created a new national treasure...the stories zing along and are irresistible, unputdownable, a joy...Agatha Raisin is The Strongest Link' - Anne Robinson. 'Being a cranky, middle-aged female myself, I found Agatha charming!' - Amazon customer review. 'I dream of being able to speak out like Aggie ...she's a heroine!' - A. Lucas, Essex, reader review.

Gill Sims - Why ​Mummy Drinks
It ​is Mummy’s 39th birthday. She is staring down the barrel of a future of people asking if she wants to come to their advanced yoga classes, and polite book clubs where everyone claims to be tiddly after a glass of Pinot Grigio and says things like ‘Oooh gosh, are you having another glass?’ But Mummy does not want to go quietly into that good night of women with sensible haircuts who ‘live for their children’ and stand in the playground trying to trump each other with their offspring’s extracurricular activities and achievements, and boasting about their latest holidays. Instead, she clutches a large glass of wine, muttering ‘FML’ over and over again. Until she remembers the gem of an idea she’s had…

M. C. Beaton - Agatha ​Raisin and the Wellspring of Death
Agatha ​Raisin's neighbouring village of Ancombe is usually the epitome of quiet rural charm, but the arrival of a new mineral-water company - which intends to tap into the village spring - sends tempers flaring and divides the parish council into two stubborn camps. When Agatha, who just happens to be handling the PR for the water company, finds the council chairman murdered at the basin of the spring, tongues start wagging. Could one of the council members have polished off the chairman before he could cast the deciding vote? Poor Agatha, still nursing a bruised heart from one of her unsuccessful romantic encounters, must get cracking, investigate the councillors and solve the crime. Praise for the "Agatha Raisin" series: 'M.C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' - "Publishers Weekly". 'The detective novels of M.C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' - "The Times". 'Being a cranky, middle-aged female myself, I found Agatha charming' - Amazon customer review. '"Agatha Raisin" is sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non PC. M C Beaton has created a new national treasure...the stories zing along and are irresistible, unputdownable, a joy. If you buy one book a year, let it be this. "Agatha Raisin" is "The Strongest Link"' - Anne Robinson.

Alexander McCall Smith - Bertie ​Plays the Blues
Even ​down to its well-set Georgian townhouses, Edinburgh is a hymn to measure and harmony. But on Scotland Street, domestic accord is in short supply. Matthew and Elspeth welcome three new arrivals, though the joys of multiple parenthood are somewhat lost due to sleep deprivation and the difficulties of telling their brood apart. Angus and Domenica are to marry, and Domenica has ambitious and disturbing plans for their living arrangements, especially when it appears that Antonia, in Italy recuperating from Stendhal Syndrome, may not return. And little Bertie, feeling blue, puts himself up for adoption on eBay. Can Edinburgh's most deliciously dysfunctional residents forsake discord and learn to dance to the same happy tune?

M. C. Beaton - Agatha ​Raisin and the Day the Floods Came
Drowned ​brides are like buses: nothing for ages, then two come along at the same time ...! Abandoned by husband James, Agatha hops on a plane to the South Pacific, hoping to mend her broken heart. But there she meets a happy honeymooning couple, for whom disaster strikes when, tragically, the bride drowns. Back home, alarm bells start ringing for Agatha when a woman, dressed in a wedding gown, is swept down river. The police say suicide, but Agatha, spurred on by recent memories, particularly her own disastrous marriage, sets out to prove them wrong. Praise for the "Agatha Raisin" series: 'Sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non-PC, M.C. Beaton has created a national treasure' - Anne Robinson. 'M.C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' - "Publishers Weekly". 'The Miss Marple-like Raisin is a refreshing, sensible, wonderfully eccentric, thoroughly likeable heroine' - "Booklist". 'Once started, you'll have a job to put it down until you've finished' - Amazon reader, Kent. 'Another wonderful tale about Agatha and her chums ...Long live Aggie!' - Bookworm, Essex.

M. C. Beaton - Dishing ​the Dirt
A ​therapist had moved into the village of Carsely and Agatha Raisin hates her. Not only was this therapist, Jill Davent, romancing Agatha's ex-husband, but she had dug up details of Agatha's slum background. Added to that, Jill was counselling a woman called Gwen Simple from Winter Parva and Agatha firmly believed Gwen to have assisted her son in some grisly murders, although has no proof she had done so. A resentment is different from a dislike and needs to be shared, so as the friendship between James and Jill grows stronger, the more Agatha does to try to find out all she can about her. When Jill is found strangled to death in her office two days' later, Agatha finds herself under suspicion - and must fight to clear her name.

M. C. Beaton - As ​the Pig Turns
Winter ​Parva, a traditional Cotswolds village next door to Carsely, has decided to throw a celebratory hog roast to mark the beginning of the winter holiday festivities and Agatha Raisin has arrived with friend and rival in the sleuthing business, Toni, to enjoy the merriment. But as the spit pig is carried towards the bed of fiery charcoal Agatha - and the rest of the village - realise that things aren't as they seem... Very quickly it transpires that the spit pig is in fact Gary Beech, a policeman not much loved in Winter Parva. And although Agatha has every intention of leaving the affair to the police, she rapidly changes her mind when she finds out Gary's ex-wife has hired Toni to investigate. Cantankerous and competitive as Agatha is, she has to now join the fray and try and solve the case herself. Praise for M C Beaton's "Agatha Raisin" series: "I know I once vowed to read only Agatha Christie for a year but I cheated. My Number 1 mistress, M.C. Beaton and her Agatha Raisin whodunits. Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack a day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she may be living my dream life". ("Entertainment Weekly"). "Once again M.C. Beaton has concocted an amusing brew of mystery and romance that will keep her fans turning the pages". ("Publisher's Weekly"). "Pure entertainment". ("The Guardian").

Alexander McCall Smith - The ​Sunday Philosophy Club
Amateur ​sleuth Isabel Dalhousie is a philosopher who also uses her training to solve unusual mysteries. Isabel is Editor of the Review of Applied Ethics - which addresses 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. Instinct tells Isabel that the young man who tumbled to his death in front of her eyes at a concert in the Usher Hall didn't fall. He was pushed. With Isabel Dalhousie Alexander McCall Smith introduces a new and pneumatic female sleuth to tackle murder, mayhem - and the mysteries of life. As her hero WH Auden maintained, classic detective fiction stems from a desire for an uncorrupted Eden which the detective, as an agent of God, can return to us. But then Isabel, being a philosopher, has a thing or two to say about God as well.

M. C. Beaton - Death ​of an Outsider
Dreary ​Cnothan's most hated man is dumped into a tank filled with lobsters then eaten in Britain's best restaurants. Exiled there with his dog Towser, Hamish Macbeth misses his beloved Highland village Lochdubh, Priscilla, and easy lazy days. His superiors want the business hushed up, a dark-haired lass wants his body, and a killer is out for more blood. On TV show.

Martin Scott - Thraxas
A ​comic fantasy set in the magical city of Turai, where the only people more corrupt than the politicians are the Royal Family. Murder, mayhem and ruthless criminal brotherhoods reign, and the civic guards are incapable of keeping order. It's left to men like Thraxas to do what they can.

Martin Scott - Thraxas ​at War
In ​the enchanted city of Turai, the royal family is corrupt, the politicians can be bought, and the civic guards have better things to do than guarding. Thraxas may look unprepossessing, being overweight and not quite overbrained, and more interested in pursuit of his next glass of beer than pursuit of justice, but if you're in trouble in Turai this portly private eye is probably your only hope. Winter's on its way to Turai, and so are an army of Orcs. Thraxas may have been a hero of the last Orc War (according to him) but he's got absolutely no intention of getting mixed up in this battle and is planning to keep his head well down--preferably buried in a big steak pie. Unfortunately, his next case has him in an investigation at the war ministry. A Senior Councilor has been murdered. With a cake . . .

Lindsay Buroker - Forged ​in Blood I
The ​emperor has been ousted from the throne, his bloodline in question, and war is descending on the capital. Forge, the nefarious business coalition that has been manipulating the political situation from the beginning, has the ultimate weapon at its disposal. If it was difficult for a small team of outlaws--or, as Amaranthe has decided they should now be called, rebels--to make a difference before, it's a monumental task now. If she's to return idealistic young Sespian to the throne, earn the exoneration she's sought for so long, and help her closest ally win the respect of the son who detests him, she'll have to employ an unprecedented new scheme...preferably without destroying the city--or herself--in the process.

Martin Scott - Thraxas ​at the Races
It's ​not been a good morning for Thraxas. A vindictive judge has just fined him every guran he has, and two old enemies have threatened his life. And to cap it all, the rainy season has started and it's as wet as a mermaid's blanket in the magical city of Turai. He desperately needs a winner in the big chariot race. And he needs a job. But not even Thraxas with his sorcerous investigating skills could have predicted that his two requirements might just be connected in a strange and potentially disastrous way.