Love Over Scotland

The Miami Herald called Alexander McCall Smith a "wry but gentle chronicler of humanity and its foibles." I think that is right on the mark. His latest book, Love Over Scotland, is the third in his 44 Scotland Street series. I absolutely love this series, which features the residents of Scotland Street. Pat, now an art history student, works part-time at Matthew's art gallery, while Matthew harbors a crush on her. Big Lou is upset when her fiance Eddie plans to open a strip club with the money she lent him. Domenica, the anthropologist, is now off studying pirates in the Straits of Malacca, leaving Angus Lordie (and his dog Cyrus) missing her companionship. Bertie, the 6 year-old prodigy is dreading a trip to Paris with the Edinburgh Teenage Orchestra, while his parents are trying to sort out their stolen car. There are no major dramas here, no mysteries, just the everyday lives of these fascinating characters. It's a gentle, but intelligent story, with interesting characters and everyday life in Scotland. A great read.