The Private Life of Spies and The Exquisite Art of Getting Even
ISBN:
9780593700693
Publisher:
Pantheon (Penguin Random House)
Publication Date:
9 May 2023 9 May 2023
From the beloved author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series comes a new short story collection: half stories of spies, half tales of revenge, all highlighting the kinder, funnier, and gentler side of espionage and retribution.In this dual collection of short stories, Alexander McCall Smith brings his trademark humor and warmth to inventive tales of spying and vengeance. In one story, a spy dropped deep into enemy territory manages to disguise himself–quite convincingly–as a nun. In another, an invitation to join the Vatican Secret Service sends a prospective operative down a rabbit hole of controversy and confusion. A third story finds an author, on the brink of public ruin, seeing the error of his ways after an act of kindness saves the day.A keen observer of humanity imbued with a sparkling imagination, Alexander McCall Smith illustrates throughout that transparency is paramount and forgiveness is restorative. With surprising insight and a healthy helping of humor, these stories remind us that, in the end, the high road is often the better one for all involved.
Reviews
‘Massively entertaining and thought-provoking’
Booklist (USA edition)
‘Taken together, the two parts echo each other. Each story provides a unique cast of characters and distinctly different plots, each offers a gentle portrait of people and society. And each is guided by the mastery of a consummate storyteller, offering another treasure to his already glittering library’
New York Journal of Books
‘The wronged people in three of these nimble tales are happy to mete out ‘wild justice’ to the sources of their rage. In Monty, Tiger, Rose, Etc it’s the unapologetic owner of a boisterous dog; in The Principles Of Soap a neat plot twist sees off a nepotistic producer, while in Vengeance Is Mine, a small, moral community take a mafia-style approach to the unapologetic arrival of a gangster on the island of Mull. The final story provides a sweet coda to previous acts of comeuppance as kindness prevails’
Daily Mail, London (for UK edition)
‘As in all McCall Smith’s work, we are reminded that the necessary quality in social life is kindness. Reading McCall Smith is always comforting, but there is an edge to his work too, for he does, in a quiet, well-mannered way, suggest that we look at ourselves, and that we should be as ready to judge ourselves as to condemn others; perhaps even readier’
The Scotsman (for UK edition)
‘Spy-masterful storytelling for your eyes only’
Sunday Post (for UK edition)
‘The author’s talent for compassionate comedy makes this an eccentric outlier in espionage fiction… fans of his many other books will recognise and enjoy it’
Sydney Morning Herald (for UK edition)
‘There’s nothing not to like about Alexander McCall Smith when you read his latest collection of short stories on the business of spying. These are… beautifully shaped, delicious morsels, which i devoured even faster than Alexander could write them… full of character and detail’
The Australian (for UK edition)
