The Dog Who Came in from the Cold

This was definitely one of my 2013 books that ended up in the good pile. It is a wonderful book, but then most of what Alexander McCall Smith writes  is wonderful. There is a vibrant optimism that runs like a red thread through all of his books, and makes the reader believe that the world is not so bad after all, that everything will work out eventually and that people are actually quite nice. In this book – the second in a series – there is a beautiful collection of characters (including, of course, the dog, Freddie de la Hay). The story progresses, dipping first into one story and then into the next, pulling out small connecting threads and tying small knots. The humour is delightful, the observations – both of people and their surroundings – exceptionally accurate. Definitely a book to recommend. Photo source: en.wikipedia.org