Love Over Scotland

by: Alexander McCall Smith

Published by: Polygon

Reviewed by Anne-Gigi Chan

In this third installation of the 44 Scotland Street series, readers continue to follow the lives of residents and ex-residents of 44 Scotland Street as well as their various acquaintances. After two gap years, Pat begins her first year of university, studying art history. She has moved out of her flat on Scotland Street, but still maintains her strong ties to New Town.

Domenica is now in Malacca Straits conducting anthropological research by living among pirates; her friend Antonia sublets her flat and begins a rocky friendship with Domenica’s good friend, Angus. Matthew, despite receiving a substantial gift from his father, still feels a void in his life and is determined to do something about it. Big Lou at the coffee shop is now back with her ex-lover, Eddie, but those around them can see that this is not going to last. The child prodigy, Bertie, continues to struggle with his overbearing mother, Irene; however, he has a chance to live without her for a weekend in Paris and he is going to make the best out of it.

Alexander McCall Smith is a master at storytelling: these tales about ordinary people with fairly ordinary lives, though with occasional extraordinary adventures, engage the reader’s attention right from the beginning—and he is able to make one actually care about what happens to each character. This book is definitely for those who have read the two previous books, 44 Scotland Street and Espresso Tales, as the stories will not make much sense unless one already knows about the characters. Reading this is like meeting old friends and catching up with what they have been up to.

Armchair Interviews says: There is no definitive ending, which is great news to all Alexander McCall Smith fans. It means there is more to come!

Author’s Web site: http://www.AlexanderMcCallSmith.co.uk