• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2017 March #2
  McCall Smith, the hugely popular author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels, has written a rom-com stand-alone novel that puts the machine back in deus ex machina. The novel's hero, Paul Stewart, is a young, good-looking, best-selling cookbook writer, based in Edinburgh, whose girlfriend has ditched him for her personal trainer. Paul is feeling stuck; his editor believes that any step in any direction will lead Paul out of his depressive bog. This translates into a trip to Italy to research a book on Tuscan cooking and then into a series of comic mishaps that end up with Paul having to make do with the only vehicle available, a gigantic bulldozer. Amusing as Paul's plight is, and as entrancing as the Tuscan hills and the tiny town of Montalcino are, the plot itself is predictable (and as slow to accelerate as the bulldozer): Can a young, handsome, wealthy man who loves to cook find love again? Well, yes, he can. In McCall Smith's hands, even this flawed premise is transformed into an entertaining novel, but it's not up to the author's usual level. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH is the author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels and a number of other series and stand-alone books. His works have been translated into more than forty languages and have been best sellers throughout the world. He lives in Scotland.