"It does things to people," Mamie agreed.

Lady Shaw considered this. It sounded silly, but was it really silly. People said that Mamie Johnstone was a fool, and it was true that sometimes she said things that sounded foolish ... but the things she did were wise.

Mamie Johnstone, sister of Caroline Dering whom we met in Vittoria Cottage, and her husband Jock are popular figures in the village of Mureth, not far from the town of Drumburly in the Scottish Borders. Jock and Mamie have no children to inherit their farm, so they have adopted Caroline's son James. But James arrives at Mureth a bit shell-shocked from having proposed to Rhoda Ware, a successful London artist he has loved for years, and being refused. James buries himself in farming with Jock, and takes comfort in the company of Holly Douglas, a niece of the local gentry.

Fortunately for all involved, there is Mamie to do wise things and ensure that all is put right in the end! This new edition features an introduction by Alexander McCall Smith.

"Mistress of the light novel" The Times