Hmmm, I knew Dee might be ‘one of those’ types. This week she has the barefaced cheek to lie to Caroline about her dinner with James but of course is found out as the star-crossed lovers unravel the mystery behind the last evening’s disaster.
Berthea Snark also reveals her duplicitous streak as we learn that she is writing an expose of a Liberal MP disguised as an unauthorised biography. That in itself would be fine, if only it weren’t for the fact that the MP in question, is actually her own son…

I received these latest chapters on Friday for my sneak preview of Corduroy Mansions.

In this tranche, we travel across town with Caroline, who discovers that her would be lover James bears all the hallmarks of OCD – so kissing is off the cards.

While they begin a journey into a the West End to pick up a specialist book, just a few feet away begins the quarterly meeting of the Ragg Porter Literary agency begins. We meet Barbara Ragg, nice but dim and the vile, spiteful couple Rupert and Gloria Porter.

Where is it heading?
What of the world of wine and MI6? ….I’ll just have to wait until next week. With 80 chapters in the book, I feel the pieces of the jigsaw are still being spread out, so we’re well before the stage of being able to compile the puzzle.