The steamy ups and downs of love

Disclosure: I am not a fan of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency TV series - it's too silly for words - so imagine my surprise to read his latest attempt at fiction and enjoy it. The Forever Girl is about love, a tough subject at the best of times, tacky at the worst, but the author has a unique way of writing that circumvents both problems. He zips through heartache and melancholy as if he's having a relaxed gossipy chat over the garden fence.

It begins in the tropical tax-haven Cayman Islands, where McCall Smith often spends January holidaying with wealthy friends and working on his many novels for the year. For starters, in 12 pages he dissects the marriage of David and Amanda in such a sophisticated way you know you're in for a good read. Clover, their daughter, takes over as a child, adoring James because he is beautiful and kind, who in turn is worshipped by Ted - whoa! - bringing in a hot mix of gay love. Meanwhile Amanda is resisting an affair with married George, the island's doctor and father of James.

With these ingredients the plot simmers into sexy adulthood via boarding school, James to Scotland, Clover and Ted to London. Each panting after the other in different ways and nothing much coming to fruition. The author tosses and turns their emotions in a believable way. Where did he learn to dig so deep into the human psyche bordering on mental torture without so much as a whisper of cheesy outcome? Former professor of medical law with umpteen erudite books beneath his belt, where does he glean the insight that breathes life into his fictional series and recent stand-alone novels? From his own life? Watching others? Who knows? It's believable as are all the characters in the book except James, who brings a touch of mystery.

A minor irritation occurs when Clover dithers over her feelings for James at university, she studying art history, he accountancy. All she has to do is tell the man how she feels and problem solved, but this brings tension to the novel and the author skips on with indecision, just as we all do in life.

They bump into one another but never click. At one point James says he feels Clover is his sister, which damns romantic expectancy in a brutal way. She confides this to Ted, who commiserates and tells Clover "that's the end then, isn't it?"

And just when you think it is, she tells a whopper that leads her to imagined adventures in Singapore and lying to James. She is appalled to get his email announcing he is dropping in to see her.

There is only one really nasty character in the book who surfaces towards the end. She is satisfyingly spiteful and Clover reacts with politeness, the way few would in real life. I think McCall Smith could have allowed one vengeful reaction but no, the world turns and life continues. This reader carries on intrigued to see how the story finally ends. Not telling here but there is a twist, of sorts.

Some male readers may lack patience to follow love's steamy ups and downs but the author can feel pleased he has pulled off a strangely intriguing and sexy tale.