This is a delicious book! I loved every minute of its magical story-telling and found it difficult to put down. Andrew Nicoll succeeds in creating a vivid and atmospheric portrayal of the town of Dot, in an unspecified part of the Baltic, where the mayor, Tibo Krovic is in love with his secretary, Mrs. Agathe Stopak. The reader becomes totally involved in these two characters’ lives. Agathe has suffered the anguish of the death of her baby, and the subsequent rejection of her husband. Tibo Krovic nurses a secret passion for Agathe which in turn delights and torments him. Their developing relationship is full of complications, misunderstandings, humour, pain and pleasure. The story is deeply human and emotionally strikes a chord but it also has flights of fantasy and magic which create a fable-like atmosphere. A gem of a novel and a real pleasure to read. It is the author’s first, but I hope there will be more!

Synopsis

The Good Mayor is a magical debut novel. It is a love story and a story about love. Set in the little town of Dot in a forgotten part of the Baltic, it tells the story of Tibo Krovic, the good and honest Mayor of Dot, and his love for his secretary, the beautiful, lonely, but married, Mrs Agathe Stopak.

In the quiet, respectable town of Dot, there is nothing that Tibo can do about his love for Mrs Stopak but, one day when she accidentally drops her lunch into a fountain, everything changes and their lives will never be the same again.

The Good Mayor is a story of love, loss, magic, friendship, wonderful food, a brass band, an Italian witch, a large lawyer, an occasional dog and a car chase that takes place at walking pace.

Beautifully written, this is one of the best and most exciting debut novels in years and Andrew Nicoll is destined to become a major voice in UK literature.

Reviews

'And for fiction, a newcomer, Andrew Nicholl's The Good Mayor, a story of love, dreaming and loss, magical realism from Scotland. You will not be disappointed.' Andrew Marr, Observer on Sunday book choice.

'One of the best books I have ever read - it had a humour and lightness of touch that hooked me from the first page to the last'
Kate Devlin, Daily Telegraph

About the Author

After a brief stint as a lumberjack, Andrew Nicoll has spent his working life as a newspaper journalist. He has had short stories published in New Writing Scotland and other magazines. Andrew is 45 and married with three children. More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation