For lovers of Alexander McCall Smith, Nicholas Drayson introduces the charming Mr Malik and the East African Ornithological Society in A Guide to the Birds of East Africa.Reserved, honourable Mr Malik. You wouldn't notice him in a Nairobi street - except, perhaps, to comment on his carefully sculpted comb-over - but beneath his unprepossessing exterior lie a warm heart and a secret passion. Not even his closest friends know it, but Mr Malik is head-over-heels in love with the leader of the local Tuesday-morning bird walk, Rose Mbikwa.Little can he imagine the hurdles that lie before him. Even as he plucks up the courage to ask for Rose's hand, thieves, potential kidnappers and corrupt officials, not to mention one particularly determined love rival, seem destined to thwart Mr Malik's chances.Will an Indian gentleman in the heart of Africa be defeated by the many obstacles that stand between him and his heart's desire? Or will honour and decency prevail?'A funny, ingenious and touching love story' Joanne Harris, The Times'A delightful comedy... It invites comparison to The No.1 Ladies' Detective A gency books, but it's original and, if anything, has more depth' Daily Mail'Sweet, charming and utterly wonderful on the subject of birds' MetroNicholas Drayson was born in England and has lived in Australia since 1982, where he studied zoology and a PhD in 19th century Australian natural history writing. He has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya and Australia, writing for publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Australian Geographic. He is the author of three other novels, Confessing a Murder, Love and the Platypus and A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa.

For lovers of Alexander McCall Smith, Nicholas Drayson introduces the charming Mr Malik and the East African Ornithological Society in A Guide to the Birds of East Africa.Reserved, honourable Mr Malik. You wouldn't notice him in a Nairobi street - except, perhaps, to comment on his carefully sculpted comb-over - but beneath his unprepossessing exterior lie a warm heart and a secret passion. Not even his closest friends know it, but Mr Malik is head-over-heels in love with the leader of the local Tuesday-morning bird walk, Rose Mbikwa.Little can he imagine the hurdles that lie before him. Even as he plucks up the courage to ask for Rose's hand, thieves, potential kidnappers and corrupt officials, not to mention one particularly determined love rival, seem destined to thwart Mr Malik's chances.Will an Indian gentleman in the heart of Africa be defeated by the many obstacles that stand between him and his heart's desire? Or will honour and decency prevail?'A funny, ingenious and touching love story' Joanne Harris, The Times'A delightful comedy... It invites comparison to The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, but it's original and, if anything, has more depth' Daily Mail'Sweet, charming and utterly wonderful on the subject of birds' MetroNicholas Drayson was born in England and has lived in Australia since 1982, where he studied zoology and a PhD in 19th century Australian natural history writing. He has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya and Australia, writing for publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Australian Geographic. He is the author of three other novels, Confessing a Murder, Love and the Platypus and A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa.

For lovers of Alexander McCall Smith, the engaging follow up to Nicholas Drayson's much-loved A Guide to the Birds of East Africa sees the return of Mr Malik and the East African Ornithological Society.Mr Malik has been busy planning the Asadi Club's annual safari. But a series of crimes puts the club's very existence at risk. It is up to Mr Malik and Co. to solve a decades-old murder, recover the club mascot and identify, once and for all, the most dangerous beast in Africa.Not to mention his only daughter may, or may not, be getting married in a week.Will Mr Malik again prevail over Kenyan politics, a reluctant bride and unrevealed secrets?'A book of immense charm; a sort of P G Wodehouse meets Alexander McCall Smith' Joanne Harris on A Guide to the Birds of East Africa'A delightful comedy... It invites comparison to The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, but it's original and, if anything, has more depth' Daily Mail on A Guide to the Birds of East AfricaNicholas Drayson was born in England and lived in Australia since 1982, where he studied zoology and gained a PhD in 19th-century Australian natural history writing and two daughters. He has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya and Australia, writing for publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Australian Geographic. He is the author of three previous novels, Confessing a Murder, Love and the Platypus and A Guide to the Birds of East Africa (Penguin, 2008). He is now wandering through England aboard his boat, the Summer Breeze.

A nameless narrator, abandoned on an island soon to be obliterated by volcanic activity, tells the story of his life and exile from England. The tale is as extraordinary for its observations of a surreal natural history as for the dark twistings of human nature it reveals. His particular interest is beetles—a passion he shares, most literally, with the idolized friend of his school years, Charles Darwin—and his reckless pursuit of the golden scarab has led him to a place that mirrors the Galapagos in the utter singularity of its fauna and flora. Blood-sucking mistletoe and amphibian swallows are but two of the fantastic species he records. Is this the diary of a madman? Or is it the story of why Darwin published the book that destroyed his belief in God? Fearlessly original in conception, this tale is as extraordinary for its observations of a surreal natural history as for the dark twistings of human nature it reveals.

Ein bezaubernder Liebesroman, den man mit einem Lächeln zuklapptMr. Malik ist ein warmherziger, schüchterner Mann mit einem großen Geheimnis: Er ist bis über beide Ohren verliebt in Rose, die Leiterin der örtlichen Gruppe von Vogelbeobachtern. Während er noch überlegt, wie er die Dame seines Herzens als Begleiterin zum jährlichen Nairobi Hunt Ball gewinnen kann, trifft der charmante Draufgänger Harry Khan in der Stadt ein. Auch er hat bald ein Auge auf Rose geworfen und möchte sie ebenfalls zum Ball einladen. Da schreiten die Gentlemen aus Mr. Maliks Club ein und schlagen den beiden Rivalen eine Wette vor ...«Selten war ein Buch auf so charmante Art witzig wie dieses.» Frankfurter Neue Presse

For lovers of Alexander McCall Smith, Nicholas Drayson introduces the charming Mr Malik and the East African Ornithological Society in A Guide to the Birds of East Africa.Reserved, honourable Mr Malik. You wouldn't notice him in a Nairobi street - except, perhaps, to comment on his carefully sculpted comb-over - but beneath his unprepossessing exterior lie a warm heart and a secret passion. Not even his closest friends know it, but Mr Malik is head-over-heels in love with the leader of the local Tuesday-morning bird walk, Rose Mbikwa.Little can he imagine the hurdles that lie before him. Even as he plucks up the courage to ask for Rose's hand, thieves, potential kidnappers and corrupt officials, not to mention one particularly determined love rival, seem destined to thwart Mr Malik's chances.Will an Indian gentleman in the heart of Africa be defeated by the many obstacles that stand between him and his heart's desire? Or will honour and decency prevail?'A funny, ingenious and touching love story' Joanne Harris, The Times'A delightful comedy... It invites comparison to The No.1 Ladies' Detective A gency books, but it's original and, if anything, has more depth' Daily Mail'Sweet, charming and utterly wonderful on the subject of birds' MetroNicholas Drayson was born in England and has lived in Australia since 1982, where he studied zoology and a PhD in 19th century Australian natural history writing. He has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya and Australia, writing for publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Australian Geographic. He is the author of three other novels, Confessing a Murder, Love and the Platypus and A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa.

For lovers of Alexander McCall Smith, Nicholas Drayson introduces the charming Mr Malik and the East African Ornithological Society in A Guide to the Birds of East Africa.Reserved, honourable Mr Malik. You wouldn't notice him in a Nairobi street - except, perhaps, to comment on his carefully sculpted comb-over - but beneath his unprepossessing exterior lie a warm heart and a secret passion. Not even his closest friends know it, but Mr Malik is head-over-heels in love with the leader of the local Tuesday-morning bird walk, Rose Mbikwa.Little can he imagine the hurdles that lie before him. Even as he plucks up the courage to ask for Rose's hand, thieves, potential kidnappers and corrupt officials, not to mention one particularly determined love rival, seem destined to thwart Mr Malik's chances.Will an Indian gentleman in the heart of Africa be defeated by the many obstacles that stand between him and his heart's desire? Or will honour and decency prevail?'A funny, ingenious and touching love story' Joanne Harris, The Times'A delightful comedy... It invites comparison to The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, but it's original and, if anything, has more depth' Daily Mail'Sweet, charming and utterly wonderful on the subject of birds' MetroNicholas Drayson was born in England and has lived in Australia since 1982, where he studied zoology and a PhD in 19th century Australian natural history writing. He has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya and Australia, writing for publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Australian Geographic. He is the author of three other novels, Confessing a Murder, Love and the Platypus and A Guide to the Beasts of East Africa.

For lovers of Alexander McCall Smith, the engaging follow up to Nicholas Drayson's much-loved A Guide to the Birds of East Africa sees the return of Mr Malik and the East African Ornithological Society.Mr Malik has been busy planning the Asadi Club's annual safari. But a series of crimes puts the club's very existence at risk. It is up to Mr Malik and Co. to solve a decades-old murder, recover the club mascot and identify, once and for all, the most dangerous beast in Africa.Not to mention his only daughter may, or may not, be getting married in a week.Will Mr Malik again prevail over Kenyan politics, a reluctant bride and unrevealed secrets?'A book of immense charm; a sort of P G Wodehouse meets Alexander McCall Smith' Joanne Harris on A Guide to the Birds of East Africa'A delightful comedy... It invites comparison to The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, but it's original and, if anything, has more depth' Daily Mail on A Guide to the Birds of East AfricaNicholas Drayson was born in England and lived in Australia since 1982, where he studied zoology and gained a PhD in 19th-century Australian natural history writing and two daughters. He has worked as a journalist in the UK, Kenya and Australia, writing for publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Australian Geographic. He is the author of three previous novels, Confessing a Murder, Love and the Platypus and A Guide to the Birds of East Africa (Penguin, 2008). He is now wandering through England aboard his boat, the Summer Breeze.

A nameless narrator, abandoned on an island soon to be obliterated by volcanic activity, tells the story of his life and exile from England. The tale is as extraordinary for its observations of a surreal natural history as for the dark twistings of human nature it reveals. His particular interest is beetles—a passion he shares, most literally, with the idolized friend of his school years, Charles Darwin—and his reckless pursuit of the golden scarab has led him to a place that mirrors the Galapagos in the utter singularity of its fauna and flora. Blood-sucking mistletoe and amphibian swallows are but two of the fantastic species he records. Is this the diary of a madman? Or is it the story of why Darwin published the book that destroyed his belief in God? Fearlessly original in conception, this tale is as extraordinary for its observations of a surreal natural history as for the dark twistings of human nature it reveals.

Ein bezaubernder Liebesroman, den man mit einem Lächeln zuklapptMr. Malik ist ein warmherziger, schüchterner Mann mit einem großen Geheimnis: Er ist bis über beide Ohren verliebt in Rose, die Leiterin der örtlichen Gruppe von Vogelbeobachtern. Während er noch überlegt, wie er die Dame seines Herzens als Begleiterin zum jährlichen Nairobi Hunt Ball gewinnen kann, trifft der charmante Draufgänger Harry Khan in der Stadt ein. Auch er hat bald ein Auge auf Rose geworfen und möchte sie ebenfalls zum Ball einladen. Da schreiten die Gentlemen aus Mr. Maliks Club ein und schlagen den beiden Rivalen eine Wette vor ...«Selten war ein Buch auf so charmante Art witzig wie dieses.» Frankfurter Neue Presse