Reviews
"Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." -- Entertainment Weekly "The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith''s Scotland [is] well worth future visits." -- The New York Times "In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he''s done it again. . . . She''s such good company, it''s hard to believe she''s fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." -- Newsweek "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel''s interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." -- The Seattle Times "Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh''s complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." -- The New York Times Book Review "Fans of Alexander McCall Smith''s No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency novels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." -- Life "Whimsical. . . . [A] memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith''s assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among the plaid." -- San Francisco Chronicle "A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . . . [with] memorable minor characters, [an] intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." -- Newsday "Habit-forming. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club leaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." -- The Oregonian "So believable. . . . The great pleasures of [ The Sunday Philosophy Club ] have to do with Smith''s wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." -- The Columbus Dispatch "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming. . . . [His] gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." -- The Globe and Mail (Toronto) "Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." -- The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) "Skillfully written. . . . Smith''s Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New York Daily News "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." -- The Dallas Morning News "Memorable. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club will delight McCall Smith''s existing fans and win him some new ones." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Charming. . . . Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." -- Detroit Free Press "A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." -- The Patriot News (Harrisburg, PA) "Devotees of Smith''s No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency series are certain to enjoy these new people and this new place. . . . To know Isabel Dalhousie is to like and admire her." -- Chicago Tribune "Readers will be immediately smitten with the interplay between the philosopher, her tradition-bound housekeeper Grace and her unlucky in-love niece Cat." -- Ft. Myers News-Press "An elegant mystery filled not with dead bodies but an air of gentle refinement, intelligence and insight. . . . Isabel is a true original." -- Orlando Sentinel, "Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." -- Entertainment Weekly "The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith''s Scotland [is] well worth future visits." -- The New York Times "In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he''s done it again. . . . She''s such good company, it''s hard to believe she''s fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." -- Newsweek "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel''s interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." -- The Seattle Times "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel''s interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." -- The Seattle Times "Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh''s complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." -- The New York Times Book Review "Fans of Alexander McCall Smith''s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." -- Life "Whimsical. . . . [A] memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith''s assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among the plaid." -- San Francisco Chronicle "A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . . . [with] memorable minor characters, [an] intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." ?-- Newsday "Habit-forming. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club leaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." -- The Oregonian "So believable. . . . The great pleasures of [ The Sunday Philosophy Club ] have to do with Smith''s wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." -- The Columbus Dispatch "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming. . . . [His] gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." -- The Globe and Mail (Toronto)"Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." -- The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)"Skillfully written. . . . Smith''s Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New York Daily News "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." -- The Dallas Morning News "Memorable. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club will delight McCall Smith''s existing fans and win him some new ones." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Charming. . . . Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." -- Detroit Free Press "A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." -- The Patriot News (Harrisburg, PA)"Devotees of Smith''s No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency series are certain to enjoy these new people and this new place. . . . To know Isabel Dalhousie is to like and admire her." -- Chicago Tribune "Readers will be immediately smitten with the interplay between the philosopher, her tradition-bound housekeeper Grace and her unlucky in-love niece Cat." -- Ft., "Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." -- Entertainment Weekly "The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith''s Scotland [is] well worth future visits." -- The New York Times "In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he''s done it again. . . . She''s such good company, it''s hard to believe she''s fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." -- Newsweek "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel''s interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." -- The Seattle Times "Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh''s complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." -- The New York Times Book Review "Fans of Alexander McCall Smith''s No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency novels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." -- Life "Whimsical. . . . [A] memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith''s assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among the plaid." -- San Francisco Chronicle "A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . . . [with] memorable minor characters, [an] intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." -- Newsday "Habit-forming. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club leaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." -- The Oregonian "So believable. . . . The great pleasures of [ The Sunday Philosophy Club ] have to do with Smith''s wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." -- The Columbus Dispatch "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming. . . . [His] gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." -- The Globe and Mail (Toronto) "Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." -- The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) "Skillfully written. . . . Smith''s Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New York Daily News "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." -- The Dallas Morning News "Memorable. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club will delight McCall Smith''s existing fans and win him some new ones." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Charming. . . . Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." -- Detroit Free Press "A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." -- The Patriot News (Harrisburg, PA) "Devotees of Smith''s No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency series are certain to enjoy these new people and this new place. . . . To know Isabel Dalhousie is to like and admire her." -- Chicago Tribune "Readers will be immediately smitten with the interplay between the philosopher, her tradition-bound housekeeper Grace and her unlucky in-love niece Cat." -- Ft. Myers News-Press "An elegant mystery filled not with dead bodies but an air of gentle refinement, intelligence and insight. . . . Isabel is a true original." -- Orlando Sentinel, "[McCall Smith writes] the best, most charming, honest, hilarious, and life-affirming books to appear in years." -"The Plain Dealer "Utterly enchanting . . . It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." -"Chicago Sun-Times "[McCall Smith's] accomplished novels . . . [are] dependent on small gestures redolent with meaning and main characters blessed with pleasing personalities . . . Not so much conventional mysteries, [his] novels are gentle probes into the mysteries of human nature." -"Newsday, "Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." --Entertainment Weekly "The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith's Scotland [is] well worth future visits." --The New York Times "In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he's done it again. . . . She's such good company, it's hard to believe she's fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." --Newsweek "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --The Seattle Times "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --The Seattle Times "Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh's complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." --The New York Times Book Review "Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." --Life "Whimsical. . . . [A] memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among the plaid." --San Francisco Chronicle "A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . . . [with] memorable minor characters, [an] intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." ?--Newsday "Habit-forming. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club leaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." --The Oregonian "So believable. . . . The great pleasures of [The Sunday Philosophy Club] have to do with Smith's wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." --The Columbus Dispatch "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming. . . . [His] gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." --The Globe and Mail (Toronto) "Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." --The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) "Skillfully written. . . . Smith's Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New York Daily News "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --The Dallas Morning News "Memorable. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club will delight McCall Smith's existing fans and win him some new ones." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Charming. . . . Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." --Detroit Free Press "A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." --The Patriot News (Harrisburg,, "Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." --"Entertainment Weekly" "The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith's Scotland Ýisš well worth future visits." --"The New York Times" "In Mma Ramotswe, ÝMcCall Smithš minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he's done it again. . . . She's such good company, it's hard to believe she's fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." --"Newsweek" "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --"The Seattle Times" "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --"The Seattle Times" "Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh's complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." --"The New York Times Book Review" "Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." --"Life" "Whimsical. . . . ÝAš memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . ÝHisš depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among the plaid." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . .. Ýwithš memorable minor characters, Ýanš intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." ?--"Newsday" "Habit-forming. . . ." "The Sunday Philosophy Club leaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." --"The Oregonian" "So believable. . . . The great pleasures of ÝThe Sunday Philosophy Clubš have to do with Smith's wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." --"The Columbus Dispatch" "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . ÝHeš is prolific and habit-forming. . . . ÝHisš gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) "Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." --"The Times-Picayune" (New Orleans) "Skillfully written. . . . Smith's Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New York" Daily News" "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas Morning News" "Memorable. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club will delight McCall Smith's existing fans and win him some new ones." --"St. Louis Post-Dispatch" "Charming. . . .Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." --"Detroit Free Press" "A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." --"The Patriot News "(Harrisburg, PA) "Devotees of Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series are certain to enjoy these new people and this new place. . . . To know Isabel Dalhousie is to like and admire her." --"Chicago Tribune" "Readers will be immediately smitten with the interplay between the philosopher, her tradition-bound housekeeper Grace and her unlucky in-love niec, " Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." --"Entertainment Weekly" " The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith's Scotland [is] well worth future visits." --"The New York Times" " In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he's done it again. . . . She's such good company, it's hard to believe she's fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." --"Newsweek" " Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --"The Seattle Times" " Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --"The Seattle Times" " Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh's complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." --"The New York Times Book Review" " Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." --"Life" " Whimsical. . . . [A] memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among theplaid." --"San Francisco Chronicle" " A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . . . [with] memorable minor characters, [an] intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." ?--"Newsday" " Habit-forming. . . ." "The Sunday Philosophy Club leaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." --"The Oregonian" " So believable. . . . The great pleasures of [The Sunday Philosophy Club] have to do with Smith's wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." --"The Columbus Dispatch" " Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming. . . . [His] gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) " Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." --"The Times-Picayune" (New Orleans) " Skillfully written. . . . Smith's Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New York" Daily News" " Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas MorningNews" " Memorable. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club will delight McCall Smith's existing fans and win him some new ones." --"St. Louis Post-Dispatch" " Charming. . . . Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." --"Detroit Free Press" " A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." --"The Patriot News "(Harrisburg, PA) " Devotees of Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series are certain to enjoy these new people and this new place. . . . To know Isabel Dalho, "Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." --"Entertainment Weekly" "The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith's Scotland Ýis¨ well worth future visits." --"The New York Times" "In Mma Ramotswe, ÝMcCall Smith¨ minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he's done it again. . . . She's such good company, it's hard to believe she's fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." --"Newsweek" "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --"The Seattle Times" "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --"The Seattle Times" "Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh's complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." --"The New York Times Book Review" "Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." --"Life" "Whimsical. . . . ÝA¨ memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . ÝHis¨ depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among the plaid." --"San Francisco Chronicle" "A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . .. Ýwith¨ memorable minor characters, Ýan¨ intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." ?--"Newsday" "Habit-forming. . . ." "The Sunday Philosophy Club leaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." --"The Oregonian" "So believable. . . . The great pleasures of ÝThe Sunday Philosophy Club¨ have to do with Smith's wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." --"The Columbus Dispatch" "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . ÝHe¨ is prolific and habit-forming. . . . ÝHis¨ gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." --"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto) "Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." --"The Times-Picayune" (New Orleans) "Skillfully written. . . . Smith's Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New York" Daily News" "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --"The Dallas Morning News" "Memorable. . . . The Sunday Philosophy Club will delight McCall Smith's existing fans and win him some new ones." --"St. Louis Post-Dispatch" "Charming. . . .Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." --"Detroit Free Press" "A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." --"The Patriot News "(Harrisburg, PA) "Devotees of Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series are certain to enjoy these new people and this new place. . . . To know Isabel Dalhousie is to like and admire her." --"Chicago Tribune" "Readers will be immediately smitten with the interplay between the philosopher, her tradition-bound housekeeper Grace and her unlucky in-love niec, "Genial.... Wise.... Glows like a rare jewel." --Entertainment Weekly "The literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire. . . . McCall Smith's Scotland [is] well worth future visits." --The New York Times "In Mma Ramotswe, [McCall Smith] minted one of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction. Now, with the creation of Isabel Dalhousie . . . he's done it again. . . . She's such good company, it's hard to believe she's fictional. You finish this installment greedily looking forward to more." --Newsweek "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --The Seattle Times "Charmingly told. . . . Its graceful prose shines, and Isabel's interior monologues--meditations on a variety of moral questions--are bemused, intelligent and entertaining." --The Seattle Times "Endearing. . . . Offers tantalizing glimpses of Edinburgh's complex character and a nice, long look into the beautiful mind of a thinking woman." --The New York Times Book Review "Fans of Alexander McCall Smith'sNo. 1 Ladies Detective Agencynovels will delight in this new series, featuring as its heroine the tart-tongued, tartan-clad problem-solver Isabel Dalhousie. The book club will love it." --Life "Whimsical. . . . [A] memorable cast of characters. . . . McCall Smith's assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound. . . . [His] depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless. . . . His fans . . . are sure to embrace these moral peregrinations among the plaid." --San Francisco Chronicle "A mystery of moral responsibility and manners . . . [with] memorable minor characters, [an] intriguing, troubled heroine, local color and bracing Scottish patter." ?--Newsday "Habit-forming. . . .The Sunday Philosophy Clubleaves plenty of time for pondering moral conundrums, the drinking of steaming cups of hot brew (coffee, in this case) and . . . gentle probing into the human condition." --The Oregonian "So believable. . . . The great pleasures of [The Sunday Philosophy Club] have to do with Smith's wry, gentle writing applied to intriguing plots more curious or humorous than dramatic. . . . Precious Ramotswe has found a kindred spirit." --The Columbus Dispatch "Alexander McCall Smith has become one of those commodities, like oil or chocolate or money, where the supply is never sufficient to the demand. . . . [He] is prolific and habit-forming. . . . [His] gift, one of them, is to inspire an eagerness to follow. . . . McCall Smith has done his job. Isabel lives. A series is born." --The Globe and Mail(Toronto) "Like walking down the street with an amazingly literate, thoughtful, witty and self-deprecating friend through a city that friend knows and loves well." --The Times-Picayune(New Orleans) "Skillfully written. . . . Smith's Scotland . . . is a place where a profound, humane intelligence is at work." --New YorkDaily News "Mr. Smith, a fine writer, paints his hometown of Edinburgh as indelibly as he captures the sunniness of Africa. We can almost feel the mists as we tread the cobblestones." --The Dallas Morning News "Memorable. . . .The Sunday Philosophy Clubwill delight McCall Smith's existing fans and win him some new ones." --St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Charming. . . . Suspenseful. . . . A pleasant introduction to a woman readers will want to know more about." --Detroit Free Press "A quiet mystery aimed in equal parts at the head and the heart." --The Patriot News(Harrisburg, PA)
