This is another delightful outing with Isabel Dalhousie. McCall Smith writes such mannered lovely prose and writes it so engagingly. I loved the part when Charlie says a naughty word beginning with "s", and the playschool teacher is so mortified she won't even say it so she writes it down: "And underneath was written a word in common use among builders, soldiers, teenagers and novelists." Haha! - but not this novelist! He's so genteel.... I kind of wanted Charlie to be caught saying it again, on a day when Grace was picking him up, and her talk to him about it, and see what Isabel and Jamie did with that. - Also liked the mushroom scene and the quote, "There are old mycologists and there are bold mycologists, but there are no old, bold mycologists"! So many treasures in here, and in every Dalhousie novel (and the Precious Ramotswe ones, too). How does he do it? and long may he continue!

I always like Smith's books about Isabel Dalhousie. Not only a nice story, but also shows a slice of Scottish life. The mystery is easygoing - just a little life mystery, not murder and mayhem that so many mysteries are.

Once again, an enjoyable visit with Isabel and her peculiarly individual thought patterns..... these books are very quotable and very thought-provoking, though some of the characters (ie: Cat!) are so annoying! So great to be able to read another episode in Isabel's story, and the only problem now is waiting for the next one ;)

Always enjoyable to spend a few quiet hours mulling over the great moral issues that always seem to underscore the seemingly small, inconsequential events that make up a normal day in our modern lives. Best read sitting curled up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea.

A wonderful read. So nice to return to Edinburgh with Isabel Dalhousie and her intellectual musings on philosphy, art, music, poetry, relationships, Brother Fox, you name it!

One of the more moving Isabel Dalhousie stories