The Careful Use of Compliments

June 25, 2007
Best known for the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, bestseller Smith shows he's just as adept at exploring mysteries of the heart in his fourth book to feature Edinburgh philosopher-sleuth Isabel Dalhousie (after The Right Attitude to Rain
). Isabel has recently become a mother, but she has an ambiguous relationship with her son's father, Jamie, whose attempts to formalize their connection have been unsuccessful. Their ties are further strained by Jamie's ex-girlfriend, Cat, who not only still harbors strong feelings for him but is Isabel's niece. Isabel must also deal with petty academic politics aimed at depriving her of her position as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics
. Smith throws in a mystery subplot—did an obscure but talented Scottish painter drown, commit suicide or fall victim to foul play?—but the resolution of that plot thread is more noteworthy for its insights into Isabel's humanistic and optimistic philosophy than for any surprise twists. Once again, Smith displays his skill at illustrating subtle nuances of human nature.

July 1, 2007
The fourth installment in McCall Smiths mystery series featuring moral philosopher Isabel Dalhousie finds the fortysomething Edinburgh resident reveling in her new role as mother to newborn son Charlie. The babys father is Jamie, Isabels much younger lover and the ex-boyfriend of her niece. (The once-close relationship between the two women is now precarious at best.) Alas, thats not the only predicament plaguing Isabel. She has also been fired from her post as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. (An unscrupulous colleague is surely behind the unsavory turn of events.) She is soon distracted from her woes by two works of a late Scottish painter that go up for sale at the same time. Ever insightful (and curious) Isabel cant shake the uneasy feeling that the haunting landscapes are fakes. McCall Smith, an emeritus professor at the University of Edinburgh, is the acclaimed author of more than 50 books, including the internationally best-selling No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Here he vividly renders his native Scotland, from lively Edinburgh to the surreal isle of Jura, where George Orwell completed his masterpiece, 1984. With his trademark wisdom and gentle wit, McCall Smith explores the flaws and foibles of humankind and the powerful bond between mother and child.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

September 24, 2007
Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is a love letter for Botswana that has apparently enhanced tourism; in this novel, he tries to do the same for Edinburgh and the Hebrides isle of Jura. Porter does such a stunning job of bringing Jura's stark landscape to life that her dramatic reading might encourage listeners to book a Scottish sojourn. Philosopher/sleuth and new mother Isabel Dalhousie is still trying to forge a relationship with her son's father, Jamie. Porter also works wonders with Edinburgh dialect, at times stringing out Jamie's pronunciation of the word “No” into five syllables. She makes Isabel sound urbane, thoughtful, and sweetly hesitant to harm anyone else. To her credit, Porter refrains from adding some baby noises for three month-old Charlie. The only flaw in Porter's performance is that Isabel's voice makes her sound a decade or more older than her 40 years. Like McCall Smith's Edinburgh, this audio is exciting but not overly so, and like the city, it is certainly worth a visit. Simultaneous release with the Pantheon hardcover (Reviews, June 25).