Synopsis:

This is Alexander McCall Smith's first book to feature the irrepressibly curious Isabel Dalhousie.

Isabel is fond of problems, and sometimes she becomes interested in problems that are, quite frankly, none of her business. This may be the case when Isabel sees a young man plunge to his death from the upper circle of a concert hall in Edinburgh. Despite the advice of her housekeeper, Grace, who has been raised in the values of traditional Edinburgh, and her niece, Cat, who, if you ask Isabel, is dating the wrong man, Isabel is determined to find the truth–if indeed there is one–behind the man's death. The resulting moral labyrinth might have stymied even Kant. And then there is the unsatisfactory turn of events in Cat's love life that must be attended to.

Having really enjoyed the Precious Ramotswe series I was rather disappointed by this one.

After a good and promising start, it then takes a very long time to even begin the plot related to the young man's death. Even when the plot does get going it seems a terribly minor part of this book, which is more a description of a month or so in the life of Isabel Dalhousie than a mystery. The ending was so limp, I was left feeling very dissatisfied.

I didn't warm to Isabel as a character at all. Basically she's just a nosy and slightly pretentious person with an over active imagination. Her "sleuthing" only achieved any success as a result of coincidences. I'm really not sure what this book aspires to be, a philosophical journal, a romance novel, a mystery/crime novel? All of the above maybe? In my opinion, it fails miserably on all counts.

I'll be taking this to the UnConvention in Birmingham on 1 July, to pass on to another Bookcrosser, or for wild release afterwards.

Another one registered by Herrgirl, who very kindly spotted that I had The Kindness of Strangers (very appropriately named if I may say so!) on my WishList and brought it to the UnConvention especially. I haven't read any of this author's books yet, I'll get there!

An unusual example of the murder-mystery-amateur-sleuth formula. Like all the best detectives, Isabelle Dalhousie has quite a few character flaws, the chief one being a tendency to rush to judgement based on the minimum of information. If this is irritating it is probably because it is such a common tendency. Her penchant for philosophical conjecture, also a defence against a world in which she often feels a stranger, adds a new, and refreshingly intellectual, dimension to an otherwise reasonably mundane middle-class scene. I couldn't help wondering whether the book had been commissioned by the Edinburgh office of Visit Scotland. Although, like any novel of this sort, it skirts on the edge of far-fetchedness, it has clearly been deeply researched, is certainly well-written and avoids becoming predictable. It leaves me unsure whether I want to launch into his more famous Ladies Detective books, but I would certainly recommend it as an easy and enjoyable read.

Still waiting to hear about the other copy of this book, which I passed on to CrazyRunner.

On the breakfast bar by the window to the right as you go in.

Released with Sahara by Michael Palin

I was there when Forager released this. I have read it in the past and enjoyed it so left it for someone else to enjoy.

Caught in Starbucks to be released to the OBCZ bookcase upstairs. Many thanks Forager!!