Well, that was a disappointment. The mystery, such as it is, is boring and trivially resolved in the last two pages, after numerous red herrings, none of which are really ever resolved.

The characters are boring -- Isabel Dalhousie is an elderly, rich Scottish woman who, despite frequently judging everyone else for being layabouts, seems to do nothing to occupy her time except judge others, nose into other people's business and obsess about the sex life of people half her age.

The schtick of the book is ostensibly the philosophy, but this is no [b:Sophie's World|10959|Sophie's World (Paperback)|Jostein Gaarder|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21A6T5PH7YL._SL75_.jpg|4432325]. Philosophy is mentioned in passing, over-simplified and only in the most trite way.

There's very little redeemable here. ( )

Speaking as one who doesn't mind the leisurely plot development and frequent meandering musings of an Alexander McCall Smith book, this one was too ponderous even for me. ( )

I needed something like this after four kinda long fantasy books (though they're not the heaviest things I've read). Short, extremely easy to read, and not overly complicated.

Isabel was pretty nice, but her and Cat's relationship was way too much like Domenica and Pat's relationship in the 44 Scotland Street series, to the point where they barely felt like their own characters. There's of course a bit of Mma Ramotswe in Isabel, but it's been a while since I read Ladies' Detective Agency, so that didn't bother me as much.

The mystery wasn't that thrilling, but that isn't exactly what I expected either. I think it had a pretty satisfying conclusion, given the type of book this is. ( )

Isabel Dalhousie is the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, a part-time role that satisfies her continuing interest in moral philosophy. Her life is also filled with opportunities to ponder the moral niceties. Should she intrude upon her niece’s relationship with a man of whom she disapproves? When, if ever, is lying permissible? What is the relationship between courtesy and morality? And what, if anything, does one owe to a dead man? Especially if you are probably the last person to see him alive as he fell past you from the seats at the very top of Usher Hall.

Isabel is a thoroughly enjoyable conduit for these musings. She is diffident yet brave. She pieces out her responsibilities and then acts, wisely or not, with verve. She isn’t always correct in the conclusions she reaches, but she revises her opinions promptly as new information comes to light. And, I admit it, I’ve got a soft spot for those who can weave real philosophical opinions and insights into their literature. Well done!

I’d gladly recommend this book and look forward to the next in the series. ( )

I first encountered this story as an audio book as I was driving cross-country and was charmed by it. Isabelle Dalhousie is a Scottish philosophy journal editor who occasionally meddles. You've got to be in the mood for a slow, peaceful pace, however, although the accent of the Scottish reader adds a great deal to the presentation. enjoable, and reminds me a little of Jill Patton Walsh's Imogen Quy. ( )