Undiscovered Scotland

 

"The Sweet Remnants of Summer" by Alexander McCall Smith is the fourteenth in his series of Isabel Dalhousie novels. Alexander McCall Smith's millions of enthusiastic readers around the world will have a very clear idea of what to expect from this book and we suspect they won't be disappointed. It was our first encounter with Isabel Dalhousie, the Edinburgh she lives in and her many friends and contacts. What we found was an intriguing and rather beguiling book that is by turns humorous and thought-provoking. Isabel's approach to issues that many of us confront in our own lives offers lesson waiting to be learned and considerable entertainment value, all dressed up in a gentle and approachable package.

You get a sense of the plot from the publisher's description: "The latest Isabel Dalhousie novel finds our favorite moral philosopher is caught up in a delicate dispute between members of a prominent family as her husband, Jamie, is dragged into his own internecine rivalry. When Isabel is invited to serve on the advisory committee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, her husband, Jamie, expresses concern about the demands on her time. Never one to duck an obligation, however, Isabel says she'd be happy to join. There she meets a woman named Laura, whose husband - a prominent wine merchant from an illustrious family - and son are at odds. Laura asks whether Isabel might arbitrate between them. Isabel is reluctant to intervene in a familial drama but, always one for practical and courteous solutions to theoretical problems, she feels obligated to help. Will the demands on her moral attention never cease?

"Meanwhile, having criticized Isabel for getting involved in the affairs of others, Jamie does precisely that himself. He's helping to select a new cellist for his ensemble but suspects that the conductor's attention may be focused on something other than his favored candidate's cello skills. Jamie feels it's important that the most qualified applicant gets the job--but how to determine whether the conductor has the right qualifications in mind? With so many complicated and fraught issues demanding their attention, Isabel and Jamie will have to tap deep into their reserves of tact and goodwill as they navigate the tricky and turbulent waters of these emotional matters."