I never cottoned to McCall Smith’s more popular No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series about Precious Ramotswe who solves mysteries in Botswana. I always found them a bit twee and well, precious. But his Isabel Dalhousie series never ceases to charm me. I read these books swiftly, hungrily, loving every minute. They’re like a cup of tea. Isabel is a philosopher, she edits a scholarly
journal, and her innate interest in matters of ethics and morals leads her to aid others in unfolding the mysteries of human interaction. The title of this book could describe the whole series which is not recommended for those that like their mysteries to have a murder in the beginning and a culprit apprehended by the conclusion. Instead, Isabel just listens, asks, theorizes and offers advice. I love these books because of the musings about human nature and the unfolding nature of her life and the cast of characters that surround her – her spiritualist housekeeper Grace, her younger lover Jamie, her adorable son Charlie, and her niece Cat who can never seem to find true love. Reading these books I feel like I am catching up with friends – if I read them more than once a year I suspect I might get tired of the leisurely pace (or not) but once a year they arrive like a thoughtful present and a breath of fresh Scottish air. I love them. I also love that in spite of the potential for these books to fall into the quagmire of precious coziness, McCall Smith does not shy away from the darker side of humanity choosing to show its presence in daily life instead of the violence of shocking murder found in conventional mystery series. I always find a million quotable passages in these books because Isabel’s brain is always mulling things over in a witty dry fashion that is wonderful. My favorite from this book:
Eve was framed: everybody knew that by now.
I cannot wait for another book to arrive when I need it next year. Now back to The Riddle of the Sands and boating slang that escapes me.
