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With two small boys to raise, a mountain of articles to edit for the Review of Applied Ethics, and the ever-increasing demands of her niece, Cat, who always seems to need a helping hand at the deli, Isabel barely has any time for herself. Her husband, Jamie, suggests acquiring extra help, and she reluctantly agrees. In no time at all, Isabel and Jamie have a new au pair, and Isabel has an intelligent assistant editor to share her workload. Both women, though, have romantic entanglements that threaten to interfere with their work, and Isabel must decide how best to navigate this tricky domestic situation. Can an employer ever inject herself into her employees’ affairs?
Meanwhile, Isabel makes the acquaintance of Patricia, the mother of Charlie’s friend Basil. Though Isabel finds Patricia rather pushy, she tries to be civil and supportive, especially given that Patricia is raising her son on her own, without the help of his father, a well-known Edinburgh organist, also named Basil. But when Isabel sees Patricia in the company of an unscrupulous man, she begins to rethink her assumptions. Isabel must once again call on her kindness and keen intelligence to determine the right course of action, at home, at work, and in the schoolyard.
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
July 31, 2018 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780307908971
- File size: 1051 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780307908971
- File size: 2545 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 1, 2018
McCall Smith's series about privileged Edinburgh philosopher Isabel Dalhousie is a bit rarefied, lacking the depth and humor of his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, or the beehive intensity of his 44 Scotland Street novels. Isabel?of inherited wealth, married to a much-younger hunky musician, mother of two?mostly lives in her head, frequently going off on thought tangents, even in mid-conversation. It's McCall Smith's rare ability to fascinate the reader with Isabel's wide-ranging thoughts?on luck, DNA, class, tattoos, the pasta strozzapreti (which translates to priest stranglers )?that makes this series delightful to many, even though the episodes are virtually plotless. In this twelfth installment, a single mother at Isabel's older son's nursery school provides much of the interest. She's manipulative, edgy, and may be linked to someone dangerous (Isabel is assaulted in a heart-pounding episode that may connect to the woman). Meanwhile, Isabel needs more household help, leading to a nice ironic turn showing how more help can backfire. This series is like gaining entry to someone's mind, a privilege that will captivate some readers and puzzle or frustrate others.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.) -
February 1, 2018
Because their sons attend school together, single mother Patricia has latched onto a reluctant Isabel Dalhousie, who doesn't like the shady company Patricia keeps. She starts wondering whether little Basil's father is really a celebrated local organist, as Patricia claims, and learns that the man feels shut out of his son's life. Now what? More Edinburgh charm from blockbuster author McCall Smith.
Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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