The latest book in the beloved Isabel Dalhousie series

The surface of Isabel Dalhousie’s life is usually a tranquil one. From her house in Edinburgh she edits a philosophical journal. In the background is her long-time housekeeper, Grace, her handsome husband, Jamie, and her two small boys, Charlie and Magnus. Outside, under the cover of the rhododendron bushes, lives Brother Fox, who, with his dark, vulpine eyes, takes a great interest in what is happening around him. And yet, in the middle of this rather idyllic setting, things are happening. Jamie, a bassoonist, has been invited to play in a prestigious London concert and to make a recording for a prominent classical label. This invitation, though, comes from a scheming woman who finds him particularly charming. Alarm bells ring. And they ring too when a wily philosopher, Christopher Dove, reveals a plot to topple Professor Robert Lettuce, a member of Isabel’s editorial board.

Could Isabel’s life get more complicated? Yes. A woman she knew many years ago at school approaches her with a request for help. She has made an awkward discovery as a result of taking a DNA test. Can Isabel prevent the information obtained from this test from causing real harm to a whole family? If anybody can do that, it is Isabel Dalhousie. And she does that with tact and, most importantly, the grace that we have come to know as her hallmark quality.

Author Biography

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of over one hundred books on a wide array of subjects, including the award-winning The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. He is also the author of the Isabel Dalhousie novels and the world’s longest-running serial novel, 44 Scotland Street. His books have been translated into forty-six languages. Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and holds honorary doctorates from thirteen universities. He was knighted by the King in 2024.

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