The Careful Use of Compliments - Alexander McCall Smith (Paperback)

Pre-owned - See photos for condition

"Completely absorbing... Will captivate and enthrall." —The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

In the latest beguiling installment of this beloved series, Isabel Dalhousie—the nosiest and most sympathetic philosopher you are likely to meet—returns to investigate an irresistible puzzle in the art world.

Isabel Dalhousie now has a son, Charlie, whose doting father, Jamie, has an intriguing idea to pose to Isabel: marriage. But life still has its concerns, and the ambitious Professor Dove has staged something of a coup d'état and seized Isabel’s position as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. However, nothing seems to diminish Isabel’s innate curiosity. When she recognizes that two paintings attributed to a deceased artist have simultaneously appeared on the market, she can’t help but think that they’re forgeries. So Isabel begins an investigation and soon finds herself diverted from her musings about parenthood, marriage, and her professional life onto a path of inquiry into the soul of an artist.

“The exquisite writing and the kind charm of the characters are an oasis from twenty-first century life.” —The Birmingham Post

“McCall Smith’s assessments of fellow humans are piercing and profound... His depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and seamless.” —San Francisco Chronicle