Customer Reviews:
 A Quiet Brilliance October 4, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This Alexander McCall Smith series is smart, quirky, and, like his "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, is what I like to call "quiet brilliance". There's no flashy action or steamy sex, just a great story anchored by strong characters. The plot unfolds at the pace of McCall's wonderful prose, bright corners of words that describe more than they say.
I think of these stories as a sort of brain-tonic; clean, without being preachy or boring. They are like what pastorals are to classical music, a combination of both strength and whimsy.
Dalhousie September 26, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I love his writing..I have read all the series of Ladies Detective Agency and was eager to read the followup on Dalhousie. His writing is so descriptive, you want to go there.
 Disappointing addition to a promising series. September 23, 2007
2 out of 8 found this review helpful
Miss Dalhousie's author has introduced her to the reader in three thoughtfiul semi-mysteries, written with wry humor and clearly drawn supporting characters. The entire gang goes nowhere during the progress of this aimless plot. I'd be disinclined to read any forthcoming stories about Isabel Dalhousie, and think twice before attempting to explore this author further. He appears to be in it for profit now, and to have lost other incentives.
Motherhood and philosophy... August 31, 2007
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
This book is quite the page-turner. The story focuses on a few main points: Isabel as a mother, Cat and Isabel's strained relationship, a painting which appears a fraud, and Isabel's editorial position which has always seemed a certainty and now suddenly disappears. Everything seems finely meshed together in this story--with change being the overall theme. How we react to and recover from major changes in our lives...this is what Isabel does--react and recover. The relationship that Isabel has with Jamie seems perfectly portrayed here as one in which neither person says exactly what they mean or truly trusts the other fully enough to be honest in a situation where there is a question as to why one remains. Their conversations go from seemingly flowing to almost painful, especially when their discussion involves Cat. This book is fascinating and the author really does a fine job of fleshing out this character. She questions everything...herself, the life she has chosen, big debates and little moments of pondering...Isabel is ever the philosopher and just when I think I fully understand her she does something that amazes me and explains it all away until I see all sides to every issue brought up. That's the wonder of these books. There is never a clear cut black and white issue. We may be on one side or another but everything is weighed and weighted...it's really extraordinary and as always a fascinating read!
Engaging and charming entry in Isabel Dalhousie series August 21, 2007
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
The Careful Use of Compliments by Alexander Mccall Smith is the most recent entry in the Isabel Dalhousie mystery series. Isabel's son, Charlie, by her friend/lover Jamie has been born and has brought about many changes to her household. Cat, Isabel's niece and Jamie's former girlfriend, has given the new family the cold shoulder, especially Charlie. Jamie and Isabel take a weekend trip to northern Scotland, and Isabel discovers a mystery in two paintings recently come to auction by a deceased artist. She also loses her job as editor of a small philosophy journal, and with all of these changes in her life finds herself on shifting ground. Smith seems to be regarding the transiency of life in this delightful novel. Isabel is lost in love with her new son and finds herself contemplating how quickly life passes. As always, she debates moral arguments of all sorts in her mind and tries to practice being the best person she can. She brings up interesting questions about the responsibility of those with great wealth and how they should be taxed. I really love reading Smith's works. They engage the mind and soul with realistic characters facing everyday problems and struggling to make their little corner of the world a better place. Isabel could easily be accused of being a nosy busybody, but her every act is taken with great thought and in love.
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