When Mimi, Isabelโs cousin from Dallas, arrives in Edinburgh with her husband, Joe, several confounding situations unfurl. First, Mimi and Joe introduce Isabel to Tom Bruceโa bigwig back home in Texas. The roving eye of Tomโs young fiancรฉe leads Isabel to believe that money may be at the root of her love for Tom. But what, Isabel wonders, is at the root of Tomโs interest in Isabel herself? Then there are the feelings that Isabel has for Jamie, which are certainly hard to ignore. And she mustnโt forget about her niece, Cat, whoโs busy falling for a man whom Isabel suspects of being an incorrigible mamaโs boy.
Of course, Jamie counsels Isabel to stay out of it all, but there are irresistible philosophical issues at stakeโ when to tell the truth and when to keep oneโs mouth shut, to be preciseโand philosophical issues are meat and drink to Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. In any case, Isabel is certain of the ethical basis for a little sleuthing now and againโespecially when the problems involve matters of the heart.
© 2003-2026