When Mimi, Isabel’s cousin from Dallas, arrives in
Edinburgh with her husband, Joe, several confounding
situations unfurl. First, Mimi and Joe introduce Isabel to
Tom Bruce–a bigwig back home in Texas. The roving eye of
Tom’s young fiancée 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 Tom’s interest in Isabel
herself? Then there are the feelings that Isabel has for
Jamie, which are certainly hard to ignore. And she mustn’t
forget about her niece, Cat, who’s busy falling for a man
whom Isabel suspects of being an incorrigible mama’s boy.
Of course, Jamie counsels Isabel to stay out of it all,
but there are irresistible philosophical issues at stake–
when to tell the truth and when to keep one’s mouth shut,
to be precise–and 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 again–especially when
the problems involve matters of the heart.