Lost in her own thoughts, Isabel Dalhousie was startled
when Martha Drummond, a neighbour joined her on her walk to
Cat's Delicatessen. To Isabel, Martha was in that awkward
territory of being not just an acquaintance, but not quite
a true friend. Despite her small fears that they would
have just another of their irritating and pointless
conversations, Isabel is a little surprised when Martha
asked her to help out a friend who recently had a theft
occur at his home. Would she just talk to him?
When Isabel had chance to tell her much younger and
handsome husband, about it later in the day, Jamie
expressed concerns about it and was worried about her
safety. This seemed different that the other requests she
had had in the past when others had asked for her help.
When not actively caring for her happy and busy family with
now three and three-quarters year old son, Charlie,
juggling Jamie's varied schedule as Bassoonist and music
instructor and her own as the Editor and Reviewer of the
Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel enjoys at times helping
others resolve problems. Not that she doesn't have issues
of her own. How could she tactfully deal with Grace, her
housekeeper, who unknown to the parents, had been training
the wee boy in math?
Now, after meeting Duncan Munrowe, the well-educated and
old school country gentleman, she is intrigued by his
situation and his strength of character. For generations,
his family had been well off as farmers and he had
inherited a large family art collection; some still in his
spacious home while much had been donated to the Scottish
National Gallery. The painting that had been stolen from
his house was "Time Reconsidered" by Nicolas Poussin.
Aside from being his personal favourite and very valuable,
he feels terrible about the loss as had made a personal
promise to donate it to the National Gallery. Now, lawyers
have launched a not unheard of demand for a ransom for the
painting, thus reducing the cost to the insurers. Would
Isabel help him with the meeting and dilemma?
THE UNCOMMON APPEAL OF CLOUDS is the ninth book in
Alexander McCall Smith's delightful series involving the
gentle minded Edinburgh philosopher and amateur sleuth,
Isabel Dalhousie. Isabel is an amazing character who
fluctuates between the insecurities of decisions to be made
in normal life while finding strength in her convictions
after ruminating the logic and flow of ideas and thoughts
in her mind. She ponders difficult decisions that need to
be made while also let her thoughts meander around the most
ordinary of actions or events, yet can find the largest of
ramifications in the small details. I particularly enjoyed
how Isabel speculates on Duncan and his children and their
situation as to who might have had motive as well as
opportunity while philosophizing on clouds, light,
friendship and the quandaries of everyday life.
While THE
UNCOMMON APPEAL OF CLOUDS can easily and enjoyable be read
as a standalone book, McCall Smith's many existing fans
will be sure to savour this latest story and relish getting
to revisit some previous characters. Enjoy!
Nothing captures the charm of Edinburgh like the bestselling
Isabel Dalhousie series of novels featuring the insatiably
curious philosopher and woman detective. Whether
investigating a case or a problem of philosophy, the
indefatigable Isabel Dalhousie, one of fiction’s most richly
developed amateur detectives, is always ready to pursue the
answers to all of life’s questions, large and small.
In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s
endearing Isabel Dalhousie series, the Edinburgh philosopher
and amateur sleuth answers an unexpected appeal from a
wealthy Scottish collector who has been robbed of a valuable
painting.
One afternoon over coffee at Cat’s delicatessen, a friend of
Isabel’s shares a call for help from Duncan Munrowe. Crafty
thieves have stolen a prized painting from his collection, a
work by the celebrated French artist Nicolas Poussin that
was earmarked for donation to the Scottish National Gallery.
Munrowe has been approached by the thieves and hopes that
Isabel will assist him in recovering the painting. Never one
to refuse an appeal, she agrees, and discovers that the
thieves may be closer to the owner than he ever would have
expected.
Against the backdrop of this intriguing case, Isabel copes
with life’s issues, large and small. She and Jamie have
begun to suspect that their three-year-old son, Charlie,
might be a budding mathematical genius. What should be done
about it? Then there is the question of whether Isabel
should help a young couple who want to move in
together—against the wishes of the girl’s parents. The
boyfriend is hoping Isabel might intercede.
As she wrestles with these problems, Isabel finds herself
tested as a parent, a philosopher and a friend. But, as
always, she manages to use the right combination of good
sense, quick wits and a kind heart to come to the right
solution, proving once again why Isabel Dalhousie has become
one of Alexander McCall Smith’s most beloved characters.
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