An enjoyable read, though not nearly as clever or well-written as his Mma Ramotswe books. It is nice reading a mystery/puzzle that doesn't involve murder though. ( )

I keep trying the Isabel Dalhousie series, and I just keep not liking Isabel at all.
So why do I keep trying? I suppose it's because I enjoy the 44 Scotland Street series by the same author, and I keep hoping that the Isabel books will move closer to that in wit and enjoyable characters.
Both series give one the sensation of being in suspended animation in the city of Edinburgh (a condition I'm all in favor of), but Isabel's completely privileged, highly philosophical lifestyle drives me crazy. It's not so much that she's wealthy that's makes her unrelatable... It's that she's so distanced from her own life that when she says she's happy I don't believe her.

I will admit this one sent me down a couple of Wikipedia rabbit holes, so at least I learned something about the whirlpool of Corryvreckan and the modern composer Max Richter. ( )

A bit disappointed in this book, because I was kinda looking forward to seeing Isabel dealing with being pregnant, seeing how her relationship with Jamie develops and seeing Cat react to it ... and then we just skip about a year ahead, the baby is born, they're happily dating and Cat is fucking pissed. I mean what!? Don't make someone pregnant and then ignore all the consequences: since baby Charlie spends most of his time with Grace, we see pretty much no change in Isabel's life at all.

I mean, it's not Stephen Moffat levels of bad when it comes to fictional pregnancies, but it's fucking lazy and I'm disappointed. The only lasting thing we saw was Cat being mad about the whole Jamie-thing, but I still think we should've seen more of that.

The mystery in this one had a really good solution, the problem was of course that before the solution I didn't really care for it. I didn't think it would be resolved that way, so it was a nice surprise, but since I didn't think something like that would happen I had a very mild interest in it up until that point.

There were some good parts though, I didn't hate it. Isabel buying the magazine sort of made up for everything, even though it maybe wasn't morally right. ( )

a very mild mystery of paintings by a dead painter who turns out to be only hiding, Isobel is fired from journal but buys it

Was rabid to read this right after the preceding book (The Right Attitude to Rain). I enjoyed reading about the further adventures of Isabel D's late in life baby and mate. I continue to be put off by the philosophical musings and the distance that she has from any other human I know. The capability and concentration Isabel demonstrates within a few months of giving birth also seemed excessive. Not enough spit up and ruined sleep for my tastes. I probably don't need to read any more of these. ( )