The Right Attitude to Rain

The delectable new installment in the best-selling and beloved adventures of Isabel Dalhousie. 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 Brucea bigwig back home in Texas. The roving eye of Tom's young fiancee 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 stakewhen to tell the truth and when to keep one's mouth shut, to be preciseand philosophical issues are meat and drink to Isabel Dalhousie, editor of theReview of Applied Ethics. In any case, Isabel is certain of the ethical basis for a little sleuthing now and againespecially when the problems involve matters of the heart.

Alexander McCall Smith was Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh.