New York Times best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith, winner of the first-ever Saga Award for Wit, has entertained millions with his beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mysteries. Now this phenomenally popular author introduces a fresh series, brimming with the charm and humor his stable of dedicated fans can't get enough of.

Isabel Dalhousie is a philosopher by training, and an amateur sleuth by choice. When a young man falls from a balcony to his death, Isabel's curiosity is aroused. She does not believe the fall was an accident, and she is determined to root out the truth. With a little help from some friends (her housekeeper, her niece, and her niece's rather attractive ex-boyfriend), Isabel plunges into the shady business community of Edinburgh to find some answers.

With its distinctive characters and captivating suspense, The Sunday Philosophy Club further cements McCall Smith's status as one of today's most imaginative and enjoyable authors.

Listening Length

8 hours and 2 minutes
Author

Alexander McCall Smith
Narrator

Davina Porter
Audible release date

October 6, 2004
Language

English
Publisher

Recorded Books
ASIN

B0006IU7EK
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	8 hours and 2 minutes
Author	Alexander McCall Smith
Narrator	Davina Porter
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 06, 2004
Publisher	Recorded Books
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B0006IU7EK
Best Sellers Rank	#31,433 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #321 in Traditional Detective Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals) #994 in Women Sleuth Mysteries #1,423 in Women's Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

5 star		45%
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3 star		16%
2 star		8%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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reader of French books

Isabel Dalhousie, clueless philosopher and charming middle aged woman.

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2017

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Isabel Dalhousie is a good character. Nevertheless, after reading 7 books of the series, I realized something about her was rankling me. She's a philosopher and constantly making decisions using her set of supposedly objectively moral beliefs, but the more I read of her various dilemmas and inquests, the more I realize that, far from making most decisions on ethical/moral bases, she just does what she wants! She can talk herself into a philosophical position for following her emotions almost every time she confronts a dilemma. For example, in The Charming Quirks of Others, Isabel cannot stop herself from meddling even in her fiancé's sticky situation with another woman. Reasonably, her fiancé should correct his own behavior towards the other woman, but Isabel convinces herself and him to let her confront her rival. Clearly the problem is with her fiancé, not with the other woman. Isabel is frequently if not nearly always mistaken in her judgments of other people and their problems. Yet she meddles endlessly! I do find the books charming: Isabel is a philosopher with little common sense--it's a mistake to take her as seriously as I did for the first few books of the series.

12 people found this helpful

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DSW

A Cozy Edinburgh Mystery, With a Philosopher's Touch

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2016

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I consumed this book as a tourist does, who has visited the locale and enjoys revisiting a beloved spot. But the premise for the protagonist to pursue a suspicious accident begins and ends weakly. I also could not overcome my awareness that a man was [inaccurately] imagining the inner life of a woman. There was also the potental danger of openly pursuing a potential murderer, ignored until clumsily and inconclusively handled toward the end of the novel. And, as other reviewers pointed out, there was no contact with the police beyond Isabel's naive interview, which could have greatly enhanced the story. However, I enjoyed it enough to want to read more of the series and see if the author becomes a little more skilled in the art of mystery writing.

13 people found this helpful

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M. Hill

Another wonderful read from Mr. McCall Smith!

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2016

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I've read and thoroughly enjoyed all of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective books. This book is just as great a pleasure as that series. Isabel Dalhousie is a complex, thoughtful and very human character whose development and further adventures should prove very interesting.

The most wonderful aspect of all is that Alexander McCall Smith is able to imbue a world so different from that of Mma. Romatswe with the same abundance of warmth, humanity, wisdom and wit as he does hers. He makes Scotland just as vivid as Botswana, and conveys the same great affection for the place and its people. The writing of Mr. McCall Smith is uplifting in its eloquence and grace, and for me that is a gift to be treasured.

19 people found this helpful

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Deb McNaughton

The Philosophy Observations Are The Best Part

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2017

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I liked this book, but did not love it only because it moved a bit too slow for me. The main character, Isabel Dalhousie, has a background in Philosophy, which makes for some interesting observations. The story starts with the death of a man who has fallen from the balcony at a theater. Isabel witnesses the fall right in front of her eyes and becomes curious as to what caused it. Something tells her it wasn't a suicide nor an accident. Thus begins her expertise as an amateur sleuth-er. As the first in the series, a cast of characters are introduced to us that we can assume will be a part of future stories in this series. The problem is that I'm not sure I want to move forward. The pace and character development were "ho-hum" for me and there wasn't much action. Her philosophical observations were the best part and actually made me think about things (e.g. Is littering a moral issue?). I may read the next one to see if McCall Smith turns it up a notch, but there are so many great series out there I will likely wait a while before digging into the next one.

6 people found this helpful

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ElaineS

I LOVE used books!

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2021

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This book was exactly what I wanted, was in good condition and was perfectly readable. I read every day and pretty much always have-used paperbacks are the perfect solution. You can spend far less, while getting the exact book you want to read (the library often doesn't even have the author whose books I want to read) and then pass the book on to others!

One person found this helpful

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Larkspur

If you want to fall FAST asleep....read this series

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020

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I got suckered into this Audio book, because I enjoy the narrator from other series (I had listened to an excerpt online). THIS particular series is SO EXTREMELY BORING.

I bought 3 of these "Isabel" stories at low prices, excited that I had found buried treasure...and STRUGGLED thru the first book, forced myself to do the second book and now Im not going to do the third. I'll be donating them to the library.

This author just doesn't do it for me.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

I did not like the way it was written

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2022

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The writing was cumbersome. I know the author has written other books. But if their anything like this one , it would be a waste of my time to read them. Also the ending was dumb... the main character decided it was okay NOT to make the “accidental” murderer accountable for his actions... he had suffered enough because he felt bad the other man had died unintentionally. So the main character Isabel made herself judge & jury. Very pretentious & unbelievable!

One person found this helpful

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Tina Tessina

An amazing series!

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2017

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I loved the Isabel Dalhousie series even more than the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. As soon as I finished book 10, I started again on book one and went straight through the whole series. I love these characters and the Edinburgh setting. I love the philosophy and art content, and I can't wait for the next book!

13 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Aimee Leigh Dean

A wonderful start to a new series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2020

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I read these novels when they were first released but my hard copies are currently in a different country to me. Alexander McColl Smith is one of my favourite authors. I love his Number 1 Ladies detective agency series.

The Isabel Dalhousie series is of course very different as it’s based in Edinburgh. Isabel is a delightfully written character who is a philosopher and so each of these stories include fantastic philosophical narratives as Isabel struggles with each of her choices.

However Isabel can’t help herself when it comes to helping others even if it puts herself in internal dilemmas. Her wistful crush on her nieces ex-boyfriend is certainly a dilemma she is trying not to think about as she navigates the potential existential quandaries this would cause to those around her.

If you love philosophy or indeed like to understand more about this then you will love this series. Alexander McColl Smith is a master of complex stories and I adore this series!!

Violet Preston

Edinburgh life

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2021

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This novel grew on me. I couldn’t categorise it at first: sort of a crime novel maybe? A story which uses the protagonist as a means of setting forth various philosophical viewpoints as they occur within the narrative? Then I realised I was enjoying it because it was set in Edinburgh and I just enjoyed the ride.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Cold as ice

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 20, 2017

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Very well written but is the author writing a text book or a novel? It tried to be in the same vein as Christie or Sayers but is too dispassionate to hit that goal. I found it very remote and cold and seriously wanted to shake the "heroine" into displaying some feelings. Not for me as I like "human" characters.

3 people found this helpful

L. Foster

Not brilliant.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

I was disappointed!! So much bulk and so little story. I gave up with it half way through. I usually like this author's work, but the use of philosophy and debates about love and loss just filled page after page whilst the highly improbable plotline stagnated.

One person found this helpful

Kirstine

Gentle and thought-provoking

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2008

Verified Purchase

I've only recently sampled this McCall Smith series having found the Number 1 Ladies Detective Series too twee for my tastes. The heroine of the Philosophy Club series, Isabel Dalhousie, is a charming and interesting character who engages the reader to care about what happens in her life. The story-lines have several strands: her personal life; her amateur sleuthing; and her occupation as an editor of a philosophy journal. This last theme allows the author to explore aspects of moral philosophy and ethics (his own professional background). In the past I've tended to find writings about philosophy tedious, but the way the author incorporates philosophical issues into the fabric of these stories makes the ideas come alive. For those of us who know Edinburgh, reading about all the familiar streets and shops gives added pleasure. This is not a book based on realistic crime detection, such as Ian Rankin's Rebus series: it's more in the Simon Brett/ Agatha Christie camp.

30 people found this helpful

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The Sunday Philosophy Club: An Isabel Dalhousie Mystery Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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