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The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday Audiobook
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In the delectable fifth installment of the bestselling adventures of Isabel Dalhousie, our cherished inquisitive heroine returns to investigate a medical mystery. A doctor's career has been ruined by allegations of medical fraud and Isabel cannot ignore what may be a miscarriage of justice. Besides, Isabel's insatiable interest is piqued and she finds herself asking questions. Would a respected doctor make such a grave mistake? If not, what explains the death of the patient? Clearly, an investigation is in order. Meanwhile, there is her baby Charlie, who needs looking after; her niece Cat who needs someone to mind her deli; and a mysterious composer who has latched on to Jamie, making Isabel decidedly uncomfortable. Whatever the problem, whatever the case, we know we can count on Isabel's instincts to help her find the right solution.
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""all she wanted to say was "I am so very happy," Which she did; and she was."-----great way to end another in the series of Isabel Dalhousie novels. She repeats again--I am not a sleuth; I get things wrong, but her insight is so enjoyable. This book focuses on the theme of liars and how awful a situation can become. The doctor who is disgraced because a man dies and it is directly linked to the drug testing experiment that the doctor is working on. Eddie, the assistant in Cat's deli asks Isabel for money and when he finally tells her why he needs it, she doesn't believe him. Nick Smart appears to be demanding much of Isabel's partner, Jamie's time. Isabel is confused and jealous about the relationship. And Cat is still searching for Mr. Right, this time in Sri Lanka. Isabel has a theory that Cat is trying to find someone just like her father. Her suspicions are confirmed when yet another realtionship fails. The man in the photo looks like Cat's father (Isabel's brother). Brief mention is made of Jamie's family, all separated, distant. Isabel has yet to admit it, but she, Charlie, and Grace are his family now. It's heartwarming to see them drawing closer together, deepening relationships. A satisfying read."
— Ginny (4 out of 5 stars)
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McCall Smith’s series, featuring Scottish American moral philosopher Isabel Dalhousie, is a charmer … and steadily growing in popularity.
— Booklist
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday Listener Reviews
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" I have read every book in this series, and with each one, my disappointment grows, although this book was better then the last (The Careful Use of Compliments). I tend to be wary of books written by men from a woman's perspective, but McCall Smith did so well initially. My main dissatisfaction stems from Charlie, Isabel's baby, and the unrealistic way he is characterized. Since Charlie was born, he apparently has only cried once. Otherwise, he is the most easy-going, pleasant baby... Either McCall Smith has no experiences with babies or he is totally disinterested in how a baby will actually fit in a busy woman's life. I would much rather see Isabel experience the reality of children, or not have had a child at all. She was a fantastic character without her unplanned pregnancy. "
— Carrie, 2/13/2014 -
" Not quite the #1 Ladies Detective Agency, but an enjoyable series. "
— Catherine, 2/13/2014 -
" These books are such a treat. The perfect antidote to a bad mood. "
— Maggie, 2/4/2014 -
" This is one of those series that you don't need to read the books in order. It helps, but not necessary. It's a nice, easy series. And since the protagonist is a philosopher, there's a lot of internal thought dialog to mull over. But since Isabel is a smart, educated, capable woman, it kind of bugged me how needy she became in this installment. Yes, love makes us kind of crazy, but it seemed out of character. I did like how often she would quote poetry. Maybe I should memorize more poetry in my spare time... "
— Charlotte, 1/25/2014 -
" This series is not as good as the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series or the 44 Scotland St series. It is a decent read if you lower your expectations a bit from those series. "
— Ashlie, 1/18/2014 -
" first book I've read by McCall Smith, grabbed from the Speed Reads shelf of my local library. Parts were intriguing, but I tired of Isabel's constant pondering--of everything. And what's with the relationship with Jamie? I did not have a good sense of character or place when I had finished; it was a so-so plane ride read! "
— Peg, 1/9/2014 -
" Reading these books is a damn fine way to pass the morning, but nothing more than that. "
— Chris, 1/5/2014 -
" Just so enjoyable and comforting that you could never dislike it. "
— David, 11/9/2013 -
" Delightful. Now what do I read? "
— Keri, 11/8/2013 -
" Next in the series - always enjoy - keep writing Mr McCall Smith. "
— zespri, 10/21/2013 -
" Love this Isabel Dalhousie series almost as much as No. Ladies Detective Agency. Very comfortable read. "
— Stephanie, 10/20/2013 -
" It was good. Another moral dilemna for Isabel Dalhousie. Not as good as the previous book, but still an enjoyable read. "
— Mircoffen, 10/13/2013 -
" I'm in love with Alexander McCall Smith, right down to the photo on the back cover. He's wearing a kilt. "
— Jonelle, 7/18/2013 -
" I want to read the rest of the books in this series. I didn't think I would like them, but I find that I do. "
— Leanne, 6/12/2013 -
" Not as good as the previous Isabel Dalhousie books, I thought. Isabel continues to be obsessed with being the older woman. Get over it! "
— Pamela, 5/10/2013 -
" Another good installment. Much better mystery in this one than in some! "
— Lisa, 5/2/2013 -
" I love his books;great characters and believable plots with people like us. Another Isabel Dalhousie (the main character in many books) book. "
— Joan, 1/20/2013 -
" A good book. I actually like the development of the main character in this series more than the plots, but either way the books are enjoyable. "
— Heidi, 9/19/2012 -
" This is the last one published in this series! I can't wait for the next novel to appear. :) "
— Malou, 7/21/2012 -
" Such a lovely way to return to Edinburgh; even though he forgets to tell us it is cold and rainy every day. "
— Terry, 7/17/2012 -
" Just a nice, comfortable read. "
— Carol, 7/16/2012 -
" I enjoyed the No. 1 Ladies Detective agency series much better! "
— Gillian, 12/21/2011 -
" I was disappointed with the book. I have enjoyed Smith's other novels but this left me feeling I had spent a wasteful time "
— Terry, 11/10/2011 -
" Smith is addictive. Will there be a no.6? "
— The, 6/10/2011 -
" Is it just me, or are Alexander McCall Smith's novels crawling with smugness? Or is it just cosiness? Who are all these people who populate his stories? I never get to meet such types. Can anyone from Edinburgh enlighten me? Are they real? "
— Pamela, 5/14/2011 -
" I like McCalls No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, but could not get into this one. Isabel just spent to much time worrying about everything. "
— Diane, 5/14/2011 -
" This was an good listen for a commute... easy on the ears with an interesting, non-violent mystery. "
— Barbara, 4/21/2011 -
" Another of the Isabel Dalhousie books. I love them because of their great descriptions of Scotland and especially Edinburgh, a beautiful city. "
— Joyce, 4/17/2011 -
" I'm enjoying this series more with each book. "
— Deborah, 3/26/2011 -
" I really love Alexander McCall Smith's style. It's so gentle and absorbing -perfect reading for a sunny day like today! "
— Bex, 3/8/2011 -
" A touch disappointing in some ways as I have loved this series.I found Isabel slightly annoying this time; she was always so unsure of herself and slightly stuffy. She needed to get a backbone. It was hard in this book to picture her as someone in her 40's. "
— Bachyboy, 2/15/2011 -
" It's all been said. I love Isabel Dalhousie, and plan to visit her in Edinburgh.<br/><br/>Alexander McCall Smith is a humble genius of our time. Ahhh. "
— Graeme, 2/10/2011 -
" I am impressed how Alexander McCall Smith can continue to write several different series with such good form. The Isabel Dalhousie books are my favorite. "
— Kimberly, 2/5/2011 -
" Another fun and mildly thought provoking installment of Isabelle's life. "
— Darla, 1/14/2011 -
" I enjoyed this latest installment of The Sunday Philosophy Series very much. I love Isabel Dalhousie’s internal monologues as she weighs different courses of action as to which is most ethical. "
— Mrsgaskell, 12/15/2010
About Alexander McCall Smith
Alexander McCall Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series, 44 Scotland Street novels, Corduroy Mansions series, the Perfect Passion Company novels, and more. He has also written stand-alone novels, books for children, and nonfiction works. In 2004 he was named the British Book Awards Author of the Year and Booksellers Association Author of the Year. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served with many national and international organizations concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana.
About Davina Porter
Davina Porter has been enthralling listeners for over twenty-five years with her ability to mine the psychological depths of the characters she reads and bring them convincingly to life. In 2006, she won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Female Narration and in 2004 for Best Inspirational Literature Narration. She has been honored as an AudioFile Golden Voice and has won nineteen AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actress, she has appeared on stage at the Vineyard Playhouse and the Square One Theater, among others.