Ian McWhinnie, The Blue Vase, 2017(?)
(November 27) Another quick devouring following right upon A Distant View of Everything, and I read this one even quicker, despite it being a good 10 to 15 per cent longer than the average Isabel Dalhousie novel.This one does have a lot more going on than usual in an ID novel in terms of daily logistics (the hiring of an au pair and an editorial assistant), as well as in terms of the “mysteries” that beckon to Isabel.
And this is the first time Isabel is faced with real violence while investigating a mystery -- she has received the odd threat here and there in the past, but this is the scariest so far of such encounters. The central “mystery” here is really quite criminal -- not just jealous or unkind people being jealous and unkind, but actual professionals and serious amateurs trying to bilk somebody.
And McCall Smith cleverly echoes Isabel’s proclivities in another character who’s not as philosophical as Isabel, to interesting effect.
Enjoyed these last two books very much -- I’ve been reading or trying to read too much self-help and not enough fiction lately, I think.
