The Careful Use of Compliments: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel

Isabel Dalhousie is back, in the latest installment of this enchanting, already beloeved, best-selling series.

In addition to being the nosiest and most sypathetic philosopher you are likely to meet, Isabel is now a mother. Charlies, her newborn son, presents her with a myriad wonders of a new life, and doting father Jamie presents her with an intriguing proposal: marriage. In the midst of all this, she receives a disturbing letter announcing that she has been ousted as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics by the ambitious Professor Dove.

None of these things, however, in any way diminshes Isabel's curiosity. And when she attends an art auction, she finds an irresistable puzzle: two paintings attributed to a now-deceased artist appear on the market at the same time, and both of them exhibit some unusual characteristics. Are these paintings forgeries? This proves to be sufficient fodder for Isabel's inquisitiveness. So she begins an investigation... and soon finds herself diverging from her philosophical musings about fatherhood onto a path that leads her into the mysteries of the art world and the soul of an artist.

From the Hardcover edition.

Dealing with a newborn son and his doting father, James, Isabel Dalhousie stumbles upon a new puzzle when she attends an art auction and finds a painting attributed to a now-deceased artist that features a person whom the artist could only have encountered after his supposed death, meaning that either the artwork is a forgery or the artist could still be alive. 150,000 first printing.

In the fourth installment of this enchanting, beloved series, Isabel Dalhousie, who is now a mother, returns to investigate an irresistible puzzle in the art world.Isabel Dalhousie-the nosiest and mostsympathetic philosopher you are likely to meet-now has a son, Charlie, whose doting father Jamie has an intriguing idea to pose to Isabel: marriage. But Isabel wonders if Jamie is too young to be serious? And howwould Cat respond? On top of these matters, the ambitious Professor Dove has seized Isabel's position as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. However, nothing it seems can diminish Isabel's innatecuriosity. And when she recognizes that two paintings attributed to a deceased artist have simultaneously appeared on the market, she can't help but think that they're forgeries. So Isabel begins an investigation and soonfinds herself diverted from her musings about parenthood and onto a path of inquiry into the soul of an artist.

From the Trade Paperback edition.