Part of Isabel Dalhousie, book 14
First published 2022
Isabel Dalhousie joins the advisory committee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and quickly encounters a request she'd rather avoid. Laura, a fellow committee member, asks Isabel to help resolve a bitter dispute between her children. David, grandson of a Scottish clan chief, champions nationalist causes with such fervor that he alienates his sister Catriona, whose socialist beliefs clash directly with his views. Their arguments threaten to tear the family apart. Isabel tries to stay out of their affairs, but her instinct for resolving philosophical conflicts draws her in. Meanwhile, her husband Jamie faces his own complicated situation. He's selecting a new cellist for his ensemble, but suspects the conductor has ulterior motives regarding his preferred candidate. Jamie finds himself doing exactly what he criticized Isabel for: meddling in other people's business. Both Isabel and Jamie must navigate these delicate situations carefully, using all their diplomatic skills to restore peace between the warring parties.
Genres: literary-fiction, mystery, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, meddling
Setting: Scotland, Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Period: Contemporary
240 pages · Hardcover · Knopf Canada