Part of Isabel Dalhousie, book 9
First published 2012
Isabel Dalhousie sits in Cat's delicatessen when a friend brings her an unusual request. Wealthy collector Duncan Munrowe needs help recovering a stolen Nicolas Poussin painting meant for the Scottish National Gallery. The thieves have contacted Munrowe directly, and he wants Isabel to assist in the recovery. She accepts the challenge and soon discovers the criminals may be people Munrowe knows well. While pursuing the art theft case through Edinburgh's streets, Isabel faces personal dilemmas that test her wisdom. She and Jamie worry their three-year-old son Charlie shows signs of mathematical genius and wonder how to handle his exceptional abilities. A young couple also seeks her guidance when the woman's parents oppose their relationship plans. Isabel must balance her roles as detective, mother, and moral advisor while solving both the crime and the complicated human problems that surround her daily life.
Genres: literary-fiction, mystery, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-detective, found-family
Setting: Edinburgh, Scotland, Scottish National Gallery
Period: contemporary
259 pages · Hardcover · Pantheon