This book brings readers back to the congenial lives of Isabel, her husband Jamie, and their two young boys. Isabel is a philosopher, academic journal editor, and known problem-solver among the fine folks of Edinburgh. As is the hallmark of this series, the morally hyper-vigilant Isabel becomes involved in personal circumstances that require her to carefully consider how to act and how her actions may influence others. There is no shortage of everyday humor, delightful philosophical musings and ethics deliberations.

Isabel’s niece, Cat, owns a local deli and in this book of the series, we see that Cat’s most recent boyfriend, Leo, is still in the picture. However, a dilemma is afoot. Is Leo a gold-digger after Cat’s trust money or not?

After a public display of humanity in response to bad behavior of patrons at a restaurant, Isabel is sought out by a witness who also happens to be dying. At his request, Isabel finds herself agreeing to become the executor of his estate. She is tasked with the delicate job of helping this stranger (who by Edinburgh standards is not really a stranger) decide who among his family is best suited to receive his inheritance.

Usually, Alexander McCall Smith provides a wonderfully delightful treat to the reader with several distinct plot lines. However, I felt that such richness was a bit thin in this latest book of the series, although It is still a very enjoyable peek into Isabel’s life. Most disappointing was the superficial portrayal of Cat’s recent life choices and the almost non-existent interactions between Isabel and Cat. Given all that these two characters have endured to test their relationship, major changes in Cat’s life deserved more attention regarding their impact on the intricacies of this relationship.

This unbiased review is based on an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

This is one of my favorite series by Alexander McCall Smith. The Geometry of Holding Hands is the thirteen book in the Isabel Dalhousie series. Readers get a quick update on all of the key players. Isabel and her family: her husband, Jamie, and her young sons, Charlie and Magnus, her nice, Cat and housekeeper, Grace.

In this book, Isabel is already busy with her family and as publisher and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, but she finds herself pulled in even more directions when a distant acquaintance asks her to be the executor of his estate and Cat asks her to work at the deli more. But the real issue presents itself when Cat makes some life changes that affect Isabel, co-worker Eddie, and the family trust. Isabel struggles to come to terms with Cat's engagement to Leo, whom she considers an unsuitable man and how that choice directly effects her and her family. In keeping with this delightful character, McCall Smith provides plenty of ethical questions for Isabel to ponder and after serious consideration, she and Jamie resolve the dilemma with honest, ethical decisions that satisfy everyone.

Verdict: Definitely would purchase this book and include it in the school library for staff and to introduce high school readers to this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Pantheon Books, for the e-ARC.

3.5 stars

Alexander McCall Smith is probably best known for his 'Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency' series, but he's a prolific author who pens other series as well.

In this 13th book in the 'Isabel Dalhousie' series, ethicist Isabel tackles problems related to her niece's engagement, and deals with a dying man's unusual request. The book can be read as a standalone but familiarity with the characters is a plus.

*****

Isabel Dalhousie and her younger husband Jamie live in Edinburgh and have two little boys, Charlie and Magnus. Isabel is a philosopher who publishes and edits The Journal of Applied Ethics, .and Jamie is an elite musician who gives concerts, teaches music, and assists with a high school band.

Isabel is the prime beneficiary of a well-funded family trust, but is nevertheless reluctant to splurge on 'fripperies' like expensive restaurants, though she and Jamie do treat themselves on occasion.

Isabel's niece Cat owns an artisanal deli, and has a single employee, a vulnerable young man named Eddie who was rescued from difficult circumstances. Cat doesn't hesitate to call Isabel when the deli needs an extra pair of hands, and Isabel is always happy to help. Nevertheless the two women have a tricky relationship because Isabel's husband Jamie was once Cat's boyfriend - the only 'nice one.' Cat has a habit of taking up with bad boys, and her current fiancé Leo is a loutish 'hot body' with an eye on Cat's assets, including Cat's small share of the family trust.

Isabel is uncertain what to do about this because, on one hand she doesn't want to see Cat taken advantage of, and on the other hand she thinks people should be allowed to learn from their mistakes.

This kind of thinking is typical of Isabel, who always feels compelled to look at every side of an issue.....to tease out all the ethical implications. Moreover, Isabel's mind constantly wanders down tangents. For example, when Isabel is talking to Cat about the trustees of the family assets, MacGeorge and MacGregor, who travel to other countries to participate in Scottish folk dancing exhibitions, she starts to think about the men "playing golf together and having tea in the clubhouse, sharing a Dundee cake."

Then Isabel thinks about the trustees "sitting at a shared desk, counting Greek government bonds, a Greek dictionary at their side. She sees them doing a Zorba-like dance on the beach of a Greek Island, still wearing their identical glasses, the sun on their pallid Scottish skin, with, in the background, a chorus of local fisherman and their wives clapping their hands to the music."

Isabel's mind is frequently distracted with random thoughts like this.

In addition to being concerned about Cat, Isabel is thinking about a 68-year-old man named Iain Melrose, who has terminal cancer. Melrose approaches Isabel in a café, mentions acquaintances they have in common, and asks her to be the executor of his will. Melrose is impressed with Isabel's moral philosophy and wants her to choose which of his relatives will inherit his estate - which is close to his heart, and which he wants to be well-managed. The candidates are artist Jack and his wife Hillary; developer Sarah; and accountant John. As it happens Isabel knows something compromising about one of these people, which complicates the situation.

Isabel's chats with Melrose drift into side issues like films as works of art; irresponsible capitalism; morality in countries that committed genocide like Germany, Cambodia, and Japan; unfulfilled good intentions; the pharmaceutical industry; and so on....all of which have ethical implications. Isabel indulges in this type of chitchat at every opportunity, including with her husband Jamie.

The various ethical issues Isabel tackles in this book come to affect her niece Cat; deli employee Eddie; Jamie's music student Mark; Melrose's heirs; Isabel's philosopher colleagues; and more. On a personal level, Isabel gets help from her housekeeper/nanny Grace and takes care of little Magnus and Charlie. Charlie is a biter, and Isabel agonizes over her remedy for this behavior.

Isabel also has unpleasant interactions with Cat's crude boyfriend Leo, and works on The Journal of Applied Ethics (which I'd like to read if it was real 😊).

The plot is slight but engaging, and the book lends itself to a cozy read with a beverage and a snack. I'm curious to see what happens with Cat and Leo, so I look forward to the next entry in the series.

I think fans of Alexander McCall Smith's quiet musings would like the book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Alexander McCall Smith) and the publisher (Pantheon Books) for a copy of the book.

This is the 13th book in Alexander McCall Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series, and it sure was a treat to read. Isabel is a philosopher, editor, mother to 2 young boys, wife of a dashing and thoughtful younger man, and aunt to a rather trying delicatessen owner. She also has a talent for getting involved in solving other people's moral dilemmas, and manages to get into (and out of) a few delicate situations herself. I am amazed that after so many books she continues to surprise me with uniquely loving and moral solutions, even while her mind floats into most interesting and humorous tangents.

I've read and enjoyed all the books in this series but this one was especially witty and heartwarming. I found myself laughing out loud over the predicaments Isabel and her friends and family get into, and then having to explain them to my kids.. I didn't think they would get them but even my 13 year old daughter thought they were hilarious, which is quite a feat! I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a gentle and humorous look at the trials of life.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I already had it in my library hold list so it was a great honour to get to read it early!

Richly observed and intelligently textured, Alexander McCall Smith's THE GEOMETRY OF HOLDING HANDS is another captivating entry in wonderful Isabel Dalhousie series. There's always something here to spark thought: this series is a gift to the reader and this novel shines with all of the series' hallmarks.

I've read "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series, but none in this one, and I like the laid-back writing style. I also like the way philosophy is included in practical lives, so I enjoyed the book very much, even though it starts out a little slow.

I have read other books by this author that were mysteries, this was not instead it was an elegantly written story with a sophisticated bent. There are two sisters in the story, one married the other's boyfriend and is quite happy and well off the other is single and runs a deli and the story is about them and other characters. It sounds simple but in fact, it is well written with likable characters and intriguing twists and turns.
It tends toward wordy at times but still a very satisfying read.

I read this ARc for an honest review

I've read quite a few of the author's books and love the gentle warmth of his writing style

There is a charm to this. Its the kind of book I love reading curled up in an armchair on a rainy Sunday with a cuppa.

Great

This is number 13 in the series of Isabel Dalhousie, a philosopher and the editor in chief of the Review of Applied Ethics magazine. Besides her profession, she has other responsibilities as she has two small children, and has to support her niece and her business, a delicatessen. But apparently, being a philosopher, she is not only a keen observer of the life around her, in the city of Edinburgh, but she is also unable to bypass any chance of involvement.
People come to her for taking advice on important decisions, but Isabel also has her own dilemmas about having a life supported by a trust fund, and sharing this fund with her only relative. Her mind constantly keeps working on alternative ways of looking at various situations in life, and finding the right solutions to moral issues. And, the reader follows her along through the day.
This book is just another chapter in Isabel’s life, and though it seems uneventful, it is an easy read and certainly gives some food for thought. Even though I didn’t read the previous installments, I was able to follow the story line, and it was especially soothing to read it in lockdown. Following her through daily errands and small family problems left a somewhat warm and fuzzy feeling behind.
As the author continues to write the chronicles of her life, there will certainly be followers who will find some peace and calm in her stories.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Pantheon Books, for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
The Geometry of Holding Hands is the 13th book in the Isabel Dalhousie series and it certainly satisfies. The reader is updated on Isabel and her family: her husband, Jamie, and her two little boys, Charlie and Magnus, as well as their housekeeper, Grace.
As usual, Isabel gets in over her head with her commitments. A distant acquaintance asks her to be the executor of his estate – how can she say no? Cat asks her to work at the deli more – how can she say no?
But when Cat makes some life changes that affect Isabel, co-worker Eddie, and the family trust, Isabel becomes concerned. How can she make everything come out right?
After some thinking, she involves Jamie, and together they make honest, ethical decisions that seem to satisfy everyone – even the reader!
Even after 13 books, Isabel and her crew still feel like family members that the reader wants to keep up with and know that they are all OK. Another relaxing, satisfying visit to Edinburgh!


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3347404738

What I love best about Alexander McCall Smith’s books is the presence of a “wise woman”—a female character who makes her world better through her words or actions, or both. In THE GEOMETRY OF HOLDING HANDS, it’s Isabel Dalhousie, philosopher, journal editor, and volunteer employee at her niece’s deli who navigates the complexities of an Edinburgh littered with family drama, sticky inheritance issues, and a mother who desperately wants her bassoon-playing son to join the school orchestra. This is a hopeful, happy book. #instabooks #instrabookworm #edinburgh #alexandermccallsmith #thegeometryofholdinghands #netgalley

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available July 28th 2020

It seems like time keeps going and Alexander McCall Smith's novels stand still in their genuine, gentle warmth. Like every McCall Smith classic, it is a novel best read while drinking a pot of fresh hot tea and, in the case of Isabel Dalhousie, a side of shortbread biscuits. While some of the Dalhousie's inner dialogue does show the hallmarks of white Scottish male thought, like the defense of capitalism in medical pharmacy, there is a certain amount of charm belying this tale through the streets of Edinburgh. When a stranger places their estate in Isabel's hands, she feels like there's a mystery afoot. Sidetracked by a devilish potential son in law, a failing delicatessen and a host of personalities, will Dalhousie ever get to the bottom of this mystery? Another enjoyable read.

Alexander McCall Smith is a true Man of all Seasons- his writings span continents, genres, and personalities. They seem to have one thing in common- a focus on the intricacies of relationships and the ways in which his characters observe, react, and resolve significant events- small and large.

The titles of his books draw you in to consideration of what you will find inside, and it has never been disappointing. His latest, No. 13, of the philosopher Isabel Dalhousie series is entitled The Geometry of Holding Hands. You will feel like you are walking the streets of beautiful Edinburgh with Isabel holding your hand, guiding you through what she calls her particular form of consciousness- a meandering.

As Isabel moves through her days finding and being found by people who want advice and assistance- you move with her through meanderings on politics, history, jurisprudence, legal trusts, familial conflict, art collecting, parenting, shopkeeping, and marital bliss. You can see why she is the owner and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics.

I find McCall Smith an immersive author. I read The Geometry of Holding Hands straight through in one day. I would stop over and over to reread or research a particular paragraph or sentence that captured my imagination or my interest in a new idea, word, or thought.

Be prepared to meander.

I've always preferred the Isabel Dalhousie series to Alexander McCall Smith's more popular series, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Maybe it's because McCall Smith is an Edinburgh native, but this series just rings a bit authentic to me. His books are pure comfort reads, which fits the bill for pandemic reading, when everyone needs a mental escape.

Once again, Isabel's philosophical tangents spiral into some amusing anecdotes. In this installment (#13 and counting), Isabel is asked to serve as executor for a dying man's estate. But the more interesting part of the book centers around her somewhat-rebellious niece, Cat's, engagement to a handsome but unscrupulous man. Cat's troublesome relationships have been an ongoing theme in the series, and I enjoyed following Isabel's stream-of-conscious musings on how to handle her suspicions of Cat's fiancé. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this relationship in future episodes.

These books are nice, gentle entertainments. But don't expect a lot of high drama. Any sex or violence is left to the imagination. Isabel and her family lead privileged lives, far removed from the gritty reality of the real Edinburgh. It's refreshing to escape into a safe universe where you know that everything will turn out perfectly fine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having devoured one book from NetGalley – see the post-before-last – I then raced through another! This one by a well known author, who, I wouldn’t have thought, needs much introduction from me, nor who has need of glowing reviews, due to his well loved books. But it was on the choices, and I got to read an Alexander McCall Smith book for free…in return for an honest review, of course!

I like the Corduroy Mansions and the Isabel Dalhousie books more than the First Ladies' Detective Agency ones - I'm not sure why, perhaps because the setting is more familiar, perhaps because I feel the author writes well about Scotland (but I don't think this is the reason!!!) Whatever it is, I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read all the books in the series, but by way of short asides which never felt laboured, and which I can't imagine would annoy those who have read all the books, I was brought up to date with the situation.

All characters were well delineated and engaging, and even the shortish asides into philosophy (a subject which I struggle with) were interesting. I felt for Isabel's dilemmas, and was very fond of Jamie, who seemed to be an exceptionally thoughtful young man! Their relationship was eminently believable.

Apart from the lack of chapter titles, indicated by a mysterious "E", there were no editing errors to annoy me!

For a book in which not much seemed to happen, I found the  story romped along, well told and described, with gentle humour and skilled wordsmithery. I would definitely recommend this, giving it a well deserved (in my opinion) 4.5 stars - rounded UP - which doesn't happen very often! - to five stars for Net Galley.

An Isabel Dalhousie book. For those unfamiliar with McCall Smith’s less well-known protagonist (Mma Ramotswe of Number One Ladies Detective Agency is far more popular), Isabel is a philosopher of independent means. She serves as the publisher and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. What an unusual character on which to base a series! These books center around questions of morality, and amidst the light plots that loosely guide each episode, we are treated to a constant stream of philosophical musings and epiphanies. I love the fact that rather than read the (probably) dry research papers that populate Isabel’s Review, we instead get to hear the intriguing summaries.

In this installment, Isabel is asked to serve as executor of a dying man’s trust while simultaneously coming to terms with her niece’s engagement to an (to Isabel) unsuitable man. These situations give rise to musings about the accidents of love, moral obligations, moral strangers, the sphere of moral proximity, and what it means to act graciously. Populated by the educational elite of Edinburgh, this series also gives rise to discussions on a wide variety of topics — this time including Himalayan languages and Scottish Country dancing.

I have a very good vocabulary and have read most of McCall Smith’s books and yet he *still* surprises me with new words. This time: Gluckschmerz and commensality. Gluckschmerz is feeling pain in the face of another’s success — the opposite of Schadenfreude. Commensality refers to the positive social interactions that are associated with people eating together.

My favorite phrase in the book: “the suppurating corruption of greed.”

Thank you Net Galley. Another delightful book from Mr. McCall Smith. I have liked all the Isabel Dalhousie stories and I like this one very much too. The author manages to write very interesting stories without contrived drama. The books are soothing and exciting and interesting reads, that you finish much too soon!

Isabel is a resident of Edinburgh who edits a philosophy journal, married to Jamie, and mother of two. She has a difficult niece named Cat, recently engaged to a rather repugnant man who Isabel and Jamie think is after her money. Isabel agrees to be executor of the estate of a terminally ill man whom she just met, then has second thoughts about it. I like following these characters, and McCall Smith continues their stories capably in this newest installment. Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC.

Isabel recalled the debate. “I think I remember her now. She doesn’t mince her words.”
“No,” said Jamie. “She sautés them and they come out pretty hot.”

The Geometry of Holding Hands is the thirteenth book in the Isabel Dalhousie series by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. As a philosopher, Isabel Dalhousie always carefully considers what she says and does, be it a comment, a favour or an investment: the minutiae of everyday life are ripe for philosophical contemplation. Thus topics as diverse as boys in dresses, making fun of unfortunate names, stewardship of land vs profit-based approach, and the morality of inherited assets (investing ethically and using it well are key), are up for deliberation and discussion.

In this instalment of our favourite philosopher’s life: a certain incident in a restaurant results in Isabel being asked by a stranger to be the executor for his estate, which turns out to be much more complicated than she initially had anticipated; a champagne cork accident sees Isabel taking Eddie to the A&E.

Isabel’s niece, Cat, true to form, takes Isabel’s generous nature for granted. Then, Cat’s announcement about her relationship with the self-satisfied Leo leads Jamie to later congratulate Isabel on her breathtaking insincerity. Isabel thinks: “Surely there must be a category of justifiable insincerity, covering those social anodynes that people exchange simply to oil the wheels of daily life.” This is followed by yet more disturbing developments that threaten a major upheaval to the status quo.

Isabel’s thoughts regularly veer off on tangents: “Hers was a particular form of consciousness, she thought: not a stream of consciousness but a meandering, deltoid consciousness, in which memories and speculations—fantasies, even—rubbed shoulders with awareness of the present.”

As usual, Isabel agrees to help when she really should not get involved; as usual, she leaps to conclusions based on the flimsiest of evidence; as usual, Jamie is supportive and understanding and gives good advice; and as usual, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments both in dialogue and deed. Another delightfully entertaining dose of Alexander McCall Smith.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday

I'm very fond of the characters in the Isabel Dalhousie series. They are the substance of the introspective stories much more than any plot lines. In this latest installment, there were some interesting and welcome surprises in the narrative as well as the reassuring reappearances of certain flawed or troubled characters. I would have welcomed more about Grace and more about Charlie, both always interesting. The same for Dalhousie's nemesis, Professor Lettuce. Recommended.