The Subtle Pleasures of Indiscretion

Alexander McCall Smith

Jun 2026 · Isabel Dalhousie Book 16 · Bolinda · Narrated by Stephanie Moore

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7 hr 35 min

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About this audiobook

The surface of Isabel Dalhousie's life is usually a tranquil one. From her house in Edinburgh, she edits a philosophical journal. In the background is her housekeeper, Grace; her husband, Jamie; and her two small boys. And yet, in the middle of this rather idyllic setting, things are happening. Jamie, a bassoonist, has been invited to play in a prestigious London concert. This invitation, though, comes from a scheming woman who finds him particularly charming. Alarm bells ring. And they ring too when a wily philosopher, Christopher Dove, reveals a plot to topple Professor Robert Lettuce, a member of Isabel's editorial board. Could Isabel's life get more complicated? Yes. A woman she knew many years ago at school approaches her with a request for help. She has made an awkward discovery as a result of taking a DNA test. Can Isabel prevent the information obtained from this test from causing real harm to a whole family? If anybody can do that, it is Isabel Dalhousie. And she does that with tact and, most importantly, the grace that we have come to know as her hallmark quality.

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About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world's most prolific and popular authors. His career has been a varied one: for many years he was a professor of medical law and worked in universities in the United Kingdom and abroad. However since the publication of his hugely successful No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, which has sold more than 20 million copies, he has devoted his time to writing fiction. He has written more than 100 books to date which have been translated into more than 40 languages and become bestsellers through the world. McCall Smith was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2007 and was made a Knight Bachelor in 2024. His multitude of other awards and honours include the 2004 Dagger in the Library Award, the 2004 British Book Award for Author of the Year and the 2022 Saltire Lifetime Achievement Award.

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