Another great read in the Isabel Dalhousie series - focused this time on the ethics of hosting a conference about ethics and on a temporary housemate's secrets. As usual, Isabel manages these situations with aplomb!

Enjoyed this one very much, another great mystery suspense from author Alexander McCall Smith. Never disappoints, highly recommend

The Conditions of Unconditional Love from Alexander McCall Smith is number 15 in the Isabel Dalhousie series. This is the first I’ve read in the series and while I no doubt ‘missed’ a lot, it was easy to keep up with the characters. Edinburgh based Isabel Dalhousie, a philosopher, is married to bassoonist Jamie, and is a mother to two young boys. She’s the owner and editor of The Review of Applied Ethics, and she’s also an amateur detective. The philosopher part comes out in every single aspect of Isabel’s life. She questions and ponders, and I began to have the sense that perhaps it’s not easy being Isabel. She questions everything, and chews over her opinions, motives and decisions.

She realised how out of date she must sound to those who lived their lives on social media, who disclosed to the world every detail of what they did and what happened to them. It was a curious attitude, she thought because it amounted to living in a glass box, a show to any passer-by. Such people led their lives in front of an open window, she imagined, and those who looked in were voyeurs. Or was that too extreme? she asked herself. It was. It was not unnatural to want to share your life with others.

Various dilemmas emerge in the novel: Jamie feels sorry for another member of the orchestra, a young woman named Dawn who, through her bad taste in men, has become homeless, and so Isabel and Jamie offer Dawn a place to stay. On the professional front, Isabel must deal with the obnoxious Professor Robert Lettuce. In Isabel’s opinion, Lettuce is an “inveterate plotter–of schemes that were somehow always to his advantage.” In this instance, Lettuce wants to host a conference, and this scheme involves money from a charitable trust–money Lettuce wants to divert inappropriately. This is an amusing light read, with many entertaining characters, but I still prefer the 44 Scotland Street series,

As for Unconditional Love–as far as humans go, I don’t believe in it. This is my opinion and it’s free but IMO if you believe in Unconditional Love, you just haven’t been pushed far enough. Now when it comes to dogs, it’s an entirely different matter: they are capable of it, and I’ve had some smashers in my time. Current companionship with my Uber Hund is a case in point. His sole ‘flaw’ is that he’s a bed-hog

review copy

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love this series! One of my dear friends calls Alexander McCall Smith's books "gentle reads," and I feel that this description is exactly right. Our patrons enjoy his books, and I know they will enjoy this one, too. His books are well written, have a great sense of place (especially the Edinburgh ones) and are just a delight.

I love the Isabel Dalhousie series, and look forward to each installment. Reading about the continuing adventures of Isabel’s life—her family, Cat and the deli, the journal she edits—is like catching up with an old friend. Her life is very interesting, but also somewhat ordinary, which makes reading these books like indulging in your favorite comfort food. Here, Isabel and Jamie welcome an unusual guest, Prof. Lettuce annoys Isabel anew, and Isabel joins a book club at the request of a neighbor with an issue. Isabel’s fans will enjoy this one!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Alexander McCall Smith’s fifteenth installment in the Isabel Dalhousie series, The Conditions of Unconditional Love, continues to charm and provoke thought with its blend of philosophical musings and gentle mystery. This novel reaffirms why Isabel Dalhousie remains one of literature’s most beloved amateur sleuths and moral philosophers.

In this latest adventure, Isabel Dalhousie finds her life disrupted when her husband Jamie invites Dawn, a woman entangled in a scandalous affair, to stay with them. As strange occurrences unfold in their home, Isabel’s investigative instincts are piqued. Concurrently, she is tasked with overseeing the publication of conference papers for the Review of Applied Ethics, only to uncover dubious funding sources. Balancing these personal and professional challenges, Isabel must rely on her philosophical insights and compassionate nature to navigate the complexities that arise.

McCall Smith’s characters are as endearing and multifaceted as ever. Isabel’s introspective nature and moral dilemmas provide a rich tapestry for readers to explore. Jamie’s supportive yet occasionally perplexing presence adds depth to their relationship, while Dawn’s mysterious circumstances inject a fresh dynamic into the narrative. The supporting cast, including the ever-irritating Professor Robert Lettuce, enriches the story with their unique quirks and contributions.

The author’s signature style—marked by wit, warmth, and philosophical reflection—shines through in this novel. McCall Smith’s ability to weave profound observations about human nature into everyday scenarios is both delightful and thought-provoking. His descriptions of Edinburgh are vivid, painting a picturesque backdrop that feels almost like a character in itself.

The Conditions of Unconditional Love delves into themes of trust, forgiveness, and the ethical dilemmas we face in our daily lives. It explores the idea that love, in its truest form, is unconditional and often requires us to navigate difficult moral terrain. The novel also touches on the importance of community and the interconnectedness of our actions.

Alexander McCall Smith has once again delivered a novel that is both intellectually stimulating and heartwarming.

This is the 15th in the Isabel Dalhousie novels by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. Married to a musician and having two children, Isabel, a philosopher, is the editor of a publication in her field. Like so many women, Isabel feels the pressure of being overextended with house, husband, children, job, and offering help to others. This time, the Dalhousie’s have invited someone needing a place to stay to use one of their spare rooms. Noises coming from her room and her propensity to hide away and lock her room raise a lot of questions. Isabel is approached by a colleague she doesn’t like very much to participate in a scheme whose finances seem a bit shady. A book club moderator approaches her to help solve problems the club is having and her niece, Cat, once again is having romantic and delicatessen problems.

Visiting with Isabel is always so very pleasant and soothing. McCall Smith creates such wonderful characters and the story is full of poignant observations and enjoyable humor. These novels are not action packed, but they impart wisdom of a philosophical and practical nature.

Fans of this series will enjoy this latest installment. For readers who are new to these books, it is not necessary to have read the prior ones to appreciate this one.

BTW - the cover has sheep on it. Except for one reference to sheep, there are no sheep in the novel. It takes place in Edinburgh.

I always enjoy this series. Isabel is such a relatable character,. I always envy her job just a bit , even though in real life I'd find doing (and reading) philosophy all day a bit tedious. I love how her philosophy has to be tempered when she is dealing with real life that is far messier than most philosophers deal with in their thought experiments, This book may be my favorite so far in the series, because the bits about the dysfunctional book club were so funny and relevant to my own bookish life.

The Conditions of Unconditional Love is the 15th Isabel Dalhousie novel by Alexander McCall Smith. Released 16th July 2024 by Knopf Doubleday on their Pantheon imprint, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is such a gently written, slow, introspective series. The main character is a philosopher and the books more or less revolve around her life and experiences and the lives of the people in her orbit: her husband Jamie, her sons Magnus & Charlie, her niece Cat, her housekeeper/factotum/nanny Grace and others who live in the village and/or academic colleagues. The narrative moves along quite slowly and the overall effect is of a long and unhurried chat with an old friend.

It's not necessary to have read the books in order, however, the large changes which occur (marriage, children, etc) will be obvious if they're read out of order. For readers who are unfamiliar with the author's style, the stories are episodic and not directly narrative.

Especially with the desperate struggles, illnesses, upheavals, and sadness which seem universal in the world right now, this series and these characters are a balm to the soul. It's full of music, food, and Scottish sensibility. Relaxing, refreshing, and absolutely wonderful. It's one of the few series which can be revisited over and over without ever getting stale.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is the 15th installment of McCall Smith’s series about Isabel Dalhousie, an applied philosopher, and her younger husband, Jamie, a talented classical musician. Once again, we see Isabel exercise her moral muscles as she focuses on what one owes to those in one’s “circle of moral recognition.” She also continues to edit her Journal of Applied Philosophy, raise her two small sons, and appreciate her loving marriage and her life.

For Isabel, the circle of moral obligation is a large one, as in addition to those close to her, she feels compelled to help a range of people in difficult situations. In her view, not only could one help, but one should. The issue becomes what to say and do, if anything, and how best to help others understand the decisions and actions they are contemplating.

Isabel’s mind meanders over many issues, and includes poetry as well as history and philosophy. Since I share her values and thinking process, I find this engaging. However, I can see how others might find it rambling and obscure. I also tire of the obnoxious, preposterous foils she has in such characters as Professor Lettuce. They provide some comic relief, but sometimes the behaviors are so farcical that real issues are sacrificed.

In this installment, I especially enjoyed McCall Smith’s description of the women’s book club Isabel is asked to help “sort out,” which is how she thinks of what she does. However, the descriptions of the members is a bit stereotypical, and I did not agree with her solution, which seemed simplistic and hard to apply elsewhere.

As usual, the Isabel Dalhousie novels are light yet filled with important ideas to ponder. I am not sure how much longer this trope can be sustained, but I’m glad I have had the chance to “know” these characters.

Isabel Dalhousie is back for another ruminative outing in "The Conditions of Unconditional Love." Fans of the series will get exactly what they expect and appreciate: the sense that they are spending a few cosy days with Isabel and her husband, Jamie; her children Charlie and Magnus; her somewhat cantankerous housekeeper Grace, and the other people who populate her orderly and cultured life in Edinburgh, Scotland. This time Isabel gets to grips with the ethical problems inherent in a conference proposal from her sometime antagonist Professor Lettuce as well as with an acrimonious book group and a mysterious (and perhaps nefarious) lodger. Those new to the Isabel Dalhousie series can feel free to start with this one, as the books do not have to be read in order, but readers should be aware that most of the "action" in these books takes place in Isabel's head as she ponders philosophical questions while having tea in her study or heading out for coffee at her niece's delicatessen. Isabel might not be for everyone, but I am unable to resist being drawn into her world for these periodic visits, and fans will be pleased with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Pantheon Books for providing me with an ARC of this title in return for my honest review. Enjoyed it!

With The Conditions of Unconditional Love, Alexander McCall Smith drops us once again, in medias res, into Isabel Dalhousie’s delightful stream of consciousness, brimming from her ability to see (on inability not to see) a moral and philosophical dimension in almost every aspect of human life and interaction. This is not easy to pull off in a breezy, engaging way, but McCall Smith does it masterfully. This time, there are at least four difficulties of varying gravity in which Isabel finds herself immersed—all of which are neatly resolved in the end. In one case, related to her nemesis, the insufferable Professor Lettuce, her resolution is a remarkable act of (underserved) generosity toward him, but also a perfectly laid trap to thwart the unethical scheme in which he sought to implicate Isabel. As always, along the way, McCall Smith gently prods the reader to engage thoughtfully and generously with the world and breaks down philosophical concepts into bite size chunks through Isabel’s musings. He also comments—again gently, but clearly—on issues of the day, including unwillingness to hear (or allow to be voiced) opinions different than one’s own, which is not to say one should let outrageous views go unrefuted (see the hat pin rumination). There is also a lovely homage to Iris Murdoch and other women philosophers of her Oxford cohort (Philippa Foot, Elizabeth Anscombe, and Mary Midgley)—seemingly a nod to two recent books about their work, legacies, and friendship (and occasional rivalry). This is an entertaining, engaging, and enlightening book, lightly packed with a remarkable amount of deftly delivered information. It is, as usual, as if the author has made a comfortable and well-constructed nest from a diverse array of odds and ends he has mentally collected since the last book.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I hadn't read Alexander McCall Smith since his #1 Ladies Detective Agency many years ago. I enjoy his writing, and enjoyed this series.

The Conditions of Unconditional Love was completely different and I liked this as well. The characters were well developed. The story kept my attention. It was very interesting to learn about what exactly a Philosopher is. I loved the relationship between Isabel and Jamie. Excellent book.

I'm so fond of these characters and their gentle stories. I don't love the philosphical musing as much - it's like hitting the pause button on the narrative, but I will take the good with the less interesting to catch up with Sunday Philosophy Club series.
More Kat and Prof. Lettuce please. And especially. more Grace.
Brother Fox has overstayed his welcome.

This is my favorite adventure of this series. The Author never misses a beat, and it’s not possible to
walk away until I finish.
My thanks to Pantheon via NetGalley for the download copy, of this book for review purposes.

Isabel's thoughts are the draw😊

This story has dry wit and heart and Isabel Dalhousie makes me sit up and take note of the everyday moments that should inspire reflection and, sometimes, action. Here Isabel runs into some dilemmas of conscience and she's thinking about the pros and cons of getting involved in other's affairs, something her amiable husband Jamie believes she should cut down on. From a conference with unrealistically high expenses that reeks of someone's attempt at wrong doing, to a secretive houseguest, to a bookclub with members that can't get along, to more troubling issues with her niece Cat, Isabel ruminates and ponders her responsibility for keeping ethical standards up and the populace genial in good old Edinburgh.

Yes, I liked the way Alexander McCall Smith resolved these issues (especially the stroppy book club), but Isabel's inner thoughts and secret smiles over the conclusions she draws are an important reason I like this character-driven series. It's not action- or adventure-driven and I think it's a good choice after a succession of higher tension novels, to relax and reflect. Plus, I love Isabel's self confidence. Her husband is a looker who attracts admiration wherever he goes, but Isabel takes it all in stride.

Thanks to publishers Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This was my first Alexander McCall Smith novel, although I was a fan of the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency TV series. Not being familiar with the Isobel Dalhousie series, I was a little surprised to find myself in Edinburgh with a philosopher whose job it is to think. The writing is wonderful, the characters well-drawn, and it was quite enjoyable to be inside the mind of someone for whom everyday decisions pose deeper moral questions. I am sure I'll be back to dive deeper into the series and Smith's other works. Highly recommend.

I’m a long time fan of McCall Smith, but the Isabel Dalhousie series (this is #15) is the only one I’m still reading. Isabel is a philosopher with an independent income, two small children, and is the editor (and owner) of the Philosophical Review. She lives in Edinburgh and has a habit of “fixing things” both large and small, sometimes fully aware that the problem is none of her business.

I love this series because there is never a shortage of interesting things for Isabel to muse about, and I love the way McCall Smith gets to the essence of every topic. Whether she is talking to herself, to a casual acquaintance, or to her husband, these are the kind of conversations I like to have, and I’m perfectly happy to have them with an intellectual, though fictional, sparring partner!

The “problems” she solves in this book are every day irritations that I can completely relate to and that — while not actually important in the larger scheme of things — is very trying and important in our every day lives. A book group that has become downright antagonistic towards each other; a couple who doesn’t know the truth about each other and really should; a conference organizer potentially defrauding a funding organization; an uncomfortable situation with a long-term (but not well known) house guest.
I like that McCall Smith takes on issues of the day and introduces (often new to me) ethical conundrums. He refers to the Circle of Moral Recognition — the boundary drawn around those entities in the world deemed worthy of moral consideration. What is our own personal moral responsibility in specific situations in the current moral climate? He introduces “defensible pride” vs “hubristic pride” and why one attracts us while we find the other quite off putting. Another concept I hadn’t heard of — but love — is the Hawking index which is the percentage of a book read before the average reader gives up. Named after Hawking’s best selling A brief History of Time which received a whopping 6.6% on the index and still wasn’t the smallest index (that honor goes to Capital in the Twenty-First century by Thomas Piketty). Who knew? Lastly I had to laugh out loud when she suggested the need for “emotional continence” when others went on and on about TMI topics ad nauseam.

I don’t agree with all of Isabel’s thoughts and opinions, but I like the way they are laid out cleanly with a clear understanding of the basic principles and thought process used to come to her conclusions. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all engage on “hot topics” in this way?