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Fiction. Literature. Mystery. HTML: In this Isabel Dalhousie original short story, available exclusively in electronic format, our intrepid heroine�accused by a distraught wife of being the "other woman"�makes a surprising discovery as she attempts to defend her reputation. Summer in Edinburgh is a season of delicate sunshine and showers, picnics with loved ones in blossoming gardens, and genteel celebrations of art and music. But Isabel Dalhousie�s peaceful idyll is broken when a single meeting over coffee with fellow philosopher Dr. George McLeod brings an irate phone call from his wife, Roz, who implacably accuses Isabel of conducting an affair with her husband. Wounded by the injustice of Roz�s wild allegation and concerned both for her standing among the gossipy group of her scholarly peers and for Roz�s apparent state of hysteria, Isabel sets out to discover more about the McLeods, and to set the record straight before the bitterness in their marriage poisons her own reputation. For insight into the McLeods� relationship she turns to Millie, who is both an old acquaintance of Isabel�s and a university colleague of George�s. In this engaging, intelligently observed story, Alexander McCall Smith�s sharp-eyed heroine is reminded once again to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions about the lives of others, and to value friendship wherever it�s found..… (more)
User reviews
The core of this story begins with an accidental email invitation to coffee one morning that week, with two philosophy professors at a nearby university. Isabel hasn't met either of them, but she does know some of the work of at least one of them. She assumes they're interested in her journal, Review of Applied Philosophy. She replies, accepting, then is very apologetically informed by the apparent inviter, Prof. George MacLeod, of the misfire of the software he uses to manage invitations and meetings. They wind up agreeing to meet anyway, only the two of them because the other professor isn't available, at a coffee house they both like.
When Jamie warns her it's potentially risky to meet a stranger, even in public, she dismisses his concern. As is often true, Jamie isn't necessarily wrong.
The meeting goes well, and they agree that Isabel will ask him to do some reviews for her journal.
Later, MacLeod's wife, Roz, calls her and accuses her of being George's lover. Roz is hostile and borderline threatening. Isabel is offended and outraged.
What is she going to do about it?
What follows is a puzzle and a dilemma. Isabel decides it would make sense to start by finding out if it's even likely that George is having an affair. Roz might just be paranoid about it. Since she really does know many people in academic philosophy in Edinburgh, she has a friend she can talk to who knows George and Roz.
Along the way, she makes some unexpected discoveries, while being kind to everyone even when she wants to run screaming in the other direction, which is, of course, the Isabel Dalhousie we know and love.
Recommended to anyone who enjoys the Isabel Dalhousie series.
I bought this short story.