The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10 cover art

The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Karlyn Stephen
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £12.88

Buy Now for £12.88

Summary

From a small town outside Edinburgh comes the news that a young boy has been recounting vivid recollections of a past life: a perfect description of an island off the coast of Scotland which he couldn't possibly know and a house there where he claims to have spent his former life.

When the boy's mother asks Isabel to investigate his claims, she feels she must - of course! - help them learn the truth, and she and her husband, Jamie, set off for the island.

But finding the house the boy described only leads to more complicated questions. And when she learns about the unusual story of the family who lived there, Isabel is suddenly faced with a situation of extraordinary delicacy that will require all of her skills as both sleuth and philosopher.

©2015 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2015 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Scotland
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c

Critic reviews

"Every bit as charming as his No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency." ( Globe and Mail)
"Alexander McCall Smith novels never fail to delight." ( The Guardian)
All stars
Most relevant

What did you like best about The Novel Habits of Happiness: Isabel Dalhousie, Book 10? What did you like least?

I liked the scottish theme and family life of Isabel but as I have the volume up loud because I am deaf the recording was poor and crackly!

Poor quaility recording!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Got this book because I am quite fond of the Ladies 1st... series by A M-S. Although the book is fairly well written, the main strand of the story is almost lost in fairly mundane philosophical waffle. I imagine that true Philosophy academics would cringe at the dumbing down of this vast subject and wondered why it was necessary at all. The narrator was pretty monotonous and at times nearly put me to sleep. I did, however, manage to persevere to the end but will not be looking for any more of this series.

Average story, average narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Enjoyable, gentle and thought provoking story. The narration was OK but the American accents were just awful. Better not to try than to mangle a drawl.

Solid Isabel Dalhousie with OK narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Reading the introduction the book seemed to have a good story line. Took ages to get going and really only a 3/4 of the book taken up with the story of the boy who thought he had lived a former life and was very disappointed in the flat ending.

Disappointed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Alexander McCall Smith is a much loved author.
This story keeps you guessing.
Clever plot. Isobel Dalhousie is a developing character

Interesting story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews