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The Quiet Side of Passion

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( 3,784 ratings, 431 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Quiet Side of Passion by Alexander McCall Smith delves into the life of Isabel Dalhousie as she juggles her roles as a philosopher, editor, and mother. Amidst the everyday challenges of family life in Edinburgh, Isabel finds herself drawn into new mysteries that test her moral compass. With insights into human nature and society, the story intertwines themes of love, friendship, and ethical dilemmas.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy heartwarming tales with a focus on the complexities of everyday life. Set in Edinburgh, it follows the charming experiences and gentle humour of characters as they navigate personal and professional challenges. If you appreciate stories with warmth and wit that explore the nuances of human relationships, this might be a delightful read for you.

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The latest novel in Alexander McCall Smith's much-loved Isabel Dalhousie series, which have sold over 1.7m copies

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Twelfth Installment of the Much-Loved Isabel Dalhousie Series

It is summer in Edinburgh and Isabel Dalhousie is once again caught between 'gossip' and significant rumour. It is none of her business that Patricia, the mother of her son Charlie's little friend Basil, is estranged from Basil's father, or that the woman has a somewhat brazen attitude to childcare. And yet, it is curious.

Isabel, however, has much else on her mind as editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. Along with the work involved for its impending next issue, she really needs to get her house in order and tend to the demands of her niece, Cat. Thankfully, the arrival of Antonia, the exuberant Italian au pair, will take care of urgent chores. And the hiring of Claire, a diligent if unsettlingly beautiful new assistant at the Review, surely means that Isabel can breathe, at least a little.

But her sharp observation and assured role as confidante soon have Isabel doubting all her recent decisions. What's more, her instinct to help others may have put her in real danger. In her desire to run both a smooth household and working life, has she simply created more chaos? Perhaps the quiet side of passion is, after all, the best side on which to be?

The Quiet Side of Passion is the twelfth book in the series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Series: Isabel Dalhousie Novels

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  • The Conditions of Unconditional Love
    BOOK 15 IN THE MUCH-LOVED ISABEL DALHOUSIE SERIES 'You can't go out of the house without tripping over a philosophical question.' That is a remark made by Isabel Dalhousie to Jamie, the bassoonist who is her handsome younger husband. Isabel's own life, of course, points to the truth of this observation: she seems to attract philosophical problems in much the...
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  • The Careful Use Of Compliments
    For the philosophically minded Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, getting through life with a clear conscience requires careful thought. With the arrival of baby Charlie, and a passionate relationship with his father Jamie, fourteen years her junior, Isabel enters deeper and rougher waters. Late motherhood is not the only challenge facing Isabel. As she negotiates a...
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  • The Comfort Of Saturdays
    The Comfort Of Saturdays revolves around Isabel Dalhousie, a new mother and a connoisseur of philosophy who would rather not be a sleuth. However, a chance conversation at a dinner party draws Isabel into the case of a doctor whose career has been ruined, and she cannot ignore what may be a miscarriage of justice. For Isabel, ethics are not...
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  • The Geometry of Holding Hands
    The thirteenth installment of the much-loved Isabel Dalhousie series When Isabel Dalhousie and her husband Jamie book a table at an expensive Edinburgh restaurant, she finds herself battling with her conscience. Lately, there has been a lull in work for the Review of Applied Ethics, and the care of their young sons, Charlie and Magnus, is often undertaken by their...
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  • The Sweet Remnants of Summer
    The Sweet Remnants of Summer is the latest instalment in the beloved Isabel Dalhousie series. 'Cosy and effortlessly charming' Herald 'Delightful' Sunday Telegraph 'Humorous and thought-provoking' Undiscovered Scotland Isabel Dalhousie joins the advisory committee of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, but soon finds herself swept up in a delicate dispute between members of a prominent family. David's support for Scottish...
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  • The Uncommon Appeal of Clouds
    Isabel Dalhousie leads an enviable life in Edinburgh, with time for cloud-gazing, civilised conversation and good coffee from Cat's delicatessen. Alongside these pastimes, she must also keep pace with the varied pursuits of her musician husband and their young son Charlie, who is exhibiting the first, rather worrying signs of mathematical genius. An unexpected appeal for help from a collector...
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  • A Distant View of Everything
    Recently distracted by the arrival of her and Jamie's second son, Magnus, Isabel Dalhousie โ€“ philanthropic editor of the Review of Applied Ethics โ€“ is anxious. The next issue of the Review is far from ready, her eldest, Charlie, is jealous, and their housekeeper, Grace, has an officious approach to childcare. With some relief, Isabel returns to helping out at...
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  • Friends, Lovers, Chocolate
    Isabel Dalhousie thinks often of friends, sometimes of lovers, and on occasion of chocolate. As an Edinburgh philosopher, she is certain of where she stands. She can review a book called In Praise of Sin with panache and conviction, but real life is... well, perhaps a bit more challenging - particularly when it comes to her feelings for Jamie, a...
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    Sold Out
  • The Conditions of Unconditional Love
    Book 15 in the beloved Isabel Dalhousie series
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Conditions of Unconditional Love
    BOOK 15 IN THE MUCH-LOVED ISABEL DALHOUSIE SERIES 'You can't go out of the house without tripping over a philosophical question.' That is a remark made by Isabel Dalhousie to Jamie, the bassoonist who is her handsome younger husband. Isabel's own life, of course, points to the truth of this observation: she seems to attract philosophical problems in much the...
    Hardback
    Sold Out
  • The Quiet Side of Passion
    The Twelfth Installment of the Much-Loved Isabel Dalhousie Series It is summer in Edinburgh and Isabel Dalhousie is once again caught between 'gossip' and significant rumour. It is none of her business that Patricia, the mother of her son Charlie's little friend Basil, is estranged from Basil's father, or that the woman has a somewhat brazen attitude to childcare. And...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Quiet Side of Passion is praised for its undeniable charm and delightful storytelling. Reviewers highlight Alexander McCall Smith's ability to create likeable characters, making it a humorous and touching tale. This instalment, featuring Isabel Dalhousie, is seen as an extremely enjoyable read by many.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349142708

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 February 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Abacus

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 230g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of over one hundred books on a wide array of subjects, including the award-winning The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He is also the author of the Isabel Dalhousie novels and the world's longest-running serial novel, 44 Scotland Street. His books have been translated into forty-six languages. Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and holds honorary doctorates from thirteen universities. He was knighted by the King in 2024.

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