I read this book a while ago and forgot to leave feedback. I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and I do enjoy starting another McCall-Smith series.

I did not find Isabel particularly interesting. This is the second Alexander McCall Smith book that I have tried, the other being his excruciating adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. This one seemed to be a similar motley crew of caricatures and endless wittering. Perhaps it wasn't surprising as I rarely find philosophy interesting even in real life but Isabel's ongoing musings bored me rigid and I was desperate to get to the end. I do hope that I eventually find out what the fuss is about with Alexander McCall Smith.

Ok, I have to admit this before I go any further. I have read this once before, many many years ago. I vaguely remember liking it, but I can't for the life of me tell you what happened. It was an easy, cosy read. I must have liked it back then as I am certain I read the second book in the series, Friends, Lovers and Chocolate afterwards (again, no idea what the mystery was. I only remember really one detail).

So, when earlier this year (Spring), I saw this and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency on NetGalley for review, I jumped at the chance to reread them both. I wanted to see if I would still hold them to my memory of them. I reread The No. 1 Detective Agency back in February (review/#re3 for that is here), but I held this one off as I wanted the time to be right. And, with my job at the start of the month being all over the place with shift work (6am to 2pm for me), it screwed up my reading of La Belle Sauvage so I picked this one up instead. I wanted something light and easy and thought this would do the trick.

Oh, dear reader, how very wrong I was. But more on that later!

When philosopher and amateur detective Isabel Dalhousie saw a man fall from the gods at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, her instincts are telling her that the man didn't fall, but was pushed. With this in mind, Isabel decided to find out the truth...

Out of the two, I much prefer Precious Ramotswe over Isabel Dalhousie. Precious is much more a warmer character, a character I related to very easily and I wanted her to succeed. But Isabel isn't warmer. She's more spiky and prickly, so it makes it harder for me to relate to her.

Plus, as she is the philosopher, there were times were she would go off on a philosophy trail of thought. And this dragged. There were times, the whole chapter would be philosophy and ethics, and because of this, I felt the story slowed to a grinding halt and struggled to care about the mystery Isabel was trying to solve or about her and her family/friends.

I know I like reading crime/thriller books that have a bit of pace to them, so I am not use to much gentler, cosier crimes, but this was a struggle, whereas The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency was a joy to read.

The writing is good, don't get me wrong. Fans of Alexander McCall Smith will enjoy this book and will enjoy the series. But this isn't my cup of tea, I'm afraid. And, if I decide to go back to his books, I think I will go toward Precious and read Tears of the Giraffe.

Where was the NO 1 Philosopher Club described in the title? We never attended a meeting but we got lots of social content, mores and philosophical conundrums. The book felt at times that the "crime" story was secondary to the philosophical content. The story meanders along pleasantly enough with plenty of believable characters, and twists in the tale. The ending was rather sudden, and seemed incomplete.

This was the first book that I had read by this author so it is possible that his work may just not be for me. The premise of this book was that an amateur sleuth investigates the death of a man who fell from a balcony at the theatre. The main character of Isabel was not particularly likeable and the book just seemed to focus on her musings regarding ethics and what-not.

I will read the next book in the series to see if it may grow on me.

I find Alexander's books are ago to whenever I need a good relax, read, and wallow in a story I can't put down. This is no exception.

The storyline is realistic and you find yourself moving through the streets of Edinburgh with the main character Isabel as she is drawn deeper into a web of lies.. This a very easy read and I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series

I liked the premise of this book but found it contained a few too many clever references to philosophers for the storyline and the situations in which Isabel found herself were a bit too unbelievable. A shame, because I really enjoyed The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Mama Ramotswe - maybe not being Scottish myself meant I missed too many of the Edinburgh references in this?

3 stars as i bizarrely found this book difficult to get into

An interesting beginning that captured my attention, but then it got bogged down in irrelevant detail and never went anywhere. Repetitive, meandering, and just too ponderous to even finish. I never give up on a book, but I only made it two-thirds of the way through before admitting defeat, sorry....

Really sorry but I couldn't get to grips with the writing style. I'm not going to write a negative review so will pass on this.

Isabel Dalhousie's Edinburgh is gentile, middle-class, cultured - as far away from Trainspotting as you can get in the same city - but that doesn't keep murder at bay. At the end of a concert in Usher Hall, she sees a young man fall to his death from the 'gods'. She doesn't know him but something about his accident disturbs her, and she's convinced that what she witnessed wasn't an accident but murder. Despite her reservations, and the advice of family and friends, Isabel's curiosity pushes her, for want of a better word, to investigate.
This isn't the first time I've read The Sunday Philosophy Club, and it was delightful to re-visit the beginning of Isabel's story; meeting her, her niece Cat,and Cat's ex-boyfriend Jamie as if for the first time. If anything I loved it more knowing how their personal lives would develop, perhaps feeling I was in on a secret not known to first-time readers (no spoilers, though, for those who haven't read the series).
Isabel is verging on middle-age, wealthy, and to a certain extent privileged. Hers seems to be an untroubled life, and her pondering over ethics and philosophy largely academic. As befits her role as editor of The Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel tries to live her life in accordance with her philosophical principles, but now she's found herself in a situation where they're actually being tested in a real-life situation. Is her interest in the death of this young man mere morbid curiosity, or, having doubts about it, is she morally obliged to do something? How much should she reveal of the secrets she uncovers, especially when aren't really related to the death? At times I felt Isabel could easily end up bogged down by her scruples, but fortunately she doesn't.

In many ways, Isabel's Edinburgh feels very akin to Miss Marple's St Mary Mead - there's no hint of the 'background' violence of an inner city instead a pleasant village-like atmosphere pervades the quiet streets, where everyone knows everyone else, at least by sight. But, as in St Mary Mead, behind this placid exterior lie secrets that someone might kill to protect. As I said above, I've really enjoyed re-reading this book and I'm now looking forward to re-reading more of the series, plus a newer book or two that I haven't caught up with.

As an admirer of this author's work, I read this book when it was first published, and also the subsequent ones in the series. While the Isabel Dalhousie series is likeable and pleasant, particularly for those who are acquainted with Edinburgh, I confess that I prefer the Scotland Street series as having more likeable characters. Ms Dalhousie is an independently wealthy philosopher, socially well connected, and with ample leisure time to pursue the solving of mysteries. Thus, to me at least, she is not a sympathetic character, as she seems somewhat removed from 'real life'. Her housekeeper Grace would surely be more interesting but she has little to say in these stories.

When Isabel witnesses a death at the theatre she feels its her duty to follow it up. Meeting the many friends and acquaintances of the dead man she finds she cannot escape the feeling that his death was no accident. Her background in moral philosophy makes her an odd detective but we all enjoy her amateur sleuthing and comments on human nature.
I just love this author's matter of fact way of entertaining us with characters like Isabel Dalhousie and this was as ever entertaining from start to finish.

Thanks netgalley for this ARC.

this one was not for me. did not finish

Alexander McCall Smith offers entertaining, clever, cosy novels filled with gently off-beat humour. The Sunday Philosophy Club is no different. I enjoyed this light mystery, its Edinburgh setting, but most of all, the heroine Isabel Dalhousie herself with her constant ruminations on ethical standpoints and implications and her quiet compulsion to unearth the truth. Did I find it strangely familiar because of a similar tone in the author’s other novels? No. It was familiar because I had read it before and had forgotten until I reached a climactic scene involving a mobile phone, which I enjoyed twelve years ago and enjoyed again today. This is a pleasant read which addresses issues of ethical behaviour in a light-hearted and entertaining way.

I'll read and enjoy pretty much anything by Alexander McCall Smith but this series, featuring Isabel Dalhousie, is my favourite. She's my exact contemporary and, like me, a native of Edinburgh. But there the similarities end and that's the fascination for me. These books are a window into a familiar and yet very different world. They're full of strong characters and a perfectly captured Edinburgh. Wonderful!

This book involves a murder, insider trading and philosophy. Isabel Dalhousie is a 40+well educated and wealthy editor of The Review of Applied Ethics. Whilst at the theatre one evening, a young man fell down from the upper circle and is dead when people reach his body. Did he fall or was he pushed? Isabel decides that it would be ethical to investigate this event, she caught the eye of this dying man and believes she has a moral duty towards the deceased to do so.
Philosophical debates run through this book and reading it can be heavy going at times. Philosophy colours the way that Isabel views people and events and most debates concern questions of conscience, truth and how people are affected by events. We never meet any members of the Philosophy club, but it does appear to have a very healthy and mentally stimulating magazine that Isabel is constantly reading and reviewing.
I thought it was a simple murder case, complicated by philosophical debate. The characters were weak and not particularly likeable. Such a shame as the premise is a good and entertaining device. I liked it , but would I read another? Probably not.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy, here is my honest review. I have posted this review on Goodreads.

This is the first of Alexander McCall Smith's series of Isabel Dalhousie novels. It's very much a cosy crime novel, with a gentle pace and some lovely characters. Our Edinburgh-based main character is the financially independent editor of the Review of Applied Ethics and is a likeable heroine, if not someone you can entirely identify with. It is an enjoyable read while not knocking your socks off. It starts off a charming series though. McCall Smith is prolific and while some books seem slightly rushed they are always worth reading.

This is a quick and likeable read that is mildly engaging. It is the first of the philosopher Isabel Dalhousie series set in Edinburgh. She edits a philosophy journal on applied ethics and ponders on the ethics and morality on the minutae of life. Upon seeing a man fall from a balcony at Usher Hall, she wonders if its just a case of being unlucky or murder. She settles on murder and delves into the mystery which gives rise to numerous ethical issues. She is aided by her wise and able housekeeper, Grace. We have Cat, her niece and Jamie, who Isabel feels Cat should have married. I have to say I much preferred the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Nevertheless an okay read. Thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.