I like McCall Smith's heroines. When I read a book, there are certain things that will keep me in it until the end. A good story. A not-to-disagreeable philosophy. And sympathetic characters. AMS's mysteries contain all three of these qualities. I am not going to give away the plot, but there's a decision that Isabel Dalhousie, the erstwhile detective, makes at the end of this story that reminds me of a similar decision by Dorothy Sayer's Lord Peter Wimsey. And both decisions came out of the goodness of their hearts. This is a good mystery story, too. It keeps your attention. But I give it four stars because Isabel's ruminations get a little long-winded at times.