Alexander Mccall Smith is widely recognized as the author of the very popular #1 Ladies Detective Agency novels. I’ve enjoyed those along with everyone else, but have actually preferred the Isabel Dalhousie series by A.M.S.

Here are the books in that series (to date):
The Sunday Philosophy Club (2004)
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate (2005)
The Right Attitude to Rain (2006)
The Careful Use of Compliments (2007)
The Comfort of a Muddy Saturday (2008)
The Lost Art of Gratitude (2009)
The Charming Quirks of Others (2010)

I’ve just been listening to the audiobook of ‘The Comfort of a Muddy Saturday’.
In this installment, Isabel recognizes that she feels compelled by conscience to assist a moral neighbor. She thinks that we have a moral duty to forgive others, and there are several instances requiring forgiveness throughout the story.
There is also discussion of the distinction between the rational line of guilt and a neurotic one which may produce an undeserved sense of shame.
Isabel feels herself very fortunate to be in love with a wonderful person, to have a beautiful baby son, a job she treasures, a more-than-comfortable home, and no worries about her financial future. Is it any wonder that she has the time to spend philosophizing upon other people’s problems?
As the editor (and owner) of the Review of Applied Ethics, Isabel suggests that letters/papers with moral merit are often dull. As a reader of Mccall Smith’s books about Isabel and her issues of moral merit, I would argue that when the issues are cleverly presented in a novel, the reading can be delightful, insightful, and thought-provoking.

Isabel Dalhousie is a 40-year -old Scottish unwed mother of a 3-month old baby boy. She is also a millionaire and a philosopher. Her boyfriend (father of the child) is an attractive, young professional musician. They live and work in Edinburgh. This fun, contemporary book is The Careful Use of Compliments by Alexander McCall Smith.
Isabel's thoughts propel the story as the author blends lovely and intriguing ideas with "odd remembered lines that keep popping out like corks". Although religion and faith were never really mentioned, I found it quite interesting that the character uses several biblical quotes in terms of her philosophy.
Isabel is the editor of The Review of Applied Ethics and as such she wields a great deal of self-righteous judgement in my opinion. She jumps to conclusions quite quickly on issues of morality and feels that it is her duty to right wrongs or at least confront those who have done wrong. The fact that she uses her considerable wealth to get revenge on those (of meager means) who have mistreated her does not, however, seem to cause her much moral anguish.
Although the story left me feeling that something was missing, I did enjoy reading this book. Since finishing it, I've learned that it is book 4 of a series featuring Isabel Dalhousie. Perhaps I'll try starting on the first in the series and find some of the missing pieces to round out Isabel's story.