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The Sunday Philosophy Club  By  cover art

The Sunday Philosophy Club

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Davina Porter
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Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith, winner of the first-ever Saga Award for Wit, has entertained millions with his beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mysteries. Now this phenomenally popular author introduces a fresh series, brimming with the charm and humor his stable of dedicated fans can't get enough of.

Isabel Dalhousie is a philosopher by training, and an amateur sleuth by choice. When a young man falls from a balcony to his death, Isabel's curiosity is aroused. She does not believe the fall was an accident, and she is determined to root out the truth. With a little help from some friends (her housekeeper, her niece, and her niece's rather attractive ex-boyfriend), Isabel plunges into the shady business community of Edinburgh to find some answers.

With its distinctive characters and captivating suspense, The Sunday Philosophy Club further cements McCall Smith's status as one of today's most imaginative and enjoyable authors.

©2004 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A world of kindness, gentility and creature comforts...the literary equivalent of herbal tea and a cozy fire." (The New York Times)
"Utterly enchanting....It is impossible to come away from an Alexander McCall Smith 'mystery' novel without a smile on the lips and warm fuzzies in the heart." (Chicago Sun-Times)

What listeners say about The Sunday Philosophy Club

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    304
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  • 2 Stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Narrator

Could not understand the narrator. Her accent was difficult for me. I had to struggle to get what she was saying.

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  • Overall
    out of 5 stars

a pleasure!

adored it!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

After thoroughly enjoying all the books in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series, I looked forward to reading Alexander McCall Smith's newest release. I was so disappointed. The characters are boring and tedious. I won't be recommending this one to anyone.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

OMG! Flattest read EVER!

Even with Davina Porter narrating this book was painful. Terrible story that feels like there isn’t one and characters that have no depth or interesting traits.

Skip it. You’ll thank me.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

HUGE Disappointment

I have read and reread all of Alexander McCall Smith's books about Botswana and the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I absolutely adored the series.
So when his new book came out about Scotland, I thought it would be the same caliber. I bought the book and immediately downloaded it for listening. Tonight I finished the book and I want to warn other fans to avoid this book at all costs.
First of all, the "Sunday Philosophy Club" is mentioned only briefly in the book and never meets. What is the point in the title???
Secondly, since Isobel, the heroine, is a philosopher, over half of the book is about her philosophical musings about ethics. This book has no real plot or action.
Finally, the murder, about which the entire book is based, is not a murder at all. Just an unfortunate accident. If I am giving away the plot, believe me, you haven't lost much.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    out of 5 stars

The Sunday Philosophy Club

Boring!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

The Sunday Philosophy Club

I'm on Chapter 8 and this book is going nowhere. I couldn't wait to hear another Alexander McCall Smith book having already read his first two. This one is a big disappointment. Please don't waste your time.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

go back to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

I love McCall Smith's Ladies Detective Agency books and that's why I purchased this title. I was very disappointed in the book as a whole. There was not very much story to it and way too many philosophical ramblings. Also, I was not very interested into the forays about crossword puzzle clues. However, the narrator was excellent, the only saving point to the entire experience.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Off on tangents....

What would have made The Sunday Philosophy Club better?

Book just meanders all over the place a bit too much for my taste. Think it's the author's style - remember feeling when reading the Ladies Detective Agency that the pace was very very slooooow

What could Alexander McCall Smith have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Would never ask an author to change their style!

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Love Davina Porter always. She's a pro.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

believable characters

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Incredibly boring

Would you ever listen to anything by Alexander McCall Smith again?

Yes, I love the #1 Ladies Detective Agency. But no more boring Isabel Dalhousie!

Have you listened to any of Davina Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, she is fantastic, as always. But even Davina Porter can't save this story.

What character would you cut from The Sunday Philosophy Club?

I can hardly choose.

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