• The Charming Quirks of Others

  • An Isabel Dalhousie Novel, Book 7
  • By: Alexander McCall Smith
  • Narrated by: Davina Porter
  • Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (370 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Charming Quirks of Others  By  cover art

The Charming Quirks of Others

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Davina Porter
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In this latest and most felicitous addition to the Isabel Dalhousie series, our inquisitive heroine comes to see that there are very few of us who are not flawed... herself included.

Isabel has been asked for her help in a rather tricky situation: A successor is being sought for the headmaster at a local boys’ school. The board has three final candidates but has received an anonymous letter alleging that one of them has a very serious skeleton in the closet. Could Isabel discreetly look into it? And so she does. What she discovers about all the candidates is surprising, but what she discovers about herself and about Jamie, the father of her young son, turns out to be equally revealing.

Isabel’s investigation will have her exploring issues of ambition, as well as of charity, forgiveness, and humility, as she moves nearer and nearer to some of the most hidden precincts of the heart.

Here is Isabel Dalhousie at her beguiling best: intelligent, insightful, and with a unique understanding of the quirks of human nature.

Woman of mystery: listen to more in the Isabel Dalhousie series.
©2010 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“McCall Smith has created a world where humor is gentle, suffering is acknowledged but not foregrounded, and efforts to do good are usually rewarded. It’s a wonderful place to visit, even if we don’t get to live there.” ( Washington Post)

What listeners say about The Charming Quirks of Others

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    195
  • 4 Stars
    105
  • 3 Stars
    59
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    179
  • 4 Stars
    47
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    139
  • 4 Stars
    64
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Charming Quirks

Davina Porter does a great job narrating this series. When I listen to this series I feel as if I have dropped in for tea with my good friend Isabel. I love the wondering of her mind into various philosophical topics. Can not wait for the next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it

I don't really know which of the Alexander McCall Smith series I love most, but I love Isabel Dalhousie, Jamie, and Mr Fox. By now they are old friends, and we enjoy Isabel's thoughts and curiosity and moral quandaries. I also like feeling like we see into another culture. Perhaps those people could exist anywhere, but they fit perfectly where they are. I am so happy that Alexander McCall Smith is able write so prolifically. I enjoy each book as it comes out and have to wait just a little time until the next one arrives. This book is delightful.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A gentle read

Another gentle story with old friends. Love the philosophical and situational ethics asides as much as the actual story line. I also LOVE Davina Porter. As usual, she does an excellent job bringing Scotland alive for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Booorrring

I have tried. I have really tried, but I find Mr. Smith's books to be boring.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Lovely

McCall Smith has such insight human frailties. I truly enjoyed listening to the interactions, and reflections, between the characters. Always feels as if I learn so much about myself and others I know and love( or do not love) by spending time with this beloved author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

wish I hadn't wasted a credit


There was no story. Other AMS books were so much better...story, theme and plot.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Oh Isabeal!

Greatest series! So enjoyed this book and the reader is so perfect with the different characters!!! Navina Porter and Alexander McCall Smith story go hand in hand beautifully!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

In my least favorite in the series, so far; but, still good.

Normally, I love the author’s digressions into myriad subjects, especially philosophical topics, but the digressions seem to eclipse the plot points and the plot points weren’t particularly compelling this time around.
Off to the next in the series, hoping things get a bit more interesting again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Not the best of the Isabel Dalhousie series.

I have enjoyed most of the Isabel Dalhousie series but this one lags. Isabel is getting tiresome and what the narrator considers her goodness and charity is often a lack of “boundaries” and good decision making. Her continued tip toeing around her immature and petty niece is a good example of allowing poor behavior to dictate the relationship. The narrator for this book sounds much too old for the forty something Isabel.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Typical A. M. Smith (that's good!)

I much enjoy Smith's writing, particularly his ability to convey the sense of a place. In this book there seems to be a great deal more reflecting on ethics and the thoughts of the protagonist, Isabel; so much so that the internal thought-wanderings got distracting in places. Still, a good "read. "

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!