Review:As the last installment of this series, Kerry does a lovely job of tying up everyone's story. This last book focuses on Ian; describing his upbringing and how his mother shaped who he is today. The chapters Kerry writes about Ian as a child are heartbreaking and feel all too real. You can actually feel Ian's struggle and pain as a child dealing with a mother who has a mental disorder. I felt like Kerry could have gone just a little bit further in her chapters set in the present day. Some of the ... Read more

Review:Started reading & did not think I would finish . The book was very different from my normal reads. Really shows how " connected " we are . Talk about your 6 degrees of separation ! Definitely glad I finished . Read more

Review:Dark and disturbing. And kind of gross at times. I was more enthralled with the writing style than I was with the story or the characters. It was interesting on some level because I knew that there was something going to happen at the end. Not for the faint of heart. Read more

Review:Anita Shreve is one of my favorite authors - she certainly did not let me down with this well-written novel. It was especially interesting to me since I knew nothing about the great fire on the Maine Coast in 1947! Read more

Review:I just love the way Alexander McCall Smith writes. I have read all of his books to date and cannot wait for the next one. He is the only fiction (?) author I read. I do not live in Pinole, CA, I live on the Big Island (Hawaii Island), HI Read more

Review:Alexander McCall Smith writes beautifully. His storytelling follows a calmly measured pace. Ethical dilemmas are presented directly but gently. You care about these characters and wonder how they will decide which path to take. Isabel edits an ethics periodical from her home in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is involved with family and friends. Knowing her through these books is a privilege akin to knowing the lady detectives of Botswana in Smith's other fine series. Read more

Review:This book is quite different from the previous McCall Smith books I've read (Lady's detective agency, Scotland Street, Isabelle Dalhousie). It was sensitive and quite interesting, and well worth the read - very enjoyable. Read more

Review:McCall Smith touches at the heart of life once again. Through the musings and matters of Isabel Dalhousie he reminds of life's simplicities; of the beauty in words, experiences, and connections with others. Read more

Review:Poignant, compassionate, and touching on our closely held feelings regarding family. This book even more than the others in the series offers the reader the opportunity to reflect on what it means to be part of something that is bigger than ourselves and ever changing. Read more

Review:This is another wonderful episode in this series. They are delightful reading. McCall Smith manages to maintain the integrity of the characters and advance their life stories. You experience Botswana and a time of simplicity that no longer exists in large cities. Read more