In this latest instalment of Alexander McCall Smith’s ever-delightful and perennially best-selling series, amateur sleuth and philosopher Isabel Dalhousie is called upon to help when a matchmaker begins to question her latest match. Recently distracted by the arrival of her and Jamie’s second son, Magnus, Isabel Dalhousie – philanthropic editor of the Review of Applied Ethics – is anxious. The next issue of the Review is far from ready, her eldest, Charlie, is jealous, and their housekeeper, Grace, has an officious approach to childcare.

With some relief, Isabel returns to helping out at her niece Cat’s delicatessen, where surely the most taxing duty is the preparation of sandwiches. But it’s not long before Isabel’s helpful, philosophical nature draws her into customers’ problems, specifically that of ambitious, self-proclaimed matchmaker, Bea Shandon. Bea has staged a potentially dangerous liaison involving enigmatic plastic surgeon, Tony MacUspaig, who may not be quite who he claims to be…