The Perils of Morning Coffee / At the Reunion Buffet

Isabel Dalhousie #8.5 & 10.5

by Alexander McCall Smith, Karlym Stephen (Reading)

In these two warm, engaging, and intelligently observed novellas, Alexander McCall Smith’s sharp-eyed heroine Isabel Dalhousie is reminded to avoid jumping to hasty conclusions about the lives of others and to value friendship wherever it’s found, and learns valuable lessons about inviting the past into your life.



The Perils of Morning Coffee sees Isabel’s peaceful summer idyll broken when a single meeting over coffee with fellow philosopher Dr. George McLeod brings an irate phone call from his wife, Roz, who implacably accuses Isabel of conducting an affair with her husband. Wounded by the injustice of Roz’s wild allegation and concerned both for her standing among the gossipy group of her scholarly peers and for Roz’s apparent state of hysteria, Isabel is minded to discover more about the McLeods and set the record straight before the bitterness in their marriage poisons her reputation. She turns to Millie, an old acquaintance and a university colleague of George’s, for insight.



Then Isabel takes on the mammoth task of hosting her school reunion. In the hours before twenty-five former classmates descend on her home, and the caterers arrive to set up a buffet, Isabel has time to reflect. She is mindful of the fact that reunions can bring up all sorts of uncomfortable feelings. Later that night, with the party in full swing, Isabel realizes that the pull of the past remains as strong as ever. Some people are interested in fuelling disagreements, while others are hoping to make amends. As hostess of the party, Isabel feels compelled to help them on the path to mercy and forgiveness. But what if the reasons for forgiveness are murky and suspect? And what if long-held secrets threaten to derail Isabel’s efforts?

Genres: Fiction

MP3 CD

First published August 15, 2015

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Melsene G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two enjoyable short stories with old friends Isabel Dalhousie and her husband Jamie. Isabel always finds a way to get involved in other people's business in an effort to be helpful. The first story involves a wife who accuses Isabel of having an affair with her husband. Isabel is not of course and the wife goes nuts. The second story is about a high school reunion that Isabel hosts and there are always a few ladies who were nasty and mean that no one wishes to see again. Of course, Isabel gets involved with one or two of these ladies and comes to the bottom of things.

The books pick up as they move along and the ending is always a positive one. I did enjoy the Scottish narrator! Great accent!

[Amy Isham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of the Perils of Morning Coffee, which gets a star for the title alone. This novella works extremely well as an examination of Isabel, the Editor of the Review of Applied Ethics facing another one of her singularly unaffected misapprehensions of human interaction. The ambiguity of interactions with people of the opposite sex can be awkward and this short book explores it well.

SPOILERS:
Should you go out for a casual coffee with a married colleague? Taken on its own merit, Isabel considers, it is completely harmless and carries no consequences. She is happily married herself and has nothing beyond professional interest in the male colleague and potential contributor to her review. Isabel is in desperate need of a reliable reviewer of the many books she is sent to read and review for her journal and she welcomes an opportunity to connect with a fellow philosopher to discuss which books he would be willing to review.
Her husband Jamie, always the voice of reason, suggests it might be better not to meet, but to discuss it over the phone. Mistaking his warning for touching jealousy, she reassures him and meets the gentleman in question. As far as Isabel is concerned, the meeting is successful, its a good match professionally, she has relieved herself of a professional burden and gained a contact for future assistance, the gentleman's wife who calls her shortly after she leaves the coffee shop, however, thinks otherwise...

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel Dalhousie enthusiasts rejoice! While there isn't a copy of this in my local library, or available through Audible, I found it on Amazon and purchased it. Two novellas on 4 CDs (copyright 2011, 2014) and delightful they are! Isabel is in true form, and informing us as well of the importance of being moral and thoughtful in our daily actions. "At the Reunion Buffet" ends with an uncharacteristic twist by author McCall Smith! Any reader who listens/reads this and remembers a surprising ending in one of his other Dalhousie books please let me know! I'm also curious in which novel we learn she and Jamie got married. My memory isn't failsafe so it could have figured big in another novel and I just forgot!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful addition to the series Isobel again with strangers and is accused unjustly. Then she finds lingering resentment at her school reunion.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories from one of my favorite authors about one of my favorite characters.