The Careful Use of Compliments: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries)

Clearly inspired by the style of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries, the book has a very likable heroine with her constant inner dialogue and is sprinkled with surprising humor and wit. Alexander McCall Smith gives as much importance to the characters and their as he does the resolution of the central mystery of the book. The book starts out a little slow but it really grows on you.