The Careful Use of Compliments
An Isabel Dalhousie Novel
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Narrated by:
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Davina Porter
About this listen
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A dreadful mistake
- By Julie on 11-14-10
By: Monica McInerney
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The Lake House
- By: Kate Morton
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee
- Length: 21 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Living on her family’s gorgeous lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, clever, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented fourteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure ...One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest son, Theo, has vanished without a trace.
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Enjoyed the writing, but oy vey, this book
- By Jennifer S on 12-28-18
By: Kate Morton
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The Muse
- A Novel
- By: Jessie Burton
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin, Maria Elena Infantino
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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England, 1967. Odelle Bastien is a Caribbean émigré trying to make her way in London. When she starts working at the prestigious Skelton Institute of Art, she discovers a painting rumored to be the work of Isaac Robles, a young artist of immense talent and vision whose mysterious death has confounded the art world for decades. The excitement over the painting is matched by the intrigue around the conflicting stories of its discovery.
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Mixed narration
- By Amy Fleury on 08-05-16
By: Jessie Burton
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A Feast of Carrion
- By: Keith McCarthy
- Narrated by: Sean Barrett
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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St Benjamin's Medical School is the greatest of its kind, any death occurring within its walls would have created ripples within the academic world, but the death of Nikki Exner is far from being ordinary. Raped, and then grotesquely executed, her theatrical murder horrifies everyone. John Eisenmenger, a former forensic pathologist, finds himself dragged unwillingly into the case. Teaming up with solicitor Helena Flemming, Eisenmenger sets out to discover what really did happen to Nikki Exner.
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excellent book
- By Yves on 06-27-09
By: Keith McCarthy
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The Best Man to Die
- An Inspector Wexford Mystery
- By: Ruth Rendell
- Narrated by: Davina Porter
- Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Who could have suspected that the exciting stag party for the groom would be the prelude to the murder of his close friend Charlie Hatton? And Charlie's death was only the first in a string of puzzling murders involving small-time gangsters, cheating husbands, and loose women. Now Chief Inspector Wexford and his assistant join forces with the groom to track down a killer....
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Classic who-dunnit
- By Kathi on 02-24-13
By: Ruth Rendell
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The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
- By: Katarina Bivald
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Lorelei King
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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It all began with a correspondence between two quite different women: 28-year-old Sara from Haninge, Sweden, and 65-year-old Amy from the small town of Broken Wheel, Iowa. After years of exchanging books, letters and thoughts on the meaning of literature and life, Sara, mousy, disheveled, who has never been anywhere in her life--has really lived only for her work in a beloved bookshop, which has just closed its doors for the last time--bravely decides to accept her unknown friend's invitation to visit. But when she arrives, she finds her house empty, the funeral guests just heading home. . .
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Disappointed - no depth & poor narration
- By Kelly on 01-28-16
By: Katarina Bivald
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The Man with a Load of Mischief
- A Richard Jury Novel, Book 1
- By: Martha Grimes
- Narrated by: Steve West
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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At the Man with a Load of Mischief, they found the dead body stuck in a keg of beer. At the Jack and Hammer, another body was stuck out on the beam of the pub’s sign, replacing the mechanical man who kept the time. Two pubs. Two murders. One Scotland Yard inspector called in to help. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Jury arrives in Long Piddleton and finds everyone in the postcard village looking outside of town for the killer - except for one Melrose Plant....
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Love this series, but FYI
- By DCinMI on 03-29-14
By: Martha Grimes
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The Testament of Gideon Mack
- By: James Robertson
- Narrated by: Tom Cotcher
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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For Gideon Mack, faithless minister, unfaithful husband, and troubled soul, the existence of God, let alone the Devil, is no more credible than that of ghosts or fairies - until the day he falls into a gorge and is rescued by someone who might just be Satan.
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Fantastic
- By Christopher on 07-06-08
By: James Robertson
What listeners say about The Careful Use of Compliments
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-20-20
A true pleasure to read and ponder.
While I disagree with some of the author’s views of duty, especially his take on forgiveness, there is still so much to love about his writing. The deft use of language, the scope and breadth of his knowledge on various subjects, and the sweetness imbuing his narrative.
What I particularly like about the Dalhousie books, as opposed to the lovable 44 Scotland St. series, is his deeper dive into Isobel’s emotions.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Gloria
- 05-12-24
A greater justification.
A journey of seeing beauty and connection in a work art and finding peace and love.
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- Elizabeth Chalberg
- 02-13-23
Delightful
A joy to read/hear. The quality of the narrator adds icing to the cake.
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Overall
- Shaddi
- 04-04-09
A tip...
I am an A.M.S. fan. I loved his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. The key to reading his books is really following his characters from the first book--his character development is truly exceptional and while the books aren't fast- paced, they are interesting. However, when you read his books out of sequence, they are not as engaging and in fact are a bit slow. I ordered this book not realizing that it was the 4th book in this series. I think that I would have enjoyed it more, if I had already listened to the first 3 books--this is based on my knowledge of this author. The Narrator did a great job but I don't recommend listening to this book if you haven't listened to the 1st three books.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Angie
- 03-27-08
I love Alexander McCall Smith
I just love his books. I love his characters and how he can make books where nothing much really happens so engaging and interesting. In this selection of the Sunday Philosophy Club, Isabel Dallhausie (sp?) runs into some minor intregue involving some paintings from a Scottish painter. There is more about Her relationship with Jamie and her ever present conflict with her Niece Cat (who is pretty petulant in this story and made me want to smack her.) Davina Porter, the narrator is a pleasure to listen to as always.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Joanne
- 07-15-08
Another McCall Smith hit
I am hooked on Alexander McCall Smith books and enjoy Isabel's saga alot. Although books are regularly added to the series, the next addition never seems soon enough. I am left "waiting" to find out what happens next. Always the sign of a good series I think. If you enjoy a light easy listen why not join the group of folks waiting to see what Isabel will uncover next.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Sara
- 10-06-07
The Careful Use of Compliments
I love the Isabel Dalhousie series. I can't wait for the next one.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Donald
- 03-09-08
Bad reader, bad audio
This is the worst reader I have heard in a long time. I am an Alexander McCall Smith addict but will lose interest if this reader stays. 'Can't understand her clipped diction and the audio quality is bad. Would like my money back if I could get it.
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3 people found this helpful
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- paperbarkgraybird
- 04-25-19
Soporific
Is it supposed to be couched in faux-edgy while offering predictable and emotion-engendering social interaction?
It’s disappointing because I got bored while reading it.
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Overall
- Steve
- 11-30-07
Getting Worse
We listen to all Alexander McCall Smith books. This series is becoming unlistenable. Too much philosophy and no plot.
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3 people found this helpful