Another wonderful book in this series. Each book offers deep ideas to ponder and chew on and this book was no exception - lots to think about regarding the topic of morality.... but its so cleverly worked into the delightful story that is presented in a simple way that you may not right away discern how thoughtfully the ideas and issues are presented....

Pure delight!! Can't wait to read the next one in the series!

Mma Makutsi rises to her own in this volume "Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 3)". As Mma Ramtoswe feels the pinch economically and emotionally, what with money being tight in the agency and the illness of her fiance, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, she comes to rely on the unexpected talents and strength of her secretary. Mma Makutsi, with her too dark complexion and too big glasses, a less than beautiful facial features, shows true beauty in her no-nonsense approach to taking on the business managerial load of Tolkweng Road Speedy Motors and its "lazy, girl-crazy apprentices", as well as landing a big paying client for the detective agency.

Mma Ramotswe doesn't exactly take the back seat, but as she wrestles with the case of depression of her normally steady and reliable Motekoni, she is able to see her secretary's best qualities. In fact, I found the very modern issue of medical depression quite fascinating, along with Mma Ramotswe's recognition of the need to read about it, and get help from the other strong woman in the series, specifically Mma Potokwane, the director of the children's orphanage who relies on Rra Matekoni for help.

As for the agency's cases, Precious Ramotswe takes on the case of an obnoxious Governmental Official who wants his own family investigated. Her wisdom in using the cultural courtesies of Botswana to interview the would be "culprits" and find a solution are offshoots of plain common good sense. Her strength of character reinforces the issue of morality in the story.

"Morality is for everybody, and this means that the views of more than one person are needed to create it. That was what made modern morality, with its emphasis on individuals and the working out of an individual position, so weak. If you gave people the chance to work out their morality, then they would work ouyt the version which was easiest for them and which allowed them to do what suited them for as much time as possible. That was simple selfishness, whatever grand name one gave to it."

Most amusing of all is the big money customer that Mma Makutsi obtains who requires a quick investigation into the character of four Miss Beauty and Integrity of Botswana candidates, a rush job with an unusual need and surprising resolution.

"Men usually let their defences now and then, and the art of being a successful woman, and beating men at their own game, was to wait your moment. When that moment arrived, you could manipulate a man with little difficulty." Mr. J. L. B.'s recuperative visit to the orphanage and connection with a wild child there further enrich his gentleman's character. Although I did wish for a better resolution as to the mystery surrounding the boy who smelled of lion.


Book Details:

Title Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 3)
Author Alexander McCall Smith
Reviewed By Purplycookie

Reading these books is more like visiting with friends. If you are looking for action and plot, this will not really appeal to you, especially if you have read some of the others. These books are more of a slice of life.

This was one of my favorites because of the depression that overcomes Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. It comes over him so gradually and the people who love him are so concerned for him. I could almost feel myself becoming concerned for him also. Since I suffer from depression from time to time (not just the blues) I found the characterization very good. It's hard to portray how abnormal a person's thinking becomes and Smith does a great job. It's easy to stand on the outside and tell the depressed person to get out and visit friends, but the sick person feels that no one would like to be around him and that he is a burden to his friends; he thinks they would all sigh with relief if he got out of their lives.

And that brings up another thing I like about these books. The people are not perfect. They are a combination of the good and the bad and they all struggle to get along in the best way possible. They don't just walk away from each other either.

Number 3 of The No.1 ladies detective agency. Another nice little book. I'm really getting into this series! They are sweet and easy to read. Love the simplicity of life that they portray.

Another delightful outing from Mma Ramotswe and her No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This is the 3rd book in the series and it was just as enjoyable as the first two. These books are very laid back and are like a slice of life from Botswana. In this one, Mma Ramotswe investigates the alleged poisoning of the brother of an important "Government Man" and Mma Makutsi, assistant detective is also promoted to assistant manager of the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, when Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, the owner and Mma Ramotswe's fiance, is apparently struck with depression. While Mma Ramotswe is working on the case for the Government man, Makutsi is tasked with looking into the moral character of the four finalists of the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest, who may end up being Miss Botswana. She also takes charge of the apprentices at Speedy Motors and is actually able to make them productive! Very enjoyable and highly recommended!

I enjoyed reading this book on the porch of Oceanic and Gosport on Star Island last week.

I do want to love these books, but I cannot get past the fact that they just feel patronising and have an over arching air of condescension to them. I appreciated that the politician's storyline had some depth and levels to it. But I found the whole titular beauty queen story so... vapid. Like beauty contests themselves.

I don't know, maybe they are just not for me. I enjoy them when I can completely suspend my brain, but I just feel like there is some other feeling lurking behind them. I have one more in the series I will give a go and see if I am wrong. But when there is so many more books coming out of the 55 countries in Africa, I just think I might as well read something I fully enjoy.

Приятно и разтоварващо четиво, от което ще разберете, че в Ботсуана застават "на пръсти", когато биха искали да стискат палци и още много интересни неща, като да речем, че "много сте дебела" е комплимент , заслужаващ благодарности.

every time i check one of these books out, a librarian says, "oh this is such a cute series, don't you think?" and i do.

I'm loving this darling series.

Obožavam ove knjige. U svijetu slasher krimića i trilera u kojem se autori natječu ne bi li pronašli što groznije načine zlostavljanja i masakriranja žrtvi svojih romana prekrasan je osječaj čitati krimić staroga kova (Ms. Marple, Perry Mason, Maigret, ...) iz kojeg izbija ljubav autora za svoje likove i Botswanu zemlju u kojoj Mma Ramotswe vodi svoju Prvu damsku detektivsku agenciju. Kroz likove i slučajeve koje riješava agencija provlače se vrlo ozbiljne teme depresije, ravnopravnosti spolova, odnosa sa prirodom, odnosa unutar obitelji ali uvijek sa puno duha i uvida u ljudsku prirodu. Ako se želite osjećati dobro nakon što pročitate knjigu zdušno preporučam sve knjige iz serije Prve damske detektivske agencije.

For English version please scroll down

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Cozy Krimi aus Botswana

In diesem Band der Mma Ramotswe-Reihe ermittelt Precious Ramotswe in einem Fall vermuteter Giftanschläge, deren Lösung und Hintergrund natürlich wieder ganz anders ist als ursprünglich angenommen. Ihre Assistentin beschäftigt sich in der Zwischenzeit mit einem Schönheitswettbewerb und der Autowerkstatt von Mma Ramotswes Verlobten.

Krimitechnisch haben diese Roman nicht besonders viel zu bieten, denn sie sind äußerst geruhsam, sozusagen extra cozy. Der Autor nutzt aber wohl die Detektivagentur nur, um daran seine Geschichten über das Leben in Bostwana aufzuhängen. Er stellt Mentalität, Geschichte und Gebräuche in Botswana ausführlich dar. Da ich nicht viel über Botswana weiß, finde ich das sehr interessant.

Die moralischen Vorstellungen und gesellschaftlichen Strukturen im Land sind schätzungsweise 50 bis 100 Jahre hinter Europa zurück, so dass Einiges wirklich gewöhnungsbedürftig ist. Die Leute sprechen eine einfache Sprache (zumindest die Charaktere im Roman) und erscheinen einem Europäer vermutlich in mancher Hinsicht naiv.

Obwohl wenig aufregend, lese ich diese Reihe zwischendurch recht gerne und vergebe dafür 3 Sterne.

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Cozy mystery from Botswana

In this volume of the Mma Ramotswe series, Precious Ramotswe investigates a case of suspected poisoning, while solution and background of the matter are of course very different from what was originally assumed. In the meantime, her assistant is busy with a beauty contest and Mma Ramotswe's fiancé's car repair shop.

In terms of crime, these novels don't have much to offer, because they are extremely quiet, extra cozy, so to speak. The author probably only uses the detective agency to hang up his stories about life in Bostwana. He describes the mentality, history and customs in Botswana in detail. Since I don't know much about Botswana, I find this very interesting.

The moral ideas and social structures in the country are estimated to be 50 to 100 years behind Europe, so that some things really take getting used to. People speak simple language (at least the characters in the novel) and may seem naive to a European in some ways.

Although not very exciting, I like to read this series from time to time and assign it 3 stars.