Mma Ramotswe felt afraid. She had experienced fear only once or twice before in her work as Botswana's only lady private detective (a title she still deserved; Mma Makutsi, it had to be remembered, was only an assistant private detective). She had felt this way when she had gone to see Charlie Gotso, the wealthy businessman who still cultivated witch doctors, and indeed on that meeting she had wondered whether her calling might one day bring her up against real danger. Now, faced with going to Dr. Ranta's house, the same cold feeling had settled in her stomach.

In this, the second installment of Smith's African mystery series, we pick up precisely where we left off. Precious Romotswe's agency has found its legs. She has hired a secretary (the aforementioned Mma Makutsi) who quickly discovers she, too, would prefer investigation to the doleful routine of responding to correspondence and brewing tea. A promotion occurs. There is also movement in our heroine's private life. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, has proposed to his lady love and been graciously accepted. These two fresh figures receive voices and storylines that serve to further enrich the canvas, blending exceptionally well into this flourishing fictional terrain.

Mma Ramotswe's cases become, as they must, more complex. The chief focus here is on the ten-year-old disappearance of a young American student from a local commune. Our detective's common-sensical approach coupled with her native understanding of the manner in which her community operates, helps unearth information that might indeed provide the student's mother with the answer she's been seeking.

This is a fine sequel to the initial novel; the pacing holds pleasantly firm, the charm of the characterization remains intact. A promising sign, and reason enough to read forward.

While I thought the book was just OK, it has some interesting topics for discussion. Why do Americans always think their way is the best way? And aren't we right most of the time?

How is it that everything works out so well for Precious? I find it too implausible. She is able to track down a lost man after 10 years by using just the right blackmail material that she learned from just the right disgruntled student. Seriously?

I found her reaction to the adopted children a bit out of character. Not that she wouldn't do the "right" thing, but an independent woman would want more of a say in such a monumental decision, right?

The second book in No.1 Ladies detective series, wasn't as good as the first or a few others that I read our of turn.
The whole story takes place in Botswana. I don't know much about Botswana, but I believe Mma. Ramotse when she says it is much developed and people are happier than many other African countries.
Haven't been to Africa, except for arm chair travel and her anecdotes of local life fascinate me.
The detective stories are just secondary and minor to what happens in the lives of Precious Ramotse, her assistant cum secretary Grace, and her husband , who's the proprietor of Speedy Motors.
In this book, in addition to solving mysteries of a long ago disappearance and a lying wife , Ramotse becomes a mother to 2 kids ( not by choice , but because her soon to be husband is jostled into adopting a brother sister pair by a conniving orphanage head ).

Will complete the series at ease.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series when I read it 3 years ago and consequently gave it a 4 star rating because it was such a delightful read.....

BUT what I think I may have missed at that time - was just how thought provoking these delightful books are. They are written in a very deceptively simple style.... and when you read them, you will think that they are pure delight.... and they are. But the author also weaves in some wonderfully deep ideas and issues that will cause you to think and ponder!! Morality issues that would make for amazing conversations and debates. Ideas that really made me stop and think....

The characters are such good GOOD souls. The kind of people you would dearly love to have in your life. I also love the contrast between old and new, young and mature, modern vs traditional....
this was a running theme throughout the book.

It seems I am also inexplicably drawn to all things African. I read Nelson Mandela's autobiography earlier this year, also Trevor Noah's autobiography, and I've been enjoying Amelia Peabody mysteries in Egypt... and now this series.

Giving this book a solid 5 stars because of how delightful it is, how thought provoking it is, how wonderful the characterization is... and because it makes for wonderful escape reading!! I'm on vacation right now and its perfect vacay reading!

I have already requested the next one in the series from my local library! Can't wait!

I think I'm now officially addicted to this series...!

My new go to place when I need a break from intense, gory, violent mysteries...
It brings calm and happiness back.

Tears of the Giraffe picks up where The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency left off. Mma Ramotswe has just agreed to marry Rra Matekoni. Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is a plain, good man who is an auto mechanic. That is one thing I love about his character in particular. My father is also a mechanic who can tell what is wrong just with the sound a motor makes. In this second book in the series, Mma Ramotswe has to track a sneaky wife and find an American who disappeared ten years ago all while having an relationship with her fiancee.

Mr Smith's books are easy to read and do not take a lot of thinking. I enjoy the old fashioned manners and the pace of life in this series. I am able to read them and am able to escape every day life for just a few hours and then able to come back to reality feeling refreshed in a way. I highly recommend this series.

"Tears of the Giraffe" continues in the same vein as the first book in the series, offering us a number of delightful mini-story mysteries as Mma Ramotswe becomes more confident in her detective skills.

This 2nd book picks up right where the 1st left off and we get more background into the cast of characters surrounding Mma Ramotswe.

Most of the read is lighter fare with some humorous moments but, just like "The Number One Ladies Detective Agency", Alexander McCall Smith manages to weave some tragedy and verklempt feels into all of those sunnier moments.

Still, it's the kind of read that's enjoyable to listen to and warms the heart.

Lisette Lecat nails the narration once more as the perfect voice for the story.

Recommend.

Available on Scribd.

“LE LACRIME DELLA GIRAFFA” è il secondo volume della serie “I casi di Precious Ramotswe, la detective n.1 del Botswana” e, come il primo, si è rivelato davvero piacevole!
Anche in questo romanzo la protagonista deve ricorrere alle sue sviluppate abilità osservative e logico-deduttive, al suo infallibile sesto senso (oltre che all’insostituibile manuale “Principi dell’indagine privata”) per trovare una soluzione moralmente soddisfacente ai casi che le vengono sottoposti. Per fortuna potrà contare sul valido aiuto della sua segretaria Makutsi che, in corso d’opera, verrà promossa assistente.
Ma dovrà anche aspettarsi il peggio da una nemica che non sa nemmeno di avere: il suo futuro matrimonio con il virtuoso meccanico di Gaborone, il signor JLB Matekoni, sconvolgerà infatti la vita della sua disonesta cameriera…
Insomma, non ci si annoia di certo a leggere questo libro che, oltre ad accompagnare il lettore nel flusso semplice ma intrigante delle indagini, rappresenta un’ode commovente ad un Paese, un mondo in cui valori come il rispetto del prossimo, l’importanza della parola data e degli impegni presi, l’aiuto materiale ed emotivo nei confronti di chi ha bisogno sono lo stile di vita della maggioranza.
Ho deciso che un proposito di quest’anno sarà finire tutta la serie di Alexander McCall Smith entro il 2024!

I have now read the first two books in the series, and though I am reviewing the second one here, this applies to both of them.

This is an absolutely delightful series, featuring a spunky Precious Ramotswe, who sets up a detective agency as Botswana’s first and only female private detective. The protagonist, Mma Ramotswe, is intelligent and kind; and finding herself on her own after the death of her father, she finds her calling in helping people in distress. The books relate the stories of the cases she undertakes, interspersed with the story of her own life. She handles her cases with abundant common sense and great spirit, helped by her understanding of the ways of the land and its people.

But I must say that I can’t really see them as detective stories – in fact, as a study in mystery solving, they are rather tame. The solutions, and actions required to achieve them, are very simple and straightforward; there are no challenges, and the perpetrators of crimes yield right away.

What then, makes these books so enjoyable? I think that it is the fact that these stories are more about humanity and empathy, and the simple things in life that make it worth being alive. This is demonstrated in the tone – in turns light, amusing, wise, philosophical and profound. Deftly woven in are the description of African landscape, villages, and the life of people in this part of the world. I have never read a book based in Africa, so it was an enriching experience for me to get a glimpse into the African culture and way of thinking. The language is simple and conversational, and I loved the way it makes insightful observations of human nature and truths of life in a down-to-earth manner. It is one of the rare books, that are light without being frivolous, and profound without being highbrow.

What I didn’t like was the ease with which Mma Ramotswe is able to conclude quite a few of her cases – even if we consider them as human interest stories, rather than mysteries – it is highly unimaginable that people who have committed serious crimes can be coerced into confessing or repenting because one lady confronts them and appeals to their better side – that is just not how the human nature works. I enjoy reading the books where the author can tell a wonderful story and convey the underlying feelings and tensions using simple, relatable language, and so I loved the simple and delightful language and tone here, but even so, I felt that the language or thoughts conveyed were too simplistic at places.

Despite these shortcomings, these books can be thoroughly enjoyable once, and can serve as comfort food for the mind.

I read "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" several years ago. I remember it being fun and fresh and quirky, but it didn't grab me and I wasn't desperate to carry on with the series. Having now read "Tears of the Giraffe", I am eager to find out what happens next. This is, simply put, an exceptionally good book. Every person in the western, "civilised" world should read it and be humbled.

This time around, Alexander McCall Smith delivers a simple and heart-warming story, which is concerned far more with the characters and community than with the little mysteries therein. I'll admit that I was counting the pages and wondering when he would get back to the cases (what little there is of them), but not at all because I was bored - if anything, I wanted the novel to be a hundred pages longer. Nevertheless, this tiny book packs a punch - and I, for one, could almost imagine jumping on the next available plane and visiting Botswana, just to experience the people and the environment for myself.

The writing style is deceptively simple, but it's easy to read between the lines. The author manages to find a balance where he can introduce you to a different way of life without causing you to feel like an outsider. The setting is both worlds-apart and surprisingly familiar, and the characters come right off the page. There are also some cute moments where things are lost in translation; a little discussion about Dr Freud springs to mind and after all, why shouldn't a little boy love his mother?

What stands out the most, and in stark contrast to the majority of western crime and mystery writing, is the all-encompassing sense of hope that Mma Ramotswe brings to the fore. Far from a jaded, cynical, troubled protagonist - this is a large woman with a large heart, who somehow always manages to come across as brave and insightful, where a weaker character might have been painfully naive. She bounds into all sorts of adventure and mischief, taking it all in her stride and never letting the badness rub off on her or wear her down.

I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and will be recommending this book to everyone I know. It strikes me as a wonderful place to start - and I would probably advise people to give the first book a miss, at least until they've really gotten into the series.

The main case wasn’t really the focal point of this book, but that was fine. What makes this series interesting is learning about Botswana and the various characters.