I love a good mystery series and I have found this new (to me) one to be delightfully different. Set in Botswana, it puts the mystery novel in a brand new place and takes the reader with it. The audio books are a treat, with a talented reader to bring the characters to life. This installment features the search for a missing person, the devious nature of a housemaid and the blessing of two foster children (I won’t tell you whose family

Another charming tale of Mma Ramotzwe. Many moral dilemmas woven through the tale, for which eventually the good prevails. Great read!

Es el segundo libro que leo de la 1ª Agencia de Mujeres Detectives y la verdad es que me gustan. Es una historia sencilla, en este caso con más secundarios (tengo que mencionar especialmente a J.L.B. Matekoni, el hombre más bondadoso de toda Botsuana). Lo que más me llama la atención es adentrarme en África, es algo nuevo para mi, una maravilla

A delightfully gentle series of books by Alexander McCall Smith - set in and around Botswana's capital city of Gaborone and stories of the 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency'.

McCall Smith has created a lovely world of mainly (very) amateurish sleuthing - which whilst ostensibly the theme which is central to these books, is ultimately almost incidental. The main draw here is the cast of well drawn, well written, very memorable and on the whole very endearing (if occasionally frustrating) characters - Precious Ramostwe, Grace Makutsi, J.L.B. Matekoni et al and the interplay of their lives - the detective work and cases here become increasingly an incidental backdrop.

The 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency' stories and characters certainly have an air of authenticity and believability (although obviously contrived and significantly exaggerated for comic effect) and interestingly McCall Smith did spend some time living and working in Botswana.

The first few books in the series are undoubtedly the strongest, funniest, most entertaining and compelling. Whilst later installments are all good - they do feel like somewhat of retread of ideas that McCall has spun out perhaps beyond their natural course.

Whilst serious themes are alluded to - feminism, AIDS and domestic violence; there is little here that is particularly thought provoking or challenging - but then that's not the point here. For anyone wanting a series of light, likeable, entertaining, funny, absorbing, well written and compelling amateur detective books - with a difference, then the 'No.1 Ladies Detective Agency' books are a must.

Good stories, simple truths - people doing the right thing. Ultimately these stories are all about kindness, forgiveness, restitution and resolution. Which in itself is surely a good enough reason to read at least some of this lovely series of books?

Great series. Enjoyed listening to this on my commute.

I read the first book of The No.1 Ladies… series a long time ago and I don’t remember much about the plot, but I do remember I quite liked it. What appealed most to me was solving mysteries in the Botswana setting, how “simple” were the mysteries and reading about how they live there. Being used to read fast paced thriller or vast conspiracies, it was nice to read something “lighter” but enjoyable in its simplicity. The second book follows the same pattern: a couple of easily-solved mysteries and new developments in Mma. Ramotswe life following the events that happened at the end of the first book. It always a delight to read this books (as it also was to watch the tv show, be sure to check it out) although I find them a bit short. Luckily, there’s fifteen of them. This makes for a good light read that everyone can enjoy and it’s always interesting to learn new things about Botswana.

<><><>Fourth read<><><>

My husband finally decided to read this series after overhearing bits of it from my iPad speakers for many years lol. It is a real joy to read these books through fresh eyes, especially his eyes, because anyone who reads this series automatically has my heart, so it’s even better in this case

McCall paints a serene picture (although with a bit of mystery and detective work going on) of Botswana and a wonderful cast of characters. I've been wanting to read this second book in the series for a while now and I'm so glad I finally got to it. I don't think I'll wait as long to get to the next in the series.

I cannot for the life of me describe how much I love this series, and how heavily I regret not having discovered it earlier.

This series has provided me great comfort over the past few nights. I do not think it is particularly light-hearted or thrilling, nor is it even that wonderfully written. But there is so much love, and gentleness and kindness oozing from each and every page, the characters are so lovable, and the culture of the Batswana so potent that it is impossible not to fall in love with it.

Very rarely do you come across books that are so pleasant, so compassionate, so warm-hearted and optimistic, even when talking about dark and difficult matters. And very rarely do you come across books that continue to remain so wonderful and grip both the heart and the soul for so long.

What utter dreck! Where to begin?

The story is about two curmudgeons who, despite being under 45, show utter contempt for anything that deviates from what they consider to be traditional Botswana culture. The novel is told in a distractingly formal voice throughout. The two main characters, who are engaged, refer to each other as "Mma Ramotswe" and "Mr J.L.B. Matekoni". The bizarre formality really took me out of the story...who calls their finance by an honorific (and in her case, an honorific followed by three initials and a last name)? The author frequently threw in etiquette lessons and I felt, at times, that he was more interested in writing a guide on Botswana etiquette than in telling a story. Actually, that probably would have been a better read.

But I digress. The vapid novel follows the proprietor of a detective agency. Here is an example of the astounding detective work that they do:

"You are a clever person," she said. "How did you find all this out?"
"I looked in the telephone directory," answered Mma Makutsi. "Then I telephoned to find out about the rest."
"I see," said Mma Ramotswe, still smiling. "That was very good detective work."

Wow! You picked up a phone book and called a number?! Move over Sherlock Holmes!

And one more gem that I can't resist sharing:

"She looked at her shoes, with their three twinkling buttons. Did they know the answer? Perhaps they did."

Umm what?!

So everything, as to be expected, is neatly wrapped up with no red herrings and nothing that can't be readily predicted. I'm a bit confused, actually, as to why this is even identified as a mystery novel. And why my library has this in the adult section instead of the juvenile reading room.

I love Agatha Christie and other mystery writers. I would strongly recommend you stick with them if you are looking for: 1) a mystery; 2) a good story; and 3) a book that is not written at the 3rd grade level.

I love this series - it follows the formula of cosy crime fiction and yet it has a different feel to my other reads because it is set in Botswana (totally different culture from me) and is very character focused.
It's cosy crime...and yet it is unique. I love this series and I got the first ten books as a Christmas gift so that I can check in with Mma Ramotswe regularly...and I'm so glad for that because this is a feel-good series that will make you think about basic humanity...not many books focus on that these days and I appreciate it.

These books are sort of a guilty pleasure for me. They're a little like children's books in some ways; the bad guys seldom win, good triumphs over evil, etc. No dark humor or grisly killings, etc. But I still like them, although I can see getting bored with them before too long.

One of the big stories in this book happens after the engagement of Precious Ramotswe, the detective, and Mr. JLB Matekoni (that's what everyone, including Mma Romtswe, calls him). He gets roped into adopting 2 young kids, on in a wheelchair, without telling his wife to be. He's to embarrassed to tell her about it, but she comes upon them during a shopping trip, and they have a little talk, which goes about how you'd expect if you've read any of the books.

It's nice to read about Africa in such a positive light. It almost makes me want to visit.