I love this series, as enjoyable a read the second time around as the first. This time I have full access to the world wide web where I can see and learn lots of interesting things about Botswana. Makes my experience that much more vivid!

Why I'm reading this: I'm really enjoying revisiting my old friend Mma Romotswe during this time when we're being asked to stay indoors to stop the spread of coronavirus. Comforting.

How in the world did I get sucked into another one? The answer is simple. There is a limited selection of free audiobooks at the library, and I like listening to books in my car. On the up side, this one is better than the first. The characters are, still, portrayed as simpletons, but misandry seems to be kept to a minimum. Don’t get me wrong. The women are, constantly, saying how idiotic men are, and men are, continually, described as philanderers. However, as a counter, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is portrayed as, practically, angelic.

The production quality is very good. The actress doing the reading has a lovely British accent, and I enjoy her pronunciation of setswanese words.

I was touched by one line in the book. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni offered to take a picture of a child. The child said that she had never had her picture taken before. Mr. J.L.B Matekoni was overwhelmed, because he realized that this girl wasn't’t special enough for anyone to want her picture. What a profound and sad thing—that there are children who are so unloved that no one wants their picture. It made me want to hug my own kids.

Besides one moment of depth, this book is just fluff. You aren't really supposed to take it seriously. I won't even go into the holes in the plot. What's the point? This book is perfectly reasonable entertainment.

This book was charming. The main characters, Mma Ramotswe, owner of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency and her fiance Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, are a little old fashioned in their idea of politeness and respectability, but refreshingly so. The mysteries that Mma Ramotswe solves are pretty straightforward to the reader; there are no twists in the solving of the crimes, but this is what is so charming about the book. Life in Mma Ramotswe's world is straightforward and full of moral fiber. Her story of what happens in the day to day in Botswana is so different from life in the west, but has its strengths and I can see how much Mma Ramostwe loves her country. I would recommend this book just for the insights it gives about a different culture and way of living.

I began this series about 5 years ago (2007 or so) and absolutely love it! McCall Smith was born in Zimbabwe and returned to southern Africa in 1981 to co-found and teach law at the University of Botswana. The characters in this series, set in Botswana, feel genuine to me; their personalities reflective of people I have known from Africa. I finally started the series due to all the people who kept recommending it to me, and I'm glad I did! I've read them all!

I loved the addition of the two children and Mma Makutsi! This series just gets better!