Classic Mme Ramotswe stuff. And there are actually a few mysteries that get solved; the lack of proper sleuthing disappointed me in the last few novels.

And our title character, Mr. J.L.B Matekoni, appears at his best as he tackles a mysterious case of his own.

There's also a disappointing, sad tale of Charlie, the perennial apprentice and ne'er do well.

Ever wonder why, after a long engagement and a short period of marriage, Precious Ramotswe still calls her husband "Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni? Ever wonder what J.L.B. stands for?

In this 8th book in the series, Mr. J.L.B. Matakoni decides to try helping out with one of the cases. Will he find detective work to be as fulfilling as fixing an engine? His investigation was one of my favorite parts of the book. Charlie, the apprentice, is ready to spread his wings and start his own Ladies No. 1 Taxi Service. Mma Makutzi is not a fan of the plan. She is also looking at greener pastures, but are they really? Two other cases come along and keep the agency busy. They are not too busy for tea, however. An entire chapter describes the tea regime at the agency. Good stuff!

I enjoyed this book, but it seemed quite a bit slower than usual. These books are usually pretty slowly paced, but in a relaxing sort of way. This one just seemed a bit dull in parts. I continued to care for all the characters but I was pretty irritated with most of them in this book. The moral of this story is The grass is not greener on the other side. Most of the characters initially unhappy with their lives attempt something new but it doesn't go as planned. It's interesting for some like when Mr. JLB Matekone attempts to solve a mystery, but when Mma Makutsi resigns she becomes pretty insufferable. Overall, this was not one of my favorites but still worth picking up.

After reading many of these books when they were first released and now having reread eight of them in the last 4 months, I feel like I could write these myself! Traditional Botswana morals, blah, blah, blah. Comfortably built women, blah, blah, blah. Best mechanic in all of Botswana, blah, blah, blah. Feckless apprentices, blah, blah, blah. Grace Makutsi's 97% score at Botswana Secretarial College. I could go on, but I won't.

Like all outings in this mystery series, there are a handful of mysteries to be solved. Here we have a woman who wants to catch out her husband's infidelity. Mr. J. L. B. Maketoni takes this one on to see if he is cut out to be a detective. (you already know the answer. :)) The owner of a printing shop wants to identify which employee is stealing supplies. Mma Makutsi handles this one on her own. And a hospital in Mochudi wants to solve the mystery of why several elderly patients have all died several Fridays in a row in the same bed at the same time while in their care. Mma Romotswe to the rescue!

In the backdrop, we glimpse the everyday lives of the main characters, including a certain apprentice and a certain assistant detective expressing dissatisfaction with their jobs. But as with most of these stories, it ends on a satisfying, if predictable, note.

Why I'm reading this: I'm on a roll with No. 1 Ladies', and since this was available for curbside pickup at one of our libraries, I'm diving right in.

Sometimes you need an uncomplicated book to take you to a different (time and) place and vividly describe what its nature and people are like, while entertaining you with a few mysteries that are tidily solved by a very likeable character. McCall Smith is a good and reliable story teller that never fails to provide what you are reading his books for: to let your mind drift to other places and relax.

CAWPILE 6.14

This was another successful visit to Botswana and the crew of good-hearted people who populate these pages. Precious Ramotswe is the proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Her husband, assistant and other employees at the garage all play individual parts in this entry. Mma Ramotswe's main case is investigating mysterious deaths at a hospital.

I'm always challenged as to what shelf to add these to. The mysteries are very light and not necessarily the main focus of the story. These are comfort reads, full of compassion and life lessons that act as a balm for the soul.

I've been getting around to reading the books in this series that I missed before. This one is number 8. Nothing really exciting, but interesting nevertheless. Precious investigates the mysterious, coincidental deaths in a local hospital on successive Fridays. Mr. JLB Matekoni decides to try to do an investigation all by himself and realizes that maybe he belongs in the garage after all. Charlie, the older apprentice, and Mma. Makutski feel a need to spread their wings away from the garage and the detective agency. Will they be happy in the outside world?

This book was a little different from the previous ones and I think I felt a little threatened when Mma Mkutsi left the agency. I could almost hear myself saying, "Oh, no, this is my island of security! This is the wonderful, enduring, changeless land in Botswana that speaks to me through the old friends of this book. I don't want anyone to go away! Even Charlie is necessary. Don't change what's working!!!"

But then, even change is necessary to pique the interest and create tension. I have to tell you that I was very relieved when the problems were resolved and everyone got back in their places. I missed hearing more about Phuti Radiphuti and I expect that Smith will have to add another book to round out that character.

I have come to love Botswana as seen through the eyes of Mma Ramotswe. Here love of her country, the endless land, the wide big skies, the cattle and the simple needs of its people. I know things are changing and there are horrible problems with AIDS/HIV, but they are all played out on a background of the enduring land that Smith has managed to reproduce for us.

The hospital mystery in the story was great. Simple explanation found through talking to people, Ramotswe specialty.

I also liked the exit of Charlie and 97%. Though their return was foreseen.

As the 8th book in the series, I was expecting one of two things. Either a bit more insight into the characters besides a preferance for bush tea or cases with a little bit more depth/action. What I got instead was a smattering of cases given to different characters with very broad strokes of action and conclusions that seemed to have already been solved by the clients asking for help. With a title such as The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, I also thought the focus would be on Mr JLB Matekoni, but instead a good majority was on Mma Makutsi. Not my favorite in the series.

2.5 stars

Love every book in this series!