I've been reading one of this series every month or so. Generally I enjoy taking my time with them, soaking up Mme Ramotswe's surroundings and friends. But at 1/3 in, I'm finding this one less fun, because everyone seems unhappy with their lives and each other. :( Also, because they are each investigating a separate crime, they spend less time together in this book. Continuing on, though, the story lines come together again and problems are dealt with if not completely resolved. As Mme Romotswe herself says, "a rather unusual, and unsettling, period had come to an end." A good book but not my favorite of the series.

These are slow cozy mysteries and often no death is involved and there are no murders as our detective does not take those kind of cases. Things are a bit off for everyone. Everyone seems slightly out of sorts, Mercury must be in retrograde, and things keep going wrong for some people. Feelings are fragile and mistakes are made, but like all of these dips into the lives of these beloved Botswanans, things have a way of resolving themselves even if they are not done so to their original intentions. Take another seat and join Mma Remotswe and Rra JLB Matakoni we they take care of everyone around them.

I loved the first few books in this series but lost interest after the Full Cupboard of Life. Something about this book's cover appealed to me and I looked forward to immersing myself in Mma Ramotswe's African world again.

I didn't really enjoy the book very much, it was an effort to finish it. The writing was as good, the little plots and twists and turns as amusing, and all the familiar characters were getting on with their lives, so what was it?

To me, Mma Ramotswe was just a paper figure in this book. There was scarcely a mention of her home life - no more than two or three cursory mentions of her children, just one reminiscence of her childhood life with her beloved father and nothing at all on her traditional African figure that figures so largely in other books. Nothing much either on interplay between her and anyone much except Mma Makutsi. Various other characters, such as Mma Potokwane, she of the commanding presence and orphanage, were just drawn briefly into the book to further one of the stories, but did not figure herself.

Some books you read for plot, some you read for the characters and this book was just weak tea, ordinary tea, no more strong bush tea to be poured into a cup to be sipped slowly, with enjoyment.

Every time I open a No.1 book, I am captured by the down-to-earth portrayal of humanity in all its rough-hewn glory. The ups and downs of life are all captured wonderfully in McCall Smith's series. In this entry, Mma Romatswe and Mma Makutsi have a disagreement that will change the fate of the agency. Meanwhile, Mr. J.L.B Matekoni tries his hand at being a detective, and Charlie the apprentice launches a new enterprise inspired by the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Filled with heart and humor, this is another winning piece of fiction by McCall Smith.