Ok, so this was not very big on the mystery stuff.
It was more of the story of the incredibly lovable Motswana detective, Mma Ramotswe. And as she solves cases in her town, you get a peek at the beauty and culture of Botswana. Honesty, the country itself is almost a character in this book.



This is truly a slow-moving story about her life, the lives of the people around her, and a loving look at the country she adores. And in between that, there are mysteries that get solved. Some are big, some are little, but all of them are cozy.
Like her bush tea.



This is obviously a much-loved series, so I don't know what I can really add to that.
Even now, I can't tell you why I grabbed the next book, other than I wanted something easy to listen to that would relax me. I mean, the mysteries aren't exciting and it seems like she's not even all that good at it sometimes. But, there you go.
The books just had that whateveritis that made me want to read just a little bit more.
Oh, and that ending. I felt so bad for poor Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni when she turned down his marriage offer. And when he was thinking about how she was everything good that he loved about life and then just blurted out another marriage proposal? I was like, Noooo! She's gonna break your sweet little heart again!
And then she said yes.



And that was just the perfect way to close the book.

The best word to describe this book, start to finish, is charming. From the very first paragraph, it was sweet and endearing. It's the story of a middle aged woman opening the very first female detective agency in Africa with her inheritance.

Every book I've read that takes place in Africa is told in such a calm, simple voice. The worst things can be happening and yet calmness oozes off the page. People do bad things and no one gets overly upset or surprised. People ARE people and DO bad things. So what? It's such a refreshing change of pace.

One of the main themes is the discrimination Mma Ramotswe must overcome because of her gender. Women simply can not BE detectives in Africa. Until she shows them they can. I found it funny that she strives to overcome this stereo-type, and yet expects all men to behave badly, cheat, lie and steal. Again, they're men. They do these things. One must expect it. It's such a double standard, and yet she still managed to charm me with her beliefs. She was so matter of fact about it, and so unwilling to asign blame.

I will be looking for the others in the series. I really like Mma and can't wait to see what will happen with the zinger we are served in the last paragraph, on the last page. I know what I am hoping and look forward to seeing if I am right.

Mma Precious Ramotwse decides to do a Detective Agency in her hometown of Gaborone in Africa with the money she got from selling her father's cattle herd after his death. When her business opens, she receives tons of cases to solve from a lost husband to a concerned father wondering if her daughter is going out with boys and more. Want to read more? Check this book out for yourself and find out.

This was a pretty good mystery. If you are a fan of mysteries, be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books are sold.

2.5 stars

While The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the first book in the namesake book series of 21 books, was quite a pleasant and delightful read, it failed to deliver the thrill, anticipation and the satisfaction that I would normally expect from any mystery book that I read.

This book is about a 30-year-old African woman, Precious Ramotswe and her story of setting up her career as the first lady private detective in her country, and the various struggles she faces to achieve her goals. If we are to look at this book from a "mystery" genre perspective, then I'd say that this book didn't do that much of a great job. To me, Mma Ramotswe was surely a witty and smart woman but in all the cases that were discussed, I felt that all she did was follow the person and ask questions here and there. There was not even a single case where I felt damn, that was cool So there was nothing extraordinary here. And you would probably end up not enjoying the book if you are looking for a gripping suspense novel.

But, as I read more and more, the way I was viewing the book changed. Rather than having one main whodunnit storyline, we have several short cases in this book. However, there is one constant storyline and that narrates the story of a woman who wants to be a private detective in a world and time where women are looked down upon and mistreated and demeaned all the time. It is a much more personal story than your average mystery book out there. What I enjoyed in this book is Mma Ramotswe's take on life, after having experienced all the suffering that was inflicted upon her, and the way she is constantly underestimated and condescended by the male gaze and how she keeps proving herself each time and emerges as a strong, assertive and ambitious lady.

I liked the author's writing styles and one more thing that made me enjoy this book more was its setting. I have not had the chance to read a lot of books set in Africa and I really liked reading about the way of life, culture, geographic imagery and a bit of colonial history that we as readers were introduced to.

However, the fact remains that the cases and the mysteries were really average. Half the time I could easily guess what was going on. The only reason I kept reading was that I liked the main character and the writing was light and engaging. I was reading because I was invested in Precious and wanted her to succeed not because I was invested in the storyline of the mysteries (or the lack, thereof).

But will I pick up the next book? I am not sure. Definitely not now. I do not feel any urge to straightaway buy and start the next books. But if I were to ever see one of them in a library or at a bookshop perhaps, I might just as well get it.

Funny and well written.

This year I'm trying to diversify my reading habits to keep the input well full, and I enjoyed this African-set mystery, which is full of a wonderfully dry, sly humour. It's not quite a traditional whodunit - the book meanders through the heroine's backstory, some rather freeform creative writing on African history and landscapes, punctuated with a few short mysteries and one overarching one. The result is a little sprawling and unfocused, but I was onboard with it until, in the final chapter, the book commits the cardinal fictional sin of choosing to end on a major character reversal for no apparent reason. (Mma Ramotswe insists adamantly throughout the book that she will not remarry, only to capitulate at the end with no warning, no character development or moment of decision.) In summary, a decent cozy mystery with modest lit-fic pretensions, though I might have preferred the book to focus on being a good mystery rather than a literary novel.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

This is my third time through AM Smith’s lovely launch of this series. I adore Mma Ramotswe, and Mma Makutsi and the entire cast of characters that appear throughout the 19 books that comprise (so far!) this enchanting group about Botswana and the further adventures of No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. I enjoy the narrator of the audio format, Lesette Lecat, and look forward to each new book.

Precious Ramotswe is traditionally built, and here at the start of the series is not yet married – she has been in a nightmare marriage, and has other harrowing experiences, not the least of which is losing her father. This makes an orphan of her, this very well-loved daughter, and she needs to figure out what she is going to do for a living, and with her copy of The Principles of Private Detection by Clovis Andersen clutched to her ample bosom, decides to open her agency for business. From there, the delights fall out page after page.

This is a delightful series – all kinds of issues have been tackled: infidelity, voodoo, witchcraft, overweening pride, country people v city people, to school or not to school, African traditions, religion, AIDS/HIV, men v women, orphans, displaced people set right, virtue, justice, death, depression, domestic violence, forgiveness/reconciliation, true friendship, revenge (worth it or not?) and so many others!

These are quick reads, and I like to read them in order because of the new people introduced, although I suspect that is just my OCD hanging out again. I’d bet a person can pick them up out of order, especially once they have ready the first one, and catch on sufficiently to hang on and enjoy the ride to the same degree my walk of order dictates.

Because they are re-readables, I give them 5 stars!

****1/2

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
(No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #1)
by Alexander McCall Smith
This is an interesting book with lots of culture mixed in with the stories. Not all the stories are heartwarming that's for sure! But to be fair, this is far from what I normally read. I did enjoy learning but it was upsetting in many parts.

Lovely, cozy read. The perfect sort of book to listen to. Looking forward to more in the series.

Precious Ramotswe is one Superbly Sly Sleuth - she learned it from her late, beloved daddy! She’s Proudly Black in a simple, peaceful, uncluttered Black Land…

Alexander McCall Smith was ENCHANTED by Botswana in his youthful forensically-related career there. These pacifist folks Endeared themselves to him. As was indeed the case with my best childhood friend Doug...

Doug Is now a prominent and very actively retired éminence grise of the Toronto psychiatric establishment. His has always been a deeply compassionate approach to therapy.

The first time he visited me after my breakdown, he greeted me with tears in his eyes. What can I say? My fall was seismic to my loved ones. Whose fault was that? No one but my own. I had no outer shell, and I had to toughen up!

But, bless him, Doug would send long, leisurely letters soon to cheer me up - all the way from Southern Africa. Our friends and family are so often all that keeps us going: they’re our real angels!

Now, books like this one helped to get me back on my feet (and for years afterward I concentrated on light reading). And what appeals most to Westerners in Botswana is the people’s outgoing ingenuousness. They take life SLOW.

So, The Ladies’ Detective Agency is a HEALING book.

It takes you far away from the firing line, this nonstop battlefield where your foes use Live Ammo in their verbal barrages.

You won’t duck any bullets in this relaxing book. You’ll notice that right off if you begin it!

And Mma Ramotswe is bargain-basement approachable and unaggressively sensible.

She’ll CHARM your socks off.

These Ramotswe books are indeed a bunch of high-class cozy reads for ingénus like me, who have always steered straight when the Dark Side struts its stuff. Market-garden mysteries that are in No Particular Hurry.

And don’t Bite back.

Old folks like me of a B-type bent who have no choice but to SLOW DOWN in life, all relish this one.

Four super shining stars!

I could have sworn I posted a review for this one already. One of my favourites in this series.