Customer Reviews: Read 128 more reviews...
 Completely charming, addicitive book! Precious Ramotswe is fabulous! November 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Wayward daughters. Missing husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female detective agency.
I loved this book. Simple, cute, an easy read and completely charming. Each chapter is one of Precious Ramotswe investigations. And, as the blurb says, these aren't horrendous murders and acts of terrorism she's investigating, she doesn't have a gun and conduct high speed pursuits. She simply uses her whit and charm to solve the range of problems her clients bring to her.
Precious Ramotswe is a size 22, she's not worried about fasion and glamour. She's not your stereotypical female heroine and I loved that.
I will definately be reading more of the series. I'm desperate to get my hands on them! I learnt a little about African culture and want to know more. I want to know what happens next in Precious Ramotswe's life!
 Very enjoyable and warm, but also a little flat and predictable September 27, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Charming, warm sequence of interlinked tales about an engaging, intelligent matriach figure who solves local mysteries in Botswana. Easy to read and enjoyable, but the characterisations are rather flat, the stories somewhat predictable, and the simplicity of the writing sometimes is just too simple to be all that interesting.
 Not really a mystery, more a life story ... September 17, 2008
A very quick book to read, very enjoyable but i wouldn't necessarily call it a mystery or crime book. There are crimes committed and mysteries solved but really what we're reading about is how people live in this particular county at this particular time. None the less it reads very well, perfect poolside reading i would say and i'm looking forward to the next installment.
A treat! July 25, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
You don't have to read this before reading the others in the series as they stand alone . I'm enjoying the series very much. The characters are lively and real, the situations, human and believable. The style of writing is very interesting as it feels as if a polite, quite well-spoken African is speaking . I've been spurred on to read them all now and have also been finding out about Botwana. I can imagine visiting the places described and actually meeting the characters, they seem so real!
A Gentle Journey June 8, 2008
I came to the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency after having seen the recent BBC programme. Normally, I am not a fan of reading a book after an adaptation, but this was an exception.
The life of Mma Precious Ramotswe, Mma Makusti as well as Mr J L B Matekoni is beautifully detailed in this book. If you have watched the TV programme, then try and forget it as this book is so much more.
You really do feel you are in Botswana and travelling in Mma Ramotswe's little white van as she tries to solve many of the normal, more challenging and some slightly eyebrow raising problems that the locals have come to her about. The details of such small things as the cattle, the snakes that are local to the area, the layout of the shopping mall and local area are described so well. The landscape is described richly when it has rained and sparse when there is a drought, Alexander McCall Smith has successfully, in my opinion created a wonderful picture of a country which many may not visit, but can do so through his books.
The author cleverly moves backwards and forwards with the stories of the cases, as well as telling the background to Precious and also her father, who had a large impact on her life.
This is a feel good book, despite some of the storylines which are not feel good, and was a real pleasure and escapism to read. I will definitely seek out the next few in the series. What a real find.
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