Rating: 
Summary: Obviously in the minority here...
Review: I have read the overwhelmingly glowing critiques of this book and wonder if I read the same book. I thought this was an uneven, predictable novel that made me wonder what could have been done with such rich material and such potentially interesting characters in the hands of a better author. I am certain this will show up as some equally inept made for tv movie. The bestseller list is not usually a barometer of good literature, and this book proves it to me once again.
Rating: 
Summary: Simple and Delightful
Review: A very simple, easy to understand story about an African lady who becomes the first lady detective in the region. The story starts off a little slow, however, after the first 60 pages or so, it gains pace. Though, it is quite a peaceful read, really. Mma Ramotswe has been depicted as a very strong woman and yet there are instances in her life, when one can sense how weak she must have felt. Especially the time when she loses her baby. The story is set in Africa and it was quite interesting to me, just to imagine how it must be in Africa. (Would sure love to visit Africa sometime!) There is quite a bit of humor in the story, which I didn't expect I would find--- pleasant humor! Obed's character is a very strong one too. Once again, a very simple character. I think the highlight of this story is simply its simplicity. A good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Charming and insightful sleuth plies her trade.
Review: Precious Ramotswe is the thirty-something protagonist of Alexander McCall Smith's successful series about a lady detective in Botswana. The first book of the series is "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," in which Smith gives the back story of how Ramotswe came to be the first female detective in Botswana. Mma Ramotswe, as she is known throughout the book, is the only child of Obed Ramotswe, whom she idolizes. Since her mother died when she was young, Mma Ramotswe learned about life from her father. Obed owned a big herd of cattle, which his daughter inherited upon her father's death. She uses the proceeds from the sale of her father's cattle to buy a house on Zebra Drive and set up her detective agency. Using lyrical prose, Smith does a brilliant job of imbuing his book with the ambiance of Botswana. We see the thorn and acacia trees on the horizon, we marvel at the colorful birds as they swoop down from the sky, we taste the sand of the Kalahari Desert, and we feel the leisurely, gentle pace of everyday life in Botswana. Ramotswe is a thoroughly entertaining character. She is fat and proud of her girth, and she is confident in her ability to read human nature. Ramotswe investigates cases of various con men, a misbehaving daughter, and a missing husband. Although she has no experience as a detective, she uses common sense, intuition, and her professional bible, "The Principles of Private Detection," by Clovis Andersen, to guide her. More often than not, she comes to the correct conclusion. However, Ramotswe is not simply a female Sherlock Holmes. She is a kind and compassionate individual who is careful to use the information she gleans to help her clients live a better life. Her support system consists of Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, mechanic extraordinaire (and her not-so-secret admirer) and her talented secretary, Mma Makutsi. "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" is a throwback to a kinder gentler detective novel. Instead of violence and mayhem, Smith writes about the psychology of human nature and he emphasizes the importance of knowing who you are and of having a secure place in the world. He also stresses the satisfaction that comes from loving your land and your neighbors. If you want an exotic, sweet, and utterly enchanting novel about a most unusual detective, start reading this series. I guarantee that you will be eager to read the rest of the series, as well.
Rating:
Summary: Charm
Review: The lady detective of Botswana is utterly charming. She pursues her cases with logic and diligence. The local color in the story is delightful. It even seems that the political scene is correctly drawn when allusions are made to the rather step-child relationship Botswana has with South Africa. The cases for which clients seek solutions include an incident of witch craft, a matter of insurance fraud for an amputated finger, an instance of blurred identity in the medical profession where twins function as one physician, and a tale of a straying husband.
Rating:
Summary: Precious Indeed!
Review: I picked this little tome up at Sam's and have now ordered the rest of Alexander McCall Smith's books on amazon.com, eager to keep reading. What a pleasant surprise, Mma Ramotswe is! And such a treasure with her choice of life as a lady detective in Botswana, of all places! And how poignant the tale of this mid-thirties lady of size, a fat lady at that. And how beautiful this tale of her life, her father, her heritage, her love for her country, of Africa. There is humor here, surprising and refreshing morality, quiet strength and beauty in humanity. There is acceptance of one's ways, customs, nature, life, and a peaceful existence with the curious little adventures via a quiet detective style for a change. This book is a feel good and make you smile book, a book to refresh one's hope in mankind and in the serenity of a culture much slower and calmer and more at peace with itself. The curious manner of business, complete with bush tea, or coffee on the verandah of the President's Hotel, or a journey in a little white van, with politeness and strength from an African woman who knows who she is and is proud of it, this is a detective as special as any Mrs. Marple: delight awaits you in these pages. If you like the PBS series of Hettie Winthrop's detective agency, Precious Ramotswe will be right up your alley, leaving you smiling and ready for more. Only this time take a trip to Africa and immerse yourself in another world.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I just finished this book, which I read in a day. It was unexpected, funny, and very enjoyable. I would highly recommend. For a movie version, I can see Whoppi Goldberg as the detective. It would be hilarious.
Rating:
Summary: read it in one afternoon---a real mystery treat!
Review: I read several Amazon reviews of THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY before picking up a copy myself. It's not often I read a book cover to cover in one sitting, but I couldn't help myself with A.M. Smith's first in this charming series featuring Precious Ramotswe. The biggest plus of the book is the author's descriptions of Precious' life as she sets up her detective agency, after selling livestock left to her by her father. She says that as a young woman, she took a job as a bookkeeper, which showed her she had a knack for figuring not only numbers, but problems in everyday life. Thus the motive for turning her talents to detective work. In this first episode, Precious investigates a man accused of medical fraud, a husband suspected of adultery and another man accused of a horrendous murder. The murder suspect's story was the most disturbing in a book that has an overall playful and cheerful tone. The descriptions are not graphic; rather it is the circumstances of the murder I found unsettling because of the victim's age. Looking very much forward to reading the next books in the series. I do hope Mr. Smith has several more planned beyond the four he has already written.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpected pleasure!!
Review: #1 Ladies Detective Agency surprised me with it's style and strength. It is the story of a very strong woman in Botswana who opens a detective agency. She tells the stories of the cases that she deals with and solves. Reading this book gives you the feeling of sitting around with extended family and listening to a sage old Aunt telling vivid folktales and imparting her wisdom in a humorous and touching way. The style was so different from the books I had been reading that I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book, when suddenly I realize I was entranced by the tale. It is a wonderful book, full of heart and I have already purchased the next one in this series, Tears Of The Giraffe and look forward to reading it next.
Rating:
Summary: A different kind of mystery
Review: What a relief to read a detective story where there are no guns blazing, dead bodies every other page, and a hard-bitten, cynical investigator amongst it all. Mma Ramotswe is a curious woman, the perfect detective for her small town in Botswana. She helps people fix their lives and is good at it, making for heartwarming, often funny reading. If you want angst-free reading and a good story to boot, have a peek into Mma Ramotswe's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, lovely stay in Africa
Review: This is a delightful novel.. Life seems so peaceful in Botswana, in spite of the problems brought to Precious's delightful detective agency. You will love the setting and the characters.
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