Rating: 
Summary: Sweet but forgettable
Review: I really can't think of anything bad to say about this novel. The heroine is extremely likable, the descriptions of Botswana beautiful, and the tales of Mma Ramtowse's cases light-hearted and entertaining. I enjoyed the stories of the wayward Indian daughter, the husband eaten by the crocodile, and the philandering twins. The only thing about this story was that I forgot it as soon as I finished it. Nothing much there really stayed with me. Even the "big" case involving the boy abducted by witch doctors didn't have much substance. Sweet, yes, but not much meat. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a pleasant escape--and that's not a bad thing.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay, so I really prefer thrillers.
Review: Call me simple, but I couldn't get through the first tape of the unabridged audio book. I tried to be patient, but after an hour, the plot still hadn't begun to take shape. Although I can't offer much in the way of a review, I nonetheless felt the need to post one, because I bought this book BECAUSE of the rave reviews. It may warm up, but all indications pointed to ramblings of cultures and complications in simple lives, and I was absolutely bored to death. The slow speech and accent of the reader may have contributed to the coma this book attempted to put me in.
Rating: 
Summary: Simplistic title has delightful writing
Review: I read this book, then the second one (Tears of the Giraffe), and can't wait for the next one. Alexander McCall Smith has captured a character who stands not alone, but who represents womanhood and hopefully those of modern Botswana. Having never been to Africa it was a delightful opportunity to read of someone else's descriptive manner at detailing a storyline around a whole of their people. Since I do not have any experience to this observation, let it suffice to say that it intrigued me and kept me reading. The main character was just that, a character. Her life and that of the simple life around her was developed in such a manner that I wanted to find out more of how she thought, lived, and developed her detective agency in such a place. Her main male interest was charming as well. He had pride, depth, and honesty when often we think of those we don't know in far away places as perhaps not being as morale as we believe ourselves to be. It was eye-opening, interesting, and worth the read. The sad part was reading some viewpoints from readers who found the book not a "great" detective novel. They missed the point entirely. Her neighbors and clients were charming folks with lives that had simple fears, hopes, and dreams. What more could a reader ask than to have a glimpse into their lives. Read on folks, the second book is as delightful as the first.
Thank you. Reader in California
Rating: 
Summary: Too simplistic
Review: While the characters are mildly engaging, the plotlines in this book are rather uninteresting. I found the solutions to the mysteries glaringly obvious, and I am not one of those people who can routinely figure out whodunit by page 15. Precious Ramotswe is a likable but bungling detective who repeatedly gets found out by the people she is supposed to be trailing (yes, I know it's part of the plot, but it's rather irritating). The novel is just barely worth reading for the pleasant local color, but as far as intelligent mystery fiction goes, I would rather reread any Dorothy Sayers novel--except the execrable _Thrones, Dominations_, completed posthumously by another author--for the umpteenth time, than continue following Mma Ramotswe's career.
Rating: 
Summary: A woman would have made a difference!
Review: A beautiful story, the life of Mma Ramotswe a detective agent in Botswana, Africa. She takes us back through her childhood and brings us to the present to meet her customers where each story unfolds two pictures of Africa now and then. Mma Ramotswe symbolizing the modern African woman and the conflict that goes between modernization and culture. Humor is one of Mma Ramotswe's qualities and she never fails to make you laugh out loud! Whether she's analyzing her problems or trying to solve a mystery.. it is so simple and hilarious! She loves her country, but tries hard to eradicate horrible old beliefs. She cherishes her freedom and the new way of life but nevertheless holds tight to her roots. She portrays wisdom and femininity, and pours out her opinion whenever possible. A romantic ending to a beautiful story!
Rating:
Summary: Move over Miss Marple, Precious has come to town...
Review: Mma. Precious Ramotswe is Botswana's one and only female Private Detective who gets her debut in this delightful first novel by Alexander McCall Smith. This is an easy yet intriguing read with Mma. Precious Ramotswe getting her first case and finding out that being a Private Detective is as much about common sense and good advice as it is about the investigation of a client's case. The plot is neatly cut up into interlocking sections with Mma. Precious Ramotswe taking on her first case to prove if her client's father is actually HER client's father! She gets the answer in a most ingenious way and this opens the door to more cases, including the disappearance of a young boy and a sinister mystery in the form of a small bag of human bones... As you weave your way through the story you meet a selection of wonderful characters like Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni the owner of Speedy Motors who is sweet on Precious, and Mma. Makutsi, the cleverest secretary in Botswana, she scored 97 percent on her secretarial exam and now works for Mma. Precious Ramotswe, serving bush tea, introducing clients and secretly pinning her hopes on becoming a trainee Private Detective! This book is not what you call an exciting read but this does not stop it from being totally engrossing and enjoyable; in fact if you are looking for excitement it is best that you give this book a miss as you will be disappointed. It is slow an interesting read, with plenty of description about Botswana life and her people, as well as the mystery element of a Private Detective novel. Mma. Precious Ramotswe has been likened to an African Miss Marple, well I am inclined to disagree though I do think she is as clever as Miss Marple, she does not have Miss Marple's ruthless streak. Rather she is compassionate and understanding about the frailties of human nature. In the not so distant past she herself was a battered wife with a short lived marriage to a violent trumpet player who deserted her as well as having the joy of motherhood for a brief few days. Because of this Precious has acquired an acute understanding of what it is to be flawed and full of human desires and like Miss Marple uses her experiences to understand the situations she is asked to investigate. But as I said before the similarities between the two is like chalk and cheese. Well worth the read, but remember don't expect fast cars, fast women and fast men. This is a story about life on the edge of the Kalahari, were life can be both beautiful and harsh. A cracker of a first novel.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good, "Cute" & "Sweet" in Some areas
Review: Okay, I was not wow'd by this book, but found it to be a decent, more subtle read. The main character is endearing, she doesn't flinch in any situation to stand up to whomever necessary and do what is morally right. I think that because of that, you inevitably root for her. It is also interesting that a man wrote this book from a woman's point of view and did do a pretty convincing job of it. However, I was not so moved by the book that it made me want to go out and read all of the more recent books by that author, some featuring the same main character. This was not a bad book that I regret reading, but it didn't really leave any lasting impressions or feelings with me either.
Rating:
Summary: What am I not seeing?
Review: I'm wondering what I am not seeing in this book. It came highly recommended by a friend and I picked it up recently to read on a plane. The main character is a likeable sleuth, though her opinions about men consist mostly of stereotypes so blatantly sexist that I couldn't help thinking more than once, "A book whose main character spoke so disparagingly of women would never get published, and certainly wouldn't get the favorable press that this book has received." The best part of the book is Africa, which is there, but not vividly enough to make up for other things that are missing, like a plot. The book is vignettes about Mma Ramotswe's cases. The back cover leads you to believe that "the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is that of a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witch doctors." It would be a good book if that statement about a heart tugged at, danger, and a case that exists at the center of the book were true. The missing boy case takes up a total of about 10 pages of the book, 15 at the most. I kept waiting for the vignettes to be tied together, or for some clue from another case to help solve the case of the boy's disappearance. Nothing like that is part of the book. I was disappointed in the writing, the stereotypical view of males, and the lack of a mystery in the story that engaged me for more than a few pages. Was it better than the in-flight magazine on Northwest? Definitely. Would I recommend it? Not if you want a good mystery, unless your options for reading material are limited. For a literary introduction to Africa, read The Poinsonwood Bible. For fluffy and unbloody yet charming mysteries with coherent plots, read Dorothy Gillman's Mrs. Pollifax books.
Rating:
Summary: The Blessings of Revisiting Botswana
Review: Having visited Botswana a few years ago and having been a female private investigator in a past life, a friend couldn't help but introduce me to 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'. How could I resist this one? It was a literary blessing and near spiritual experience to once again cross the Atlantic to escape the complications and experience the purity, the simplicity and the primitive beauty of Botswana. This a land where, when trees fall across the dusty, sandy roads, the tree is not removed. It's just time for the road to change its course, leaving the tree to continue its cycle through the ecosystem. Mma Precious Ramotswe and her circle of family and friends easily mimic the respectful and infectious spirit of this land. I could easily identify with her love of her homeland and her desire to preserve the freedom and justice Botswana brings to its people. Her common sense and logic, cunning ability to outfox the fox, combined with her strength of character, confidence and dogged courage make her a new literary heroine for me. Alexander McCall Smith has captured the essense of Botswana and its people perfectly through his endearing characters. I can't wait to be infused with more of Precious' wisdom and hilarious antics.
Rating:
Summary: The No. 1 Ladies Detective series by Alexander McCall Smith
Review: I have listened to all 4 in the series of the No. ! Ladies Detective Agency installments to date & thoroughly look forward to the next publication in April, 2004. First of all, the ongoing story of the agency & it's encompassing characters is charming. Characters have an honest, down-to-earthness about them which is refreshing. The characters have character! Not the norm for all novels. Each one has a conscience and has insights to their own behavior & actions. They care about one another & act like true friends. Secondly, there is the local color--these stories are set in Africa...Botswanna to be exact & it sheds light on the culture & the geography & subtly describes how the characters are affected by their environment, climate and history. I had not thought much about inhabitants in Africa, but the novels portrayed the characters in a way that fostered bonding with them instanteously.
Then there is the wonderful narration by Lisette Lecat, who has a beautiful and engaging voice. She makes the story come alive.
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