Rating: 
Summary: The Ladies' No. 1 Detective Novel
Review: I highly recommend that you read The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith. The author was born in Africa, taught law at University of Botswana and is a professor of medical law at Edinburgh University. I feel confident he draws a realistic picture of life in Botswana. It is one of the emerging African nations, a landlocked country about the size of Texas, located just above South Africa. The Kalahari is right next-door. The author writes about Africa as seen through the loving eyes of Mma Precious Ramotswe, who establishes the first detective agency in Botswana. This is a business she feels will fill a need in the community because people are always wanting to know something. Mma Ramotswe is proud of her country, proud of the first President of her country even though no one remembers him now. Mma Ramotswe is about 35 years old when we meet her--a very likeable woman in control of her life. She is a fine figure of an African woman, not one of these skinny sticks of girls you see nowadays (in her words). The clients who come to her agency each have a story of his or her own. They are told in a simple and direct way and are all the more powerful for their simplicity. For instance: an old man shows up claiming to be a woman's long lost Daddy. She would care for him and gladly give him a home, as is her duty-if he really is her Daddy. Mma Ramotswe is hired to find out. You'll have to read the book to find out for yourself! She had been married when she was young, but the man was gone now, leaving nothing but pain behind. She has no dearth of suitors now, but she is an independent woman with a business, and thinks she does not need a husband. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, a good man and owner-operator of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, is one of her many admirers. He wants to marry her. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni says, "Yes, a country needs Government men, it needs doctors and nurses and teachers. But it also needs mechanics for the cars of these important people." He visits the local orphanage to keep its water pump in good working order and tune up or repair its vehicle. The stories told in this little book are at once shocking and familiar. They are stories of human nature. It is easy to find similarities to her stories in our own lives. These are good people and their stories will draw you right in.
Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars is not enough!
Review: I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book. It's technically classified as a mystery because the heroine, 30ish Precious Ramotswe, operates Botswana's first female-owned detective agency, The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency.But to pigeonhole this sublime,wonderful book as just a mystery is to unjustly limit its appeal. Mma Ramotswe does solve a few cases, a lot of them involving matters of the heart, during the course of the book. She does so with integrity, a gentle sense of humor , compassion and just plain common sense. The mysteries are fun but what makes this book so special is the author's ability to weave together the themes of African tradition, nationhood, pride, simplicity and independence without being the least bit preachy . The writing is just so simple and beautiful and I found myself thinking about this book long after I finished it. It just stays with you. I've already read the second installment in this series, Tears of the Giraffe, and there is no doubt in my mind now that these books are destined to become classics. Anyone who likes mysteries, or anyone who enjoys just plain good writing will fall in love with Mma. Ramotswe. A superb book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great book, but where's the plot?
Review: This book shows the mysteries of Mma Ramotske, an African detective. She solves case after case of fellow villagers. These cases involve a man who's accused of stealing a car, a daughter who might be involved in a relationship, and a mysterious disappearance of an 11-year old boy. Although the story was enjoyable, I thought it was very low on plotline. It just switches from case to case. The book might have been better if each case was a short story and had its own chapter. Otherwise, if you enjoy reading mysteries, you may like this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most exciting and readable series in decades
Review: This series, about delightful people in the beautiful country of Botswana, is simply one of the very best new literary series in decades - and if you buy the whole set (which I have - and given it to lots of people), then you will see what I mean. This is just the kind of enlifting, enjoyable, wholesome, delightful and utterly wonderful series of books that make ideal reading in troubled times. Lynne Cheyne, Laura Bush are just among the many many people world wide who have discovered the joys of this fabulous series (and - good news, this, folks): THERE ARE MORE TO COME! Christmas is coming and as my wife and I have discovered, this is THE ideal Christmas present to give to all the members of your family. Buy ten sets today to give one each to all your friends and family - and keep collecting them as new volumes appear in 2004. Not only that, but Alexander McCall Smith is one of the nicest imaginable people to have this unexpected good luck as an author - and he is every bit as funny in real life as he is in print. Make his day, make a great day for all your friends and buy as many sets of this series as possible. Christopher Catherwood, BIG TIME Alexander McCall Smith fan and author of CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan 2003) and THE BALKANS IN WORLD WAR TWO (Palgrave 2003)
Rating:
Summary: What a fun book to read!
Review: "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," introduces the reader to "Precious Ramotswe, citizen of Botswana, daughter of Obed Ramotswe who died because he had been a miner and could no longer breathe." Instead of calling her Precious Ramotswe, everyone commonly addresses the story's heroine as Mma. Ramotswe. We read about Mma. Ramotswe life growing up and that of her father who worked as a miner and later became a prosperous cattle owner. When her father passes away, being the only child, Mma. Ramostswe becomes the recipient of a sizable amount of money. She decides to use the funds to establish what will become the first detective agency in Botswana (in the southern part of Africa). This decision will make her "the first and only lady private detective in the whole of Botswana..." When others scoff at or try to dissuade her about the idea of female detective, Mma. Ramotswe deftly points to the well-known mystery writer, Agatha Christie who solved many mysteries through popular characters such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. This portly, intelligent and amusing woman is an unlikely character, in an unlikely setting - Africa. But why not? There are mysteries to be solved everywhere and by anyone. Mma. Ramotswe's cases are amusing - they range from imposters, missing husbands, lost children, to stolen property and more. What is interesting is the way the premier lady detective solves her cases and handles herself in particular situations and with others. Author Alexander Mc Call Smith, who is also a law professor, was born in Zimbabwe (southern part of Africa) and educated in that country as well as in Scotland. He successfully captures the true essence, mannerisms, greetings and culture of Africa and its characters that are proud to come from that continent. In addition to Botswana and South Africa, other countries such as Ghana, Nigeria (countries in West Africa), Lesotho, Mozambique, and Malawi (countries in the southern part of Africa, not to be confused with South Africa) are mentioned as well. If you are unaware of these countries, it is a nice learning experience. After reading "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," you'll feel as if you've been to Botswana and solved a few cases, yourself! Read it, you'll enjoy it! Fafa Demasio
Rating:
Summary: Justice-Mma Ramotswe Style
Review: I probably wouldn't have read this except that my mother threw this one my way, plus most of my family's read at least this one of the series by Alexander McCall Smith. Mma Ramotswe's detective agency, the only one in the entire country of Botswana in southern Africa, is, (by American standards), short-staffed and sparsely equipped; she's the only detective, her only equipment a phone, her white van, and a typewriter. She has one employee. She purchased her one room office building with inheritance money she received from her father who had been a small-scale cattle rancher. My favorite case which she solves is a scam, commonplace in Botswana, where an elderly man shacks up with a young female pretending to be her long lost father and whose sole objective is to drain her of her time, energy, and finances so long as he abides there. How she obtains her first confession was my first lol, laughing out loud, incident while reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Well written but thin plot
Review: I agree with an earlier reviewer that the Plot line of this book seemed a little thin, kind of like a bunch of mixed up stories. the writting is excellent in terms of description and characters. I must admit this is my first book by this author and i think I will check out some of her other books. I also recomend : "A Tourist in the Yucatan."
Rating:
Summary: Watch Ms. Christie
Review: I found this book enchanting. Mma Ramotswe is both likable and hilarious as the lead character running her own detective agency in Botswana. She encounters many interesting sorts and solves their mysteries along the way. Alexander McCall writes with an easy style that encourages his readers to read a little longer. His chapters could easily be a short story within themselves. I was so wrapped up in his book that I read it in two days and am currently on to the next in his series about Mma Ramotswe. I see a movie in the future!!
Rating:
Summary: Heart warming story
Review: This series by Mr. Smith is one of the best I have read in years. I bought the first one, Number One Ladies Detective Agency and by the 2nd tape I had ordered the other three. I am thrilled that there is a new one, The Full Cupboard of Life and I have that on order right now. The story takes you to Africa, you can feel the hot winds and dust. It is a tale of morality and simple comman sense. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read-Looking Forward to Reading More!
Review: I have really enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to reading the author's other ones as well. Mma Ramotske, a very intelligent African woman always had her ambitions of starting a detective agency, rare for a woman in Africa. So with a little money left by her deceased father, she opened up the agency in a small storefront. Business begins slowly, but as she becomes more well-known, she has some interesting cases to solve. One of her main cases is about a boy who had vanished from his home for no reason; and Mma Ramotske works on solving the case piece by piece. She also uncovers a con-man in the story, as well as the discovery of a missing husband. I highly recommend the book-it's very difficult to lay it down.
| 
