The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Locations
Call Number: Mystery / McCall Smith, Alexander, Adult Book / Fiction / Mystery / General / McCall Smith, Alexander
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Mystery / McCall Smith, Alexander	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Mystery / General / McCall Smith, Alexander	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Mystery / General / McCall Smith, Alexander	4-week checkout	Due 05-12-2024

This first novel in Alexander McCall Smith's widely acclaimed The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series tells the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to help people with problems in their lives. Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Good Summer Read submitted by aschling on August 25, 2009, 9:17am This book came recommended to me by a co-worker and ended up being a good, light summer read. The mysteries sloved by the No. 1 Ladies Detective agency are, for the most part, everyday mysteries more than serious crime mysteries. It is also an interesting way to learn a little bit about life in Botswana through Mma Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. On to the rest of the series!

Wonderful Stories, Wonderful Characters submitted by Sara W on June 21, 2011, 9:46pm I have always been attracted to the fabulous titles McCall Smith assigns his books. I distinctly remember picking up "The Kalahari Typing School for Men" with great interest, only to dismiss it because 1) it was in the middle of a mystery series 2) I don't read mysteries and 3) I don't read series. So it's easy to see why I have missed out on The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency for so long.

Now that I am over that whole bit about avoiding mysteries, I'm working on easing myself into reading series. And these books have proven themselves to be a perfect gateway series. They don't rely on cliffhangers to keep you coming back for the next installment and they don't create huge story arcs that spread over several volumes and require excellent recall of previously-shared details in order to comprehend the action at hand.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a great series because it is populated by wonderful characters with warm personalities and a charming points of view on everything from life in Botswana, to how to prepare pumpkin, to how a car's engine ought to be treated. I found myself reading passages aloud to anyone nearby, completely absorbed in the precise and sweetly blunt voices of each character.

I very much look forward to continuing to read these books and am pleased to know McCall Smith has already written seven to keep me busy.

book club book submitted by ssmyth on June 26, 2013, 8:45am We read this as a book club book and all enjoyed it so much!! A wonderful story - I plan to read more of the series.

Really enjoyable submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on August 14, 2013, 9:07pm This is simply wonderful. An easy read, but engrossing and still thoughtful. I love Mma Ramotswe's smarts, how she thinks her way into and out of problems, and yet how even she can be tricked. (Very nice little turn in the middle there.)

But it is her thoughtful observations about life and Africa that keep this book from being simple fluff. I'm really looking forward to reading further into this series.

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency submitted by mk31 on July 22, 2014, 6:57pm This book is phenomenal! The characters are wonderful and the mysteries are captivating. I'm really excited to continue with the series!

Enjoyable submitted by kferguson on August 18, 2016, 3:41pm Enjoyable

Great series! submitted by hart on July 25, 2018, 6:27pm I really enjoyed this light-hearted series sprinkled with serious points. A nice summer read.

Pretty enjoyable submitted by Stinglikeawalrus on July 27, 2019, 5:05pm This was a pretty fun book. It's great if you're looking for a mystery that isn't rough or scary. My English teacher also loved this series. It's a fun quick read and the tv show is also pretty good.