What is especially intriguing about this book, for me, is its seemingly chaotic structure. Woven amongst the cases are beautiful descriptions of the land, insights into African culture in all its myriad forms, the life of her father, a miner in South Africa, and her own disastrous marriage which ended many years ago, and a sweet offer of love from one of her best friends, a successful mechanic. Hired to track missing husbands, cheating husbands and thieving husbands, as well as daughters, sons and witch doctors, Precious Ramostwe has her hands full. Set in Botswana, it features thirty-five year old Mma Ramotswe, a cunning, content and large (in the "traditional" way) woman who, after her father dies leaving her many head of cattle, sells up and opens a detective agency.
THE NUMBER ONE LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY SERIES
Wise, funny, intelligent, insightful and blushing with vigour and a heartfelt love of Africa, I'm not in the least surprised this series - of which this is the first book - has done so well. The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a real gem, however.
I'm no fan of mystery, crime or detective books - the bore me, generally, though I loved Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher books in high school and Agatha Christie's Ten Little Niggers gave me chills (since renamed And Then There Were None, for obvious reasons - but I've got an old edition). Sadly, HBO killed the series after a single season, seven episodes, so that treat will be of limited duration. If you have not yet seen the series, and are an HBO subscriber, you are in for a treat. Here is a link to the HBO site for the show. It is a good thing that Smith wrote a whole herd of these books. One can almost hear it being spoken aloud by a story-teller around a campfire, or a pot of bush tea.
It is rich with payload on local (Botswana) color, and is told in a simple, straightforward manner. Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe and Anika Noni Rose as Grace Makutsi - from the HBO production Smith alternates between small bits of back-story for the central character, Precious Ramotswe, a woman of traditional build, young-middle-aged (30s?) divorcee, heavy with intelligence, gumption and cunning, and the mysteries she unravels as the sole detective of the title agency. The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency is a delightful work and a quick read to boot. This is where the series begins, there currently being twenty books in the series. I'm so glad that he's a writing addict because I'm an addict of his books. All these qualities come across in his books. I have met Alexander Mccall Smith and he is one of the most joyful, intelligent, and interesting people I've ever encountered. I have recommended this book to countless people who unfortunately do not pick it up for the reasons that I have mentioned above. They are simply very subtle and very wise. I dare anyone who is not happy to read any of these books and not feel a little more hopeful when they finish. These books are about humanity and the small things that make it so good to be both human and alive. Mysteries are a very small part of these stories. A lot of people are also under the impression that these books are mystery books. A lot of people are under the impression that Alexander Mccall Smith books are strictly for middle aged women.
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