When a young woman complains that she was unfairly dismissed
from her job, the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency has a new case.Charity was accused of being rude to a
customer, a charge she denies.Was she
really guilty, or is there something else going on at the store?
Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe discovers there is another woman with
the unusual surname of Ramotswe.She
must be a relative, but how are they related?
Adding to her stress is that a man from her past is in town,
someone she wants to avoid.
Everyone knows the formula for these books.Problems are solved over cups of red bush
tea, fruit cake is consumed, and the state of the world is discussed. These are
characters we know and love, and we care about them.This entry has the usually unflappable Mma
Ramotswe suffering emotional pain.As
Mma Makutsi thinks, “Mma Ramotswe being sad was like a day with no sun, a day
with no birdsong at dawn, a day without tea. . . .”
I hesitate to describe the plot any further, because I don’t
want to spoil anything.
Be assured that all turns out well in the end, with a surprise
or two along the way, but the emotional depth that run through the book makes
this volume a standout for me. I’ll admit that some of the books have run
together but there are some I remember vividly, and I think this will be one of
those.
Precious Ramotswe, founder and chief investigator of the
Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency, is going to take a holiday.This comes somewhat as a surprise to her, as
she’s never before taken a holiday nor had she planned on doing so this time,
but somehow or other she agrees to take one.This leaves her assistant Mma Makutsi to handle the detective work and
while Mma Ramotswe knows she is diligent, she also knows that Mma Makutsi is
sometimes not the most diplomatic person.On the other hand, business has
been very slow, so perhaps there will be no cases at all--or so she hopes.
Left to her own devices, Mma Ratmotswe vacations by cleaning
cabinets and becoming involved with the plight of a young juvenile delinquent.
Then she hears that the Agency has an important case involving a late
government official and Mma Makutsi doesn’t seem to be handling it well. Should
she step in or trust that her friend and colleague can handle it on her own?
If you’ve read any of the other entries in the Number One
Ladies’ Detective Agency series, then you know that solving the mystery is just
one element of the story and usually it’s not the most important element.Instead, the books offer humorous
observations on the human behavior, wonderful examinations of character, and a
vivid look at the country of Botswana. Much of the story here revolves around
questions of character and of social conditions but this isn’t a preachy book;
it is, however, a compassionate one.
Most of the books in this series can be read as standalones,
but this is one that depends more on the reader’s familiarity with the regular
characters to be fully enjoyed. With that background, one can better appreciate
how very far the characters have come from their origins and how the characters
and their relationships have changed and grown. I enjoy the rhythms of the
speech, the semi-formality of the way the people talk. One point of contention
is that Mma Ramotswe tends to preface statements with “It is a well-known” as a
way of bolstering her opinions.Of
course, she’s never challenged outright but it’s obvious some of her listeners
have their doubts.
While this isn’t the strongest entry in the series, fans
will still find much to enjoy.After
all, sometimes it’s nice just to check in with old friends and have a cup of
red bush tea.
If you’re looking for car chases or bodies in locked rooms,
you’ll need to look elsewhere.On the
other hand, if you’re looking for a feel-good read set in an exotic locale this
might just fit the bill.
Unfortunately, business has been very slow at both the
detective agency and at Tlokweng Speedy Motors, which means some
belt-tightening will be on the way.There’s only one case in the offing, but it’s a strange one:a woman who claims not to remember who she is
or where she’s from. She doesn’t know
where South Africa is but she knows that she take two lumps of sugar in her
tea; she doesn’t remember father or mother or husband.She’s been taken in by two kind people who
ask Mma Ramotswe to make discrete inquiries to discover her identity, but
Precious feels that there is more to the story than they’re telling.
Long time readers of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency will
know that the joy is in the storytelling and in the characters rather than the
mystery.This entry is even more
thoughtful than most, centering more on changes and growth in some of the
cast.For that reason, I wouldn’t recommend this as
a starting point for those new to the series, but fans will find it very
satisfying especially since two characters have some personal revelations that
bode well for the future.McCall Smith
has gradually introduced more realistic aspects of modern life into the background--AIDs orphans, for example-- though the
books remain warm and ultimately uplifting. I’ve never had red bush tea, but I’d
certainly try a cup so I could have a chat with the wonderful Mma Ramotswe. The
books make me laugh, cry, and occasionally reflect, and I close the book
feeling that everything will be all right in the world.
I do confess I wonder how his books are viewed in Botswana. I'm sure the books have provided a boost to tourism.
While business --paying customers, at least--may be a bit slow at the Number One Ladies
Detective Agency, there is still a lot going on.For one thing, there is the puzzle of how to
delicately inquire about Mma Makutsi’s obvious pregnancy which she has studiously refrained from mentioning.On the one hand, a child would be a cause for
celebration for the one-time secretary (now assistant/ associate detective,
depending who is asked) and her devoted husband, but it skirts the matter of
whether or not she will continue to work with Mma Precious Ramotswe.This may be the end of their long-time association.
Meanwhile, there are a couple of cases waiting for
attention.A well-known female attorney
has approached the Agency with what may be a case of stolen identity.The attorney has a will drawn up by a late
client who is leaving his farm to a nephew, but the lawyer isn’t sure that the
claimant is the right person.Could this
be an imposter out to steal an inheritance that should belong to another? And
how can it be proven, one way or another? Secondly, it seems someone is out to
frighten away the owner of a new beauty salon by sending her threatening items,
and starting rumors that her salon might be hazardous to one’s appearance.
Some series wear out their welcome. What was once fresh becomes formulaic, as
characters and plots follow the same path book after book. Somehow Alexander
McCall Smith has avoided that particular rut while keeping the warmth, humor,
and charm that drew me to the books in the first place.Granted, there is some measure of
predictability: we know there will be red bush tea, that there will be shoes,
and there will be minor crimes to be solved through Precious’s observations and
knowledge of human nature.On the other
hand, the characters have grown and changed while remaining true to their
natures.Relationships have changed, but
this has happened in a slow and believable way which is a testament to McCall
Smith’s own insights into human nature.The setting itself has also changed with the times just a bit, letting
political, economic, and health issues intrude just enough to remind us that
this is indeed a real place, not a fantasy.This is done without sacrificing the strong love of place that runs
through these books.
If you’re in the mood for a gentle, positive book with an
exotic setting and memorable characters, by all means give the Number One
Ladies Detective Agency series a try.
I started reading the “Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency” books back some years ago, when there were only about four or five in the series. I admit they took a little getting used to, what with all those exotic names of people and places, a different rhythm to the speech, and such a different setting: the African country of Botswana. I don’t know that I had ever given Botswana a great deal of notice before, but after making the acquaintance of Precious Ramotswe, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Grace Makutsi and all the others who populate these wonderful tales I had to read further about the real country.
As with many series, some books are more successful than others. I had become comfortable with the books and sort of took them for granted. A new one was like a big bowl of mashed potatoes: delicious, comforting, and no surprises. When I noticed The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection on the new book shelf, I started to read it but realized somehow I’d failed to read the previous book. So I also checked out The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party, and settled in for a visit with friends.
Saturday didn’t disappoint. One of the most interesting aspects for me as a reader is how McCall-Smith has allowed his characters’ lives to change gradually, without too much drama or upheaval. In this one, a long awaited event occurs for Mma Makutsi, while Mma Ramotswe tries to solve a case involving injured cattle, dreams of her beloved white van and tries to help one of the apprentice mechanics do the right thing. It was a vintage story.
Satisfied, I picked up Limpopo and settled in for more of the same. My first surprise was that a person who had been mentioned since the very first book, Mr. Clovis Anderson, noted author of The Principles of Private Detection, actually shows up in Botswana. Needless to say, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are somewhat awed by this person, but fortunately he seems to be as humble and approachable as one could wish a great man to be. Even better, there are two mysteries to be solved, and Mr. Anderson lends his aid without slighting the ladies’ abilities in the least. One involves Mma Potokwane, the matron of the orphan farm, who has been dismissed from her post, while the other has some rather odd dealings with a contractor who is building Grace and Phuti’s dream house.
As I’ve indicated, the series is a solid one, and one I’d begun to take for granted. Limpopo is a top notch entry in the series, reminding me of everything I loved about the early books and reducing me to tears at the end. If you haven’t picked up one of the books for awhile, by all means give this one a try.
Note: I also highly recommend the video version of “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.” A lot of films disappoint but this series is a delight, not only visually but aurally as well. Hearing the rhythms of speech as well as the music of the region is wonderful. The colors are bright and as vivid as the characters. Bonus features offer some comments from the author and the cast. The library has the DVD as well as a documentary on Botswana, with Alexander McCall Smith taking viewers to some of the real places depicted in the books.
