Book Review: The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Precious Ramotswe #1)

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Precious Ramotswe- Botswana's only and finest female private detective makes her debut with this book which is divided into short stories like chapters, full of warmth, wit and intuitive charm, taking our detective to solve a case in strange locations amongst still stranger people.

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The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is everything that you might expect from a thriller novel and then some more. The book perhaps might seem like the life story of Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only and finest female private detective, from her birth till the time she sets up her agency and you might be tempted to give up, (if you are in search of blood and gore) but I would suggest against it.

The book not only gives you the entire history of the now thirty-five years old and large (but the traditional way) Precious Ramotswe and some of Botswana as to what this place and its people are like, but I believe that the very skilled Mr Smith is just setting the ground for some fantastic stories marked with 'wit, warmth and intuition' in an"exotic setting'. While doing this we follow Precious from one case to yhe other as she solves some cases involving erring husbands, wayward children and oversmart conmen.

Smith's Precious Ramotswe is different from so many other detectives you meet in the pages of thrillers because she keeps a sunny disposition,  loves her country, its people and is mighty proud of her African heritage. She has had her fair share of trouble in the past but is at peace now.

Popular with almost everyone in the town that she lives in now, Precious often seeks Mr JLB Matekoni'd help. She has also appointed a secretary Mma Makutsi and I hear that in future books she is of great help to Mma Ramotswe in solving many cases. My only regret is that I am very late to Alexander McCall Smith club who seems to be fantastic with the vignettes of life presented in his books.

Read this book and be enthralled by the sharp wit and servings of sarcasm that McCall Smith doles out generously on the pages of this first book featuring Precious Ramotswe. 

Comments

Kala Ravi said…
This sounds like a good off-beat detective story. I like it when the settings are new and vividly described by the writer. It makes you visualize the whole story better while reading. Thanks for introducing us to this book, hope to pick it up soon.
10:03 AM
Aanandika said…
Great to hear that Kala. I hope you get to the book or vice versa soon. I am sure you will enjoy traveling to Botswana.
5:03 PM
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