Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #673 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-03
• Released on: 2008-03-01
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

SUNDAY TIMES
'Nothing spoils [McCall Smith's] vision of Botswana as a place where decent people triumph over mischief-makers'

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
'The writing is as fluent and gracious as ever, and charmingly conveys the practical wisdom of much of African life'

DAILY MAIL
'Written with the gentleness of its predecessors and with a charm that is quite exceptional in modern detective fiction'

Customer Reviews

yet again truly amazing
I loved this recent book. I always love reading about the adventrues of Mme Ramstowe. This particular book was amazing as her well loved husband got involved in an adventure with their adopted daughter, which turned out in the end although it was not what we all expected to happen. Alexander your ability to keep writing quality books on the same theme is truly amazing. I love your books. I am waiting to read the new 44 Scotland addtion and I will write a review on that one to.

Prizes little-noticed
We're all familiar with the big miracles: the little child as sole survivor of an airplane crash or the earthquake victim pulled alive from rubble a week after the event. Precious Ramotswe, however, is sensitive to the other kind, the little miracles with long-term meaning for family affairs. Founder of The Number One Ladies Detective Agency of Gabarone, Botswana, Precious has been rather miraculous in her own right. She solves others' problems, counsels her colleague, Grace Makutsi. Precious has also has an ongoing miracle with her husband, Mr JLB Matekoni, owner of Speedy Motors on the Tlokweng Road. But all that good fortune, and the notoriety gained thereby, seems to have produced an enemy, who is sending her threatening letters.

McCall Smith's many volumes in this series has allowed him to fill and strengthen his regular characters, while introducing drop-ins who never fail to leave an impact. Charlie, Mr JLB Matekoni's shop apprentice is a fine example. Appearing regularly in a minor role, Charlie seems readily predictable: brash, self-centred and arrogant, he seems destined never to mature. Is he a candidate for things miraculous? McCall Smith's portrayals are the foundations around which these fine stories are constructed. This may well be the peak effort, a finely written and gripping tale of mystery and resolution.

Precious' skills as a detective are on full display here, as is her humanity. She faces a serious challenge from the letters. Tracking down their originator will be a daunting task. Is she up to facing a serious enemy? Woven into this story is a shift in Mr JLB Matekoni's relations with Precious. A sudden act of independence might lead to tragedy for the family and his workshop. Yet, because the act is one of deep humanity, Precious is unable to resist his desire to see if their crippled adopted daughter, Motholeli can be successfully treated. Grace Makutsi becomes caught up in a web of deceit and fabrications. Is the web so tight it may choke her engagement to Phuti Radiphuti, owner of the Double Comfort Furniture Shop?

One thing you may count on with McCall Smith is a reasonably happy ending. At least, there are no serious tragedies to cope with. This one is no different, except in the sense that "miracles" must be openly defined. That is, after all, how real life works. The author brings you to his conclusions with his usual grace and wit. Applying many depths to his stories and their protagonists, a McCall Smith can be taken up again with no regrets. This one is unquestionably one of those. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Another delightful read from the number one ladies detective agency
A typically gentle tale by the author of The Number One Ladies Detective Agency. If you've never read them before I highly recommend starting with the first one. There is little in the way of what fans of crime fiction will think of as 'detecting' here. Instead we slow the pace and become embroiled in the lives of Mma Ramotswe, her assistant Mma Makutsi and a whole host of supporting extras. The story moves on in tiny increments through each volume and if you haven't followed it from the first it can be hard to immerse yourself in what at first seems like such a slow pace.

Once you gear down into the Botswana way of doing things you will find these books charming, entertaining and at times profound.

Mma Ramotswe relies on the detective's bible by Clovis Anderson and copious pots of redbush tea to see her through the ins and outs of the problems people bring her. She becomes entangled with tracing the relatives of an orphan, discovering the author of some poison pen letters and helping Mma Makutsi deal with the trauma of a ruined marital bed. In the meantime, Mr. J.L.B Matekoni thinks he may have found a miracle to help him cure their adopted daughter Motholeli.

A lovely, thoughtful and delightful read.