Product Description

It's going to take all her intuition and emminent sensibility for Precious to crack her hardest case yet: the decade-old disappearance of an American on the edge of the Kalahari. And if that wasn't enough, there are plenty of matters closer to home to concern her: her highly talented secretary, Mme Makutsi, eager to be promoted to detective; the unscrupulous maid of her husband-to-be, the wonderful Mr J. L. B Matekoni; and the sudden - and unexpected - increase in her family by not one, but two.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5952 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
** 'I was enchanted by the character of Precious Ramotswe and the sly humour of Alexander McCall Smith's writing, his deft evocation of a culture' - Anthony Minghella ** 'So elegant and understated is the author's style that the novel seems to transcend age' - Trevor Royle

John Leland, Femaledetective.com
Where 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' was brilliant, 'Tears of the Giraffe', the second in the series is sublime.

Sherlock Holmes: The Detective Magazine
The various cases are solved, in a highly individual way that would put Holmes himself to shame.

Customer Reviews

Take Me To Botswana!
This is a lovely book, set in Botswana. Following directly on from No1 Ladies Detective Agency, it is a simple story about the day to day life of a Batswana woman in her 30s who tries to help others by solving their problems. She is a good woman, wiser than her age would suggest, and with a masterful insight into human nature. You learn about her background, her home, and the people around her. It is all related in such an enticing way, full of african names, attitudes and the charming way they use english that left me with not only my own clear picture of her life, but a desire to see Botswana for myself.

Isn't it one of the most lovely feelings when you find a series of books that you love to read? You cant wait to get stuck into the next one, and even once you've devoured that, there are still more books to go? Well, after reading No1 Ladies Detective Agency I was like a glutton - straight into Tears of the Giraffe, this, the second book, eating it up as if I'd been starved of reading material for years, not minutes. I wasn't disappointed - if you liked the No1 Ladies Detective Agency you WILL like Tears of the Giraffe. Absolutely no question about it. And if you loved the No1 Ladies Detective Agency you WILL love Tears of the Giraffe. Its that simple.

If you happen upon this review and are interested in Tears of the Giraffe but havent read No1 Ladies Detective Agency, make sure you read that before this, because they do run chronologically.

Precious detects again!!
Mma.Ramotswe returns in "Tears of the Giraffe" the second novel about the exploits of "The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency". This is an heartwarming pleasurable read.Mma Ramotswe is the only female detective in Botswana, she solves her cases using common sense and a razor sharp intelligence.As Mma. Ramotswe states "Suspicious? Call the No.1 ladies Detective Agency.We find things out...." In this book Precious Ramotswe is engaged, has promoted her secretary to assistant detective (with sucessful results) and has accidentally acquired two children.Each chapter tells us a different tale from the agency and by the end all of the mysteries are solved. I enjoyed this book as much as the first and again it tells us a little more about life in Botswana, a country of tradition and warmth where you may call everyone "brother" or "sister". This is not just a detective story but it is also a voyage through Africa that is told with humour,warmth and great respect for its peoples.I would recommend this book wholeheartedly along with all the others in the series....

A fantastic story
A fast flowing story set, Tears of the Giraffe is one of the best books I have read. With good values expressed through characters that are lively, this book showed a beautiful side of Africa, where commitment is held sacred, where love is deep and hospitality is the norm. Fast paced and hilarious, this book hooked me all the more to the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Also recommended: The Usurper and other stories, The Full Cupboard of Life,union moujik, Disgrace