Took me a while to get into but I ended up quite enjoying this story. I liked the idea of having a number of smaller mysteries woven throughout the book rather than the traditional singular 'whodunnit'. The book definitely gives you a feel for the African culture and Precious is a very likeable character. I'm invested enough to add the next book in the series to my TBR.

3 stars.

A pleasant read. Having previously seen the tv series it was nice to get more of the back story. Well written and enjoyable. Happy to recommend.

Very simple and warm read. Enjoyed reading it. Planning to read the next book in the series very soon.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is set in Botswana and features thirty-four-year-old Mma Precious Ramotswe. When her father dies, leaving his herd of cattle to Precious, she sells them and uses the money to buy herself a house and an office which becomes the headquarters of her very own detective agency. She hangs a sign above the door, employs a secretary, then sits back and waits for clients. They do come, eventually, and Mma Ramotswe finds herself with an intriguing selection of cases to investigate.

This is not a straightforward detective novel with one central mystery to be solved; instead, there are lots of separate little mysteries, with only a few pages devoted to some of them, although a few are longer. They are not particularly complex – I often managed to solve them myself, which is unusual for me – and deal mainly with cheating husbands, rebellious teenagers and cases of insurance fraud, for example, rather than more serious crimes. Mma Ramotswe takes a practical approach to her detective work, based around common sense and logic, and following the guidance of The Principles of Private Detection by Clovis Andersen. Sometimes she makes mistakes, but more often than not she is successful and proves that those who tell her women can’t be detectives are most definitely wrong!

As well as the mysteries, there are also chapters relating earlier episodes in Mma Ramotswe’s life, descriptions of Botswana – its scenery, its wildlife and its people – and some insights into African culture. The novel is disjointed and messy and, apart from one slightly more involved case to which we return several times throughout the book, there is no overarching plot. And yet, somehow, it does work! I really enjoyed getting to know Mma Ramotswe and picking up a little bit of knowledge of a country I previously knew nothing about. I haven’t been left wanting to immediately buy all the other books in the series, but I would be happy to try another one at some point

I wouldn’t describe this as a novel, it is more like a series of tales that interconnect. At the same time the tales can be viewed as short chapters, because some of the threads are woven from the first to the last one.

It is quirky with a strong geographical and cultural vibe to it. Mma Ramotswe is the main character, and boy does she drive the story.

In the midst of all the witty repertoire, folklore infused messages of morality and general sense of humour, there are some serious topics too. I think McCall likes to slide them under innocent looking rocks, the type of rocks scorpions use to hide in the shade. When you move them or are in the close vicinity you just never know what might scuttle out and pinch you.

In a sense the author lulls the reader into a false sense of security. You get all comfortable, fuzzy and smile at jolly ol’ Mma Ramotswe, then bam you’re blind-sided by domestic violence. A slap to the head and you’re frozen by the kidnapping and murder of children for the use in witchcraft rituals. A joke here and a giggle there, and racism raises its nasty little head.

It is a very subtle way of introducing the reader to the complexities of the country and the intricacies of the power structures within the country. At the same time the reader gets a taste of the people and their traditional settings.

I liked it. It has a quirky charm to it.
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of The No1 Detective Agency.*

I loved everything about this book - funny, charming and gives a real insight into another culture!

A book to revisit time and time again.

Mma Precious Ramotswe inherited a large herd of cattle (more valuable than gold in Africa) when her father died. She has kept back a small herd but has followed her daddy's advice and has bought a house in Zebra Street, a little white van and furniture and office equipment to open her dream job; the first lady detective agency in Botswana.

Mma Grace Makutsi has come highly recommended by the Botswana College Of Secretarial and Office Skills and very quickly settles in becoming a valued member of staff. Mr J L B Matekoni is always available to fix the little white van or offer a cup of Redbush tea while listening to Mma Ramotswe as she finds solutions to the problems she encounters while helping clients.

I didn't realise that Alexander McCall Smith wrote this the first Mma Ramotswe story in1999. I can remember how excited I got when I walked into the bookshop and saw it on the shelf. It jumped off the shelf and insisted on coming home with me. Now, I start getting a bit antsy in about September waiting for my latest dose of love, friendship, philosophy and the dry heat of Botswana to appear. It's a bit like knowing that you're going to be seeing special friends and spending quality time catching up with them, that's how I've come to look on this beautiful series.

The other joy about these books is the satisfaction I get on re-reading them. I must have read this, the first in the series, at least three times and yes, I remember the cases Precious is asked to solve, but at the same time, I've found yet again, that I've re-discovered facts that I had forgotten.

If you find that life has got a bit stressful and you need to restore some beauty and balance to it, then do yourself a favour and read The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, I guarantee that you will reach the last page with a much calmer and happier mind and the philosophy handed out by the truly wonderful people you will find within the pages, will help you sort out whatever it is that is bothering you

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

This book was a good read. Not my usual books but i did enjoy it.
It had something for everyone, mystery and a little intrigue, culture and strength.

The No1 Ladies Detective agency is based in Boswana.
Mma Ramotswe is the only female detective and it's her job to help solve mysteries.
The cases are different but centered around missing people and cheating husband's.

It's not your normal detective book where there are murders to be solved etc..
It's more about helping people, especially women uncover truths.

It made a change to read a detective book with a difference.

Overall an enjoyable read with some very interesting cases and great characters.
Loved Mma she was very strong and a great Detective.

I wallowed in pure joy as I read this. Such a brilliant book.

I was a bit nervous before reading this. Would it just be a white man's view of Africa? Full of happy simple people with happy simple problems? Would I somehow end up feeling I was individually guilty for colonialism by enjoying it?

I needn't have worried. I mean, I'm white and middle class and liberal, so I feel guilty most of the time anyway, but at no point in reading "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" did my self hate stray outside the normal tolerances.

The book straddles crime and literary fiction, which is a neat trick; too many authors who try end up with mysteries that aren't compelling and stories that aren't insightful.

McCall Smith, though, uses the shape of a mystery serial to say something about his lead character and about the world she inhabits. Horrendously mistreated by her husband, having lost her beloved father to the mines, Mma Ramotswe's simple dream of opening a detective agency is her way of making the world a slightly better place.

No nemeses are foiled, no naval plans recovered, the mysteries are slight and domestic. They're each a commentary on greed, arrogance, conservatism, or some other everyday occurrence.

Obviously I can't deny the Botswana setting gave it all an exotic flare for this Western reader, but it also taught me a lot about a country I previously knew next to nothing about. The question of whether it's an accurate or fair reflection of that country, I'll leave to those who know more about it than me.

"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" cheered me up. And I think that's what Mma Ramotswe would want to know.

I am a fan of this author, and this was perhaps the book that introduced me to him. I've just read it again, and it was delightful as are the others in the series. I must confess that the 'Scotland Street' series is my favourite, but to have a new Mma Ramotswe book is always a pleasure. Gentle humour, domestic mysteries to unravel, and all against the fascinating backdrop of Botswana, these stories are charming.

This, like Northern Lights, was a reread. I wanted to read something completely anti-fantasy before I dive back into the world of Sin Eater's Daughter. I know that, once I start reading Sleeping Prince, I would binge this and Scarecrow Queen so I can finish them before the end of March. And I love fantasy but worried that if I binge-read these after finishing Sin Eater's Daughter and Northern Lights, I would be a little sick of fantasy so, when I saw this on NetGalley, I went "Let's read this. It's a reread, it should be a fast fun read".

Oh, Andrew. Never think "This is will a fun, fast read". I started reading this and, like Northern Lights, I soon realised that there was a lot of things in here that I forgot. I mean, how old was I went I read this? Late teens? So, over ten years ago... Yeah... there is a lot I forgot.

The first in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, we follow Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's first - and finest - female private investigator. Following her starting up her business and investigating cases such as cheating husbands and wayward daughters. All the while, with warmth, humour and a gentle understanding of human nature.

Now, it's been so long since I read this that I am going to have to treat this like a review rather than a reread. This is a very different crime/thriller I am use to reading. I like pace, I like action, I like twists. This is a complete gear shift for me as this is a gentle crime. And Precious Ramotswe is probably the Queen of gentle crime within the past two decades.

There is a cosy, warm feel to this. Perfect reading for the cold months of January/February. It's a bit like Sunday evening TV. You can curl up on the sofa with a hot chocolate, wearing your comfortable, happy clothes and feel happy. It's a feel-good factor to them, something I remember from when I read them YEARS AND YEARS ago. This carried over when the BBC/HBO turned a few of these into a TV series back in 2007/2008 (if I can, I will include a pic from the TV series somewhere in this post!)

Some crime readers might not like this series as the mysteries in this book and within the series aren't exactly thrilling or compelling. They're quite laid-back mysteries and some are quite easy to figure out. But this is more a look at life and human nature - something that applies to me. It's refresh for me to read something that isn't running at a hundred miles an hour. I can just relax and enjoy.

I might have to get my hands on the second book in the series, Tears of the Giraffe. But, at the same time that I requested No 1 Detective Agency, I requested another of Alexander McCall Smith's stories, The Sunday Philosophy Club (which I think I might have read but I can't remember if I have or not!), so this will be my next Alexander McCall Smith read.

What a joy it is to read of the burgeoning new business venture of Mma Precious Ramotswe, owner of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Mma Ramotswe is one of those characters you instantly warm to. Good-hearted and deeply principled, yet possessing sharp instincts that help immensely in her detective work, Mma Ramotswe is a wonderfully independent woman standing apart from the rest as Botswana's best - and only – lady detective. When Alexander McCall Smith wrote this first book in what would become a lengthy series he apparently had no inkling of it being anything other than a stand-alone book. However, once you've met Mma Ramotswe and her associates - her secretary Mma Grace Makutsi and long-time friend and mechanic Mr JLB Matekoni - you can easily understand how he came back to this character again and again. There is a fair amount of humour in the book and Mma Ramotswe's cases are largely matters of straying husbands and misbehaving employees but then there is a missing child as well as a sinister practice that society does its best to ignore.
The setting of Botswana is wonderful and McCall Smith brings the country to life through his vivid descriptions, which clearly illustrate his love for the place. Botswana is in essence another character in the book and just like Mma Ramotswe and co you come to feel huge affection for it.
This is a fairly quick read with a gentle pace. I devoured it very quickly. But just a warning, once you've started you're probably in for the long haul with a series that when I last checked stood at 17 novels.

In this first book in the series each chapter reads more like its own short story than a true book. I think they were written to be published weekly newspaper so this makes sense. There are sub plots that run across chapters but each one seems self-contained.

Some of the stories are about Mma Ramotswe as she investigates problems clients have brought to her, others are about her life and background. I think my favourite chapters were the one about her father's life as a miner and the one about Mma Ramotswe as she grew up.

We don't see much of the other characters in this book. Mma Makutsi and J L B Matekoni and his apprentices are mentioned but don't have much page time. It mainly follows Mma Ramotswe on her investigations.

As the author says himself Mma Ramotswe's detective agency deals with the problems of people and normal life, there are no big murder mysteries or flashy investigations. These are stories about people, and I think that's one of the things I enjoy most about these books.

Mma Ramotswe is warm and kind and a feeling of happiness and satisfaction runs through the book. And the moments when Mma Ramotswe takes a moment to stop and muse on life and Africa are insightful and interesting, they're the bits I really read these stories for.

This book was such an unexpected and happy read. When I received it I really wasn't sure if it would be something that I would be able to get into, as it is a little removed from the genre of books that I normally go for. However, I was so, so pleasantly surprised. Without sounding overly twee, I felt like it was a really wholesome read. It made me feel good whenever I picked it up, a little escape from the real world that still dealt with serious issues, albeit with charm and a subtle wit. I felt real warmth and respect for the characters. I am genuinely looking forward to reading the rest in the series. I don't often give out five stars, but they were easy to give this time round!

I was kindly sent a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a really lovely enjoyable book to read. I love Mma Ramotswe what a wonderful character and great heroine. Daddy Ramotswe oh to have a Daddy like him and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni I really like this character and I cannot wait to read more about him. I loved the descriptions of Botswana and you really felt like you where there.

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to get stuck into the rest of this series.