Review – The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Title: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Published: 1998

Genre: Mystery, Fiction

Rating: 3.5 of 5

Using her inheritance, Mma Precious Ramotswe established the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana – the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.  Business is initially slow, but soon she has a nice flow of cases to which she applies her critical thinking and memory skills.  In this first novel in the series, Mma Ramotswe tackles various mysteries including missing husbands, suspicious lawsuits, and a kidnapping.

It felt like I was seeing books from this series all over the place, so when I noticed the first one on my mom’s bookshelf, I quickly borrowed it.  I was expecting a true mystery novel and was surprised to find something more like a collection of loosely connected mini-mysteries.  In addition, I was expecting a rather fluffy read, but found that this author was not afraid to tackle some heavier issues including spousal abuse, death, and witchcraft.

My mom told me I would love Mma Ramotswe and how right she was.  Precious was spunky, funny, and strong – characteristics I love in a female protagonist!  I laughed aloud multiple times in the book, and even shoved the following hysterical passage into my husband’s hands:

Now constipation was quite a different matter.  It would be dreadful for the whole world to know about troubles of that nature.  She felt terribly sorry for people who suffered from constipation, and she knew that there were many who did.  There were probably enough of them to form a political party – with a chance of government perhaps – but what would such a party do if it was in power?  Nothing, she imagined.  It would try to pass legislation, but would fail.

Get it?  Try to pass?  Oh, it just kills me!  Please don’t misunderstand though – Mma Ramotswe’s wry perspectives do extend beyond potty humor.  In fact, everything and everyone she encounters is subjected to her unique and entertaining observations.

While I certainly enjoyed this read and would recommend it as a nice alternative to the summery chick lit that is starting to pop up around the pool, I don’t feel invested enough to seek out the second book of the series.  I may pick it up eventually, but I think one installment of Mma Ramotswe’s matter-of-factness will keep me satisfied for awhile.

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Don’t take my word for it.  Check out what others are saying about The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency:

Book Club Girl – Literary Adaptation Smackdown on TV Tonight (shows the trailer for HBO’s TV series based on the book series – makes me want to sign up for HBO!)

Bart’s Bookshelf – No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency ~ Alexander McCall Smith

Grasping for the Wind – Book Review: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

The Guardian – No 1 Ladies’ Detective writes a cookbook (a soon-to-be published cookbook will feature Mma Ramotswe’s favorite dishes and proceeds will go to ‘good causes’ in Botswana)

Maw Books Blog – The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Rat’s Reading – The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency / Alexander McCall Smith