Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Three stumbling steps, 11 Jun 2007
Mma Grace Makutsi enjoys shopping. New dresses are a fine thing to buy, but for Grace, shoes are nearly an obsession. While most people are limited in their available shopping times, Grace has a bit more flexibility. One day, she follows her impulse to visit the shops. What follows is a cascade of events with unexpected results. Among other things, it brings on a clash with her employer, Mma Precious Ramotswe of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. The confrontation is rather intense for two such mild-mannered ladies, but the success of the business may be at stake - as well as the type of lifepath each lady will follow. Grace makes a decision regarding her future. It's the first of several mis-steps that occur in this tale.
McCall Smith may have reached a new peak with this book. Each character seems enlarged through this volume - particularly when compared to the earlier works. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, proprietor of the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors facility - which also houses the Agency - takes on a richer role here. As Precious' husband, he is challenged as never before, as a man and as a mentor. The author grants him more introspective opportunities, and we learn even more about him than the earlier books conveyed. Even Charlie the apprentice mechanic becomes something more than just an aggravation to both Mr Matekoni and Grace. For one thing, Charlie has also determined to enlarge his role - in unexpected ways. It, too, proves a difficult, almost tragic, step in the wrong direction.
The "mysteries" the Agency must resolve are of the usual type. There is the suspected unfaithful husband. A printing shop is being victimised by one of its own employees. And in distant Mochudi, patients in the local hospital have died under mysterious circumstances. Mochudi, of course, is a special place to Mma Ramotswe, and she must travel there to investigate this bizarre circumstance. Meanwhile, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni has taken it upon himself to address the adultery issue with surprising results. Is he going to become a detective instead of keeping to his beloved mechanic's role?
McCall Smith seems to add triumph upon triumph in this series. His ability to depict characters is unexcelled, brought here to new heights. He has already given vivid life portrayals to both Precious and Grace. They are more fully revealed in this book. The added thoughts and feelings of Mr J.L.B. Matekoni are especially moving. Although most of these novels may be read without reference to the other works, this one's value cannot be fully embraced without having at least the first one under the reader's belt. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
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45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The ladies are still No, 1 among detectives, 7 Mar 2007
Once more we are back in Botswana in the company of Mma Ramotswe, the 'traditonally built' proprietor of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency. Mma Ramotswe is, as always, kind and tolerant and understanding as she unravells yet another mystery. Her husband, Mr J.L. B. Matekoni, owner of Tlokwong Road Speedy Motors, decides he wants to do a little detecting for a change, so Mma Ramotswe, with some misgivings, allows him to take on a case. Naturally, things don't go quite as expected.
Mma Ramotswe's assistant, Mma Makutsi, is as always somewhat less charitable and more abrasive than her employer, and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni's two apprentices are as feckless as ever.
As usual, there are no murders or violent happenings, and nobody is really very wicked. Botswana is vividly evoked, so that you can almost see what Mma Ramotswe sees, and understand her passionate love of her country. A trip to Botswana with Mma Ramotswe is always a pleasure.
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27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Filled with Humorous Situations!, 27 April 2007
If you haven't read any other books in the series, don't start with this one! Why? Most of the plot's impact relies on long-standing character and relationship developments developed in the prior seven books. Alexander McCall Smith does a fine job of referencing those histories, but the impact won't be the same without having read about those events in the earlier books. This is particularly important to the extreme sense of fun that the book can bring to you.
The theme of this book could be summarized in the humorous Joel Osteen aphorism, "The grass may look greener on the other side of the fence, but it still has to be mowed." Precious Ramotswe's world is turned upside down when many of those closest to her decide that they want changes in their lives. Her husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, wants to take a turn at being a detective. Mma. Makutsi, her able assistant, is increasingly restive as she looks forward to marriage to the wealthy Phutti Radiphutti and doesn't see herself in the assistant role any more. In fact, she decides she wants a new job! The woman-chasing Charlie decides to drop out of his apprenticeship with Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni and start his own taxi business. Never has Precious faced so many changes in those who are closest to her since her father, Obed Ramotswe, died.
Talk about a great set-up for a book. Wow!
Obviously, life isn't as easy to change as that. You have to know how to work with clients and detect in order to be a detective. The easy-going Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is easily cowed by his client, the very rude Mma. Botumile. In fact, he just follows her direction.
Mma. Makutsi has forgotten that most offices in Botswana want to hire help for their appearance rather than for their skill. She also forgets that much of what she does with Precious is prepare tea and chat.
Charlie would probably be fine as a taxi driver, as long as there aren't any women to look at. Put a woman near him, and all bets are off!
Like the better books in the series, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive has several mysteries in it:
1. Patients on ventilators in the same hospital bed have unexpectedly died on three different Fridays. The ventilators check out and no one can think of any explanation for what has happened.
2. Mma. Botumile feels that her husband has taken up with another woman and wants to know who her rival is.
3. Valuable supplies are being stolen from a printing company. The owner thinks she knows who the thief is, but lacks proof.
Only the first of these mysteries provides satisfaction for the mystery fan. The other two mysteries are mere backdrops for character development.
As the book ended, I found myself a little disappointed by the facile resolutions (albeit humorous) put forward for the three seekers' desires to take a step up. I had hoped for more in those plot developments.
So the ending left me feeling that the promise of the book's premise hadn't really been met as well as I would have liked.
But none of the stories has more funny situations in it. You'll be laughing aloud throughout the book . . . especially if you enjoy Mma. Makutsi's fascination with shoes.
You won't put the book down. I started late and stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish. I was smiling as I did.
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by Alexander McCall Smith
