- Paperback
- Publisher: Anchor Books (Oct 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0679789758
- ISBN-13: 978-0679789758
- Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 5.1 x 20.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 685,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
The first three books in Alexander MCCall Smith's beloved bestselling series, featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, the traditionally built, eminently sensible, cunning proprietor of the only ladies' detective agency in Botswana, are now available in a beautifully designed boxed set.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a visitor to Botswana I was intrigued by the idea of a series of books set in the country and finally bought myself this boxed set for my birthday.
I read all four books in less than 2 days.
The basic (fictional) story revolves around the inimitable Precious Ramotswe, who sets up Botswana's first detective agency. Over four books we follow Mma Ramotswe as she works on a number of cases. These are certainly different to the kind written about in most conventional detective stories that I have read and focus more on the quirks of interpersonal relationships than on traditional whodunit mysteries.
Her solutions are unconventional (and sometimes not even accurate) but the results are pleasingly positive.
Alexander McCall Smith really pulls us in to the unfamiliar setting and his writing style depicts the characters with charm and sympathy. As we gain an insight into her life, her world (and how it's changing) and her relationships with others we quickly come to feel real affection for this larger than life character, the people she lives amongst and the country itself.
10 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Anyone who has ever lived in the heat of South Africa and enjoyed the lazy lifestyle of the colonial way of life will love this book. Precious is a lady detective who solves cases in her own inimitable way - she is quick thinking and a woman of note. The books describe her success in not only her business, but also in her life and she finally meets her match in her secretary and her husband to be. These books are wonderful just as short stories but also as the life story and success of Precious. The descriptions of Botswana will strike a chord in everyone. I thoroughly recommend these books - they will take you to a country that you will want to visit again and again.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
29 reviews
53 of 53 people found the following review helpful
What a great introduction to Mma Ramotswe and Botswana
8 Nov 2003
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first book of the series started slowly because I expected a conventional mystery (Mma Ramotswe is a detective, after all). Instead, these are gentle plots that reveal characters and the modern story of Africa. The writing and, for me, unfamiliar rubrics of daily conversation in Botswana soon completely captivated me. These three novels hang together nicely and they do not seem in any sense repetitive. Characters develop and change as the series moves along. The only thing many readers say as they close the cover of the last of the three books (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe, and Morality for Beautiful Girls) in this set is, "More! More!" The set will be a great Christmas present for a number of the readers on my list.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Great Books! Definition of Mma and Rra...
18 April 2004
Format:Paperback
I loved these books! Simple and well written, I hope the series goes on and on.
I looked up the definition of Mma and Rra. If you go to http://www.gov.bw/tourism/culture_and_his/language.html
you can hear the correct pronunciation by clicking the little sound symbol to the right of the words.
Basically, Mma means "Madame" and Rra means "Sir". They are pronounced exactly as they appear. The Rra has more of a rolled "r" sound, though. Mma is pronounced "Maah" and Rra is pronounced "Rrraah", both with a sharp "ah" sound at the end. I was not able to find out where these words came from originally, or if they are a shorter version of more formal words.
Happy Reading! Z
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
The Blessings of Revisiting Botswana
17 Jan 2004
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having visited Botswana a few years ago and having been a female private investigator in a past life, a friend couldn't help but introduce me to 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'. How could I resist this one? It was a literary blessing and near spiritual experience to once again cross the Atlantic to escape the complications and experience the purity, the simplicity and the primitive beauty of Botswana. This a land where, when trees fall across the dusty, sandy roads, the tree is not removed. It's just time for the road to change its course, leaving the tree to continue its cycle through the ecosystem. Mma Precious Ramotswe and her circle of family and friends easily mimic the respectful and infectious spirit of this land. I could easily identify with her love of her homeland and her desire to preserve the freedom and justice Botswana brings to its people. Her common sense and logic, cunning ability to outfox the fox, combined with her strength of character, confidence and dogged courage make her a new literary heroine for me. Alexander McCall Smith has captured the essense of Botswana and its people perfectly through his endearing characters. I can't wait to be infused with more of Precious' wisdom and hilarious antics.
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