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The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Book 1 Paperback – 5 Jun. 2004

by Alexander McCall Smith (Author)

4.3 6,204 ratings

Book 1 of 24: No 1. Ladies' Detective Agency

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Wayward daughters. Missing Husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you, then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective.

Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, the charming proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. And Precious is going to need them all as she sets out on the trail of a missing child, a case that tumbles our heroine into a hotbed of strange situations and more than a little danger . . .

Delightfully different, THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY offers a captivating glimpse of an unusual world.

Book 1 of 24

No 1. Ladies' Detective Agency
Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Abacus
Publication date

5 Jun. 2004
Dimensions

12.5 x 1.7 x 19.8 cm
ISBN-10

3200306238
ISBN-13

978-0349116754
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Popular highlights in this book

What are Popular highlights?

That is the problem with governments these days. They want to do things all the time; they are always very busy thinking of what things they can do next. That is not what people want. People want to be left alone to look after their cattle.
Highlighted by 225 Kindle readers
‘We are the ones who first ploughed the earth when Modise (God) made it,’ ran an old Setswana poem. ‘We were the ones who made the food. We are the ones who look after the men when they are little boys, when they are young men, and when they are old and about to die. We are always there. But we are just women, and nobody sees us.’
Highlighted by 223 Kindle readers

Product description

Review

Among the greatest comfort-reads of all time ― Sunday Times

The Miss Marple of Botswana ― New York Times Book Review

A rare pleasure ― Daily Telegraph

A publishing phenomenon ― Guardian

I haven't read anything with such alloyed pleasure for a long time ― Sunday Telegraph

Immersing yourself in Precious Ramotswe's life seems to slow your heart rate while sharpening your senses ― Scotsman

Hugely enjoyable ― Sunday Times

A small slice of heaven ― Scotsman

A unique setting and range of characters... the vivid descriptions of Botswana means it becomes, in essence, another character... A lovely read with a gentle pace that will transport you to a whole other world ― Independent

Precious Ramotswe is so kind, wise and good, and Alexander McCall Smith such a charming and elegant writer... you could read 300 pages of her simply stirring a pumpkin stew and gazing out benevolently at the sandy road in front of her Botswana porch and feel happy -- 20 Best Books to Boost Your Brain and Mood ― The Times

Full of warmth, fun, heat and dust ― Daily Mail

One of the most memorable heroines in any modern fiction ― Newsweek

Book Description

The first book in the bestselling and beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 034911675X
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Abacus; New Ed edition (5 Jun. 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 3200306238
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0349116754
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.5 x 1.7 x 19.8 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 15,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 788 in Women's Literary Fiction (Books)
- 1,549 in Women Sleuths (Books)
- 2,159 in Adventure Stories & Action

Customer reviews:
4.3 6,204 ratings

About the author

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Alexander McCall Smith

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Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world’s most prolific and most popular authors. His career has been a varied one: for many years he was a professor of Medical Law and worked in universities in the United Kingdom and abroad. Then, after the publication of his highly successful 'No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency' series, which has sold over twenty million copies, he devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers through the world. These include the Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in The Scotsman, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, the Von Igelfeld series, and the Corduroy Mansions series, novels which started life as a delightful (but challenging to write) cross-media serial, written on the website of the Telegraph Media Group. This series won two major cross-media awards - Association of Online Publishers Digital Publishing Award 2009 for a Cross Media Project and the New Media Age award.

In addition to these series, Alexander writes stand-alone books. 2014 sees publication of three new novels which fall into this area: 'The Forever Girl'; 'Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party'; and 'Emma' – a reworking of the classic Jane Austen novel. This year there will also be a stunning book on Edinburgh, 'A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith’s Edinburgh'. Earlier stand alone novels include 'La’s Orchestra Saves the World' and 'Trains and Lovers: A Hearts Journey'.

Alexander is also the author of collections of short stories, academic works, and over thirty books for children. He has received numerous awards for his writing, including the British Book Awards Author of the Year Award in 2004 and a CBE for service to literature in 2007. He holds honorary doctorates from nine universities in Europe and North America. In March of 2011 he received an award from the President of Botswana for his services through literature to that country.

Alexander McCall Smith lives in Edinburgh. He is married to a doctor and has two daughters.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

6,204 global ratings

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Shauna

As new

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 January 2024

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Bought as gift - as new

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browse shop review

Certainly no defective detective!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2015

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'Mma Ramotswe had a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of the Kgale Hill. These were its assets: a tiny white van, two desks, two chairs, a telephone, and an old typewriter. There was a teapot, in which Mma Ramotswe - the only lady private detective in Botswana - brewed redbush tea. And three mugs - one for herself, one for her secretary, and one for the client. What else does a detective agency really need?'

A few economically descriptive lines of introduction, and the scene is perfectly set...

As well as the perpetually endearing, big-hearted, and big-bodied Mma Precious Ramotswe herself. there is of course a whole host of deliciously appealing characters still waiting in the wings. There's the agency's formidable secretary, Mma Makutsi ('Miss ninety-seven per cent', though perhaps the character is a little under-used in this initial instalment); there's Dr Maketsi (a close friend from Mma Ramotswe's home village of Mochudi); there's Mr J L B Matekoni (the ever-helpful proprietor of 'Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors', hailing also from Mochudi, and so hopelessly in love with our very own lady detective); there's Note Mokoti (our lady detective's worthless first love); there's Charlie Gotso (Gaborone's premier local gangster); and last but not least, Obed Ramotswe - the beloved father whose passing made it possible for Botswana's only ladies' detective agency to exist, and who is never very far from Precious's thoughts.

The twenty-two chapters of this book don't really contain tales of detection in the purest sense of the word and shouldn't be approached with that expectation in mind. They are, instead, rather gentle - even whimsical - examinations of a place and a people so utterly captivating that you desperately hope that it does all exist just so, exactly as portrayed...even though a niggling doubt persists that it can't quite be true - can it...? For if this IS Botswana, then and now, and if these are its people - well, who wouldn't want to visit or even live there...? This is the fundamental joy of this novel: its depiction of time, place, and people - clad in such unalloyed appeal!

Some reviewers have criticised the style of prose adopted here by Alexander McCall Smith - that it lacks sophistication. Well, I suppose it does. But so what? I certainly wasn't expecting Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky - and I wouldn't want the contributions from either, in this context, because that simply wouldn't work; it wouldn't fit. Mr McCall Smith has resorted to a style, on the contrary, that works a treat because it perfectly sets the tone of place and personalities: the people and their country are (mostly) honest, candid, and uncomplicated - and surely, so must be the language and idiom that defines them, too!

To conclude:

I thoroughly enjoyed 'The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' and don't fully understand how anyone who reads it could fail to be beguiled by the citizens of Botswana and its capital, Gaborone - and in particular, by the exploits of the one very special resident who lives in the corner house on Zebra Drive. As far as introductory volumes go, it's a winner as far as I'm concerned...though stretching the entire series to a considerable 15 volumes does present something of a daunting challenge, at this moment in time, and perhaps does carry the faintest whiff of 'overkill' about it...

15 people found this helpful

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Kay Bee

Light good reads

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2023

Verified Purchase

A window into another world where the pace of life is a bit gentler- love all of the books in the series.

Helpful

R. Fearnley

D.A. Assets: 'a tiny white van, two desks, a chair, a telephone, an old typewriter & a teapot'

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2012

Verified Purchase

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Alexander McCall Smith
Advantages: unlimited by age or reading ability

Disadvantages: might be a bit 'too quirky' for some but is still highly amusing

Really?...Mma Ramotswe asks in the first pages of the book.. 'What else does a Detective Agency really need?' Redbush Tea? 3 mugs? Herself? A Secretary..?

and of course, a Client always helps..

We find out that her detective skills are somewhat 'questionable' when she ensnares a husband's entreaties by posing as the bait herself. We discover that without cattle you are deemed to be 'naked' and that her father's interest in them bequeaths her the funds to accommodate her dreams. We discover a lost boy, then a boy who wants to be lost by the name of Jack and a snake that finds its way into the tiny white van and scares Mma Ramotswe to near death. There are stories of black magic and boyfriend mechanics and a lost finger that has been claimed for a least twice!

These and more are just some of the delightful twists and turns in the first instalment of this wonderful saga. The books and the writing is completely different to that of what is currently considered to be the 'norm' in fictIonal drama. The writing is quirky to say the least, which has a charm and character that is hard to ignore, where I feel Alexander McCall Smith's personality shines through. It is almost as if one could place him into the persona of Mma Ramotswe and change his form to female, then he (as 'writer') would become the African Lady Detective himself!

I would encourage young and old alike to read this book as the appeal is far reaching and unlimited by age or reading ability.

Summary: 'What does a Detective Agency really need? - Mma Ramotswe tries to imagine..'3 mugs..a chair........

One person found this helpful

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Guy Clapperton

Relaxing enough to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2020

Verified Purchase

I read this as a book group choice and it was much as I expected - not too taxing, nicely written and with a well-filled-in backdrop. Perfectly likeable but I don't imagine I'll be racing back for more - it just didn't grab me and if I'm honest I found this white author putting so many words into the mouths of the black community a little patronising, but there's no arguing with the popularity.

One person found this helpful

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Lucy

Enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 February 2023

Verified Purchase

This was an easygoing, enjoyable read. There was an element of historical fiction which was woven into the story and I enjoyed learning little more about Botswana. There were some heavy moments but nothing too hard going (although may cause distress to some) but also moments of humour. I'll definitely look at reading others in the series in future.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Gentle sweet writing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2023

Verified Purchase

I like to read these books as they bring joy

Helpful

Jacqueline

Awesome series of Books

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 July 2023

Verified Purchase

Slowly replacing a set that was stolen, worth it because the stories are diverse, interesting and empowering for women. Very descriptive so your imagination can just take over.

One person found this helpful

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