It’s rare to read a book that completely enthrals you. But it can be a bitter-sweet experience: on the one hand you are so completely satisfied; on the other hand you know that nothing else will match up with it for a long time to come.
The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency happens to be one such book. Detailing the adventures of the unconventional, intuitive, unflappable Mma Ramotswe, proprietor of the agency, this is the first in a series of eleven books. This is also the book that has, at long last, kicked me into adding to Writeside.net’s reviews section.
Here’s a teaser from the review:
Precious Ramotswe is about as unlikely a private detective as you would expect — indeed “the only lady private detective in Botswana”. None of the slick smarts of the Kinsey Milhones and Kate Brannigans of the world. That’s not to say that Mma Ramotswe is lacking in the intelligence department. Oh no… she is an extremely sharp and resourceful woman, and her Daddy would have been proud of her today if he had been alive to see her.
Read the rest here, but don’t forget to come back to comment.
~PD
Hmm. Sounds interesting. Smith didn’t talk much in the session I attended at Jaipur, but it seems like an interesting read. 🙂
The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency was great, and I hear the other books are too, but I didn’t much care for his other work.
That was a great review. I love his sense of humor.
Hmm, this reminds me to get that book back from my mother and finish it.
Oh, I love this series! I love the slow pace, the gentleness, the gentility, the humour – and I simply adore Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi. And I agree – such a refreshing change from jaded, wise-cracking detectives of fast-paced thrillers!
I picked up another of McCall Smith’s book this book fair – not a Precious Ramotswe one – let’s see how that turns out.
@Katie: What, you haven’t finished it?! 😛
@Pro: I can’t wait, so I’m going to get the next few books from Flipkart! I’m glad to hear the rest of the series is as good. Let me know how the other book turns out.