Sunday, July 15, 2007

The Nº 1 Ladies Detective Agency – Alexander McCall Smith


I had heard so much about this book that I just couldn’t resist joining a bookring when the opportunity presented itself. One of things that had me curious was the fact that due to it’s title I thought it was a mystery and being set in Africa, Botswana, it seemed original.

Well it was a mystery but not the kind I was expecting. The book is about Precious… a woman who decides to set up a detective agency after a failed marriage and the death of her father. It’s true people go to her with mysteries to solve but they are solved more by common sense and naiveté than true investigation. I was expecting something different…

One interesting side of the book is how African customs and traditions are well on display, the descriptions are very vivid and you can almost see what the author is describing. Not sure about the accuracy of it all but it makes an entertaining read. The book is divided in many small chapters – most of them are almost one chapter/one mystery – making for a very fast read.

Grade: B-

6 comments:

  1. These books aren't your normal kind of mysteries, but they are very charming! I look forward to each new one coming out.

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  2. Interesting. So there's not one central mystery, as one would usually expect in a mystery novel? I have it on my TBR, added it for the same reason you did: the setting.

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  3. The first one is different, the rest of the series has one or two mysteries that run throughout the book. I find them cute although at times the story runs too slow for my liking, but they're good for when you're in the mood for something light.

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  4. Marg and Ana I'll have to check you blogs for your reviews of this series and see if I want to continue reading it.

    Rosario the setting was the one of the best things for me in this book so just for that it is worth picking up.

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  5. I didn't have my blog when I read them but you can search my bookshelf at BC. Number six was a bit disappointing so I'm still deciding if I should read the next one.

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