This review will probably be short and sweet, a bit like the book itself! Most people have heard of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series of books by Alexander McCall-Smith, and this is number 5 in the series. In case anyone doesn't know, the books are set in Botswana, and revolve around the main characters Mma Ramotswe, who runs her own detective agency, her assistant Mma Makutsi, and J.L.B. Matekoni, who is romantically linked with Mma Ramotswe. The books in this series are generally fairly short, and this one is no exception. I've been trying to get back into reading lately, and this book was given to me by a friend because she said it would be ideal ...  Read the complete review

Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s finest (and only) female detective is just a little bit impatient about her engagement to Mr J L B Matekoni, the proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. She doesn’t wish to put pressure on her fiancé, but she does wonder if they will ever get married. He’s got other things on his mind though. The matron of the orphan farm wants him to raise some money by doing a sponsored parachute jump. Mr Matekoni has never even been in a plane. Meanwhile Mma Ramotswe is approached by the wealthy owner of a chain of hair-braiding salons, who wants the No1 Detective Agency to investigate not one, but four suitors. This is the fifth book ...  Read the complete review

Alexander McCall Smith's enchanting stories about that most unlikely detective, Precious Ramotswe, have occupied the best seller lists practically unceasingly since they were first published in paperback in the UK in 2003. Many have been very surprised by this. After all, none of the books follow the fairly common trend of being weighty tomes. None run to much more that a couple of hundred pages and yet are full price. My own view is that they are unique in style. I don't think I have ever read another book quite like them. Now, we hear, such is their success that either the BBC is ...  Read the complete review