More fun in Botswana with the lady detectives (The Miracle at Speedy Motors - Alexander McCall Smith)

Member Name: k81979

Product:	The Miracle at Speedy Motors - Alexander McCall Smith
Date:	19/02/09 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Carrying on the story from the last book, same gentle storytelling style

Disadvantages: None I can think of!

The Miracle at Speedy Motors is the 9th book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective series, and fans of the previous books will be pleased to know that this one carries on in the same easy reading vein as the others. Alexander McCall Smith must spend every waking hour writing books, as I seem to see a new one of his every week, but this particular series is my favourite. His writing instantly conjures up a picture in my mind of Botswana, and what it might be like to live there. Whether my perception is true or not, each time a new book in the series comes out, I can instantly feel myself 'return' there.

A quick recap - the series centres around Precious Ramotswe, a laid back, gentle lady detective, her husband Mr J.L.B Matekoni, her assisstant Grace Makutsi, and the various adventures that they get themselves into. Each book has several storylines on the go at once, but they are very easy to keep track of.

The stoylines in this particular book involve finding the author of a series of anonymous letters, tracing the family of a young woman, problems involving a new bed and trying to find medical help for Mma Ramotswe's adopted daughter. Though these don't sound particularly riveting when written down, McCall Smiths easy way of writing draws you in to the everyday goings on of these familiar characters.

All the old favourite supporting characters are here - the apprentices, Mr Polopetsi and so on. This is perhaps the first book where the sun is not shining all of the time - we get quite a bit of rain this time! And there seems to be more occasions for Mma Ramotswe to wonder if her beloved Botswana is still the place she thought it was, which seems to be a recurring theme.

For newcomers to the series, I wouldn't recommend starting here, you will need to read the others first I think. But for current fans, this book is a nice extension to the series, and will not pull any nasty surprises.

Summary: A good read, especially for current fans of the series.