The original (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall)

Name: Essexgirl2006

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Product:	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall
Date:	06.01.08 (159 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Light, entertaining read

Disadvantages: Style not suited to everyone.

Like many I had heard of the popular No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series but had not got round to reading any of them. At the time I started reading them there were only four of five books in the series, although at the time of writing there are now eight. Being a stickler for reading such things in the right order (if not necessarily reviewing them in the right order) I started at the beginning with the original, and in my opinion, the best of the series (saying that I have only read five of them so far). I don't think it is essential to read them in order, as you will not miss too much of the plot, although there is some character development over the later novels, which may not make sense, but does not really effect the general outcome.

The writing style is unfussy and easy to read (without being trashy) and our heroine, Mma Precious Ramotwse, is an endearing character, as are her friends and family. The book initially covers her background and how she decided to become a detective and also reminisces about her beloved father and not so beloved ex-husband. In this book, the newly established Ladies' Detective Agency is asked to search for a missing child, a missing husband and some missing fingers....

Whilst the mysteries she solves do not involve hi-tech investigation like contemporary crime novels, and the outcomes are often predictable, she solves them with great aplomb, a bit of cunning and a sense of dignity which means that they are always amusing to read. It does not take her very long to solve her crimes, and her methods maybe somewhat unorthodox, I cannot see the Metropolitan Police force recruiting her anytime soon! The books are often found in the Crime Fiction section of bookshops, and I think they miss their target audience. These are not for your die hard crime thriller fans but for people who want a light read with a difference without reading chick lit or something dumbed down.

The No1 Ladies Detective Agency
Tears of the Giraffe
Morality for Beautiful Girls
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
The Full Cupboard of Life
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
Blue Shoes and Happiness
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive.

Summary: The first book in the popular series.