Not a lot of Detecting (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall)

Member Name: MI9to5

Product:	The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall
Date:	24/08/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple and easy to read

Disadvantages: Not enough detecting for me

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was one of the books that I read on the coach whilst travelling home from Austria. The book isn't one that I'd hurry to read again but it was one that I rather enjoyed. When you're travelling all you want is a book that is easy to digest and easy to read whilst being entertaining at the same time. For all intents and purpose you want to be reading one of those so-called 'beach read' books and in my opinion that is exactly what this book is.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency tells the story of Precious Ramotswe who is the proud owner of the first and only ladies detective agency is Botswana. Now I don't normally do this but I'm going to simply reproduce the book's blurb below as I don't think that I could sum up the book any better or give you more of an insight of it than is printed on the cover.

"Wayward daughters. Missing husbands. Philandering partners. Curious conmen. If you've got a problem, and no one else can help you then pay a visit to Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only - and finest - female private detective

Her methods may not be conventional, and her manner not exactly Miss Marple, but she's got warmth, wit and canny intuition on her side, not to mention Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, the charming proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. And Precious is going to need them all as she sets out on the trail of a missing child, a case that tumbles our heroine into a hotbed of strange situations and more than a little danger..."

This blurb although interesting if not a little intriguing however wasn't what first attracted me to the book because it was the bright colours and somewhat tribal designs on the front that actually made me pick it up and take a closer look. The fact that the books covers are in fitting with the content of the book and the ideas that the lead character wishes to portray about her beloved Africa is really pleasant to see.

The story itself and the way in which is was told was quite interesting to read and entertaining for the most part but it was the African setting that made this book unique for me and the landscape descriptions and general discussions about the continent and its difference was something that really appealed to me. Don't think however that this book is simply trying to change perceptions of Africa because that is not the case in any shape or form. The book is simply and enjoyable little detective tale that just happens to be set somewhere were the normal bounds of detection don't necessarily exist.

What I did find a little irritating though was that not everything within the book seemed to relate to what I had read on the blurb. I don't mean that what we're told my the author isn't relevant but just that some of the 'key' sounding plots on the books cover don't actually play as big a part as you might imagine. The sections I didn't expect to find, those discussing precious, background as well as that of her father, were in fact very interesting to read and made the book feel more rounded and informed.

This book is in no way a completely engrossing deep read with numerous twists and turns but if I'm honest that is not what I wanted it to be when I picked it up. The No 1. Ladies' Detective Agency is simply an easy read that can be enjoyed wherever you are.

Summary: An easy summer read