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The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1)
 

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

by Alexander McCall Smith

Penzler Pick, July 2001: Working in a mystery tradition that will cause genre aficionados to think of such classic sleuths as Melville Davisson Post's Uncle Abner or Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee, Alexander McCall Smith creates an African detective, Precious Ramotswe, who's their full-fledged heir.
It's the detective as folk hero, solving crimes through an innate, self-possessed wisdom... (read more)

Top tags: mystery,  africa,  fiction,  humor,  series (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
rOckY
  • Rated 4 stars

“The first book in the series was a surprisingly good read and I'm all the more glad for deciding to risk it. Sure, I knew it was already popular since the author had already written a number of books in the series hence it must have been making money but that was no guarantee that I'd like it.

The books are typically tagged as mystery novels since the principal character Mma Precious Ramotswe is a detective after all and she has started the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," but the...”

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Didn’t Like It

Robin B
  • Rated 2 stars

“Our book group read this book because many of us had heard from other people that this series was really good. I have to say that I found this book a little boring. It's not really an ongoing plot but, instead, a series of short stories. The solutions to the "crimes" come about by the most unrealistic coincidences and situations. If solving cases were this easy there wouldn't be any criminals out on the streets. One gal in our book group bought the series based on recommendations and after...”

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Community:
  • Rated 3.857855 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • kpnachan

    kpnachan said:

    “I love the refreshing honesty and simplicity of Precious Ramotswe. It is a deceptively plain story with the allure of the 'old' ways - respect, culture and dignity of the Botswanians. Excellent!”

    posted Friday, May 23 2008
  • Wayne H

    wayne h said:

    “I loved this little book and its neat mysteries. I bought the first four books in the series and I will be moving on to the next one in about a month.
    ”

    posted Friday, February 22 2008
  • Aimee S

    aimee s said:

    “Loni, I've read the whole series of these. They are a great "gentle" read.

    ”

    posted Friday, January 11 2008
  • Evelyn S

    evelyn s said:

    “I have every single one of these books so far some by different publishers so differences in covers. There is one set that are very 'African' in design and i like that. Evelyn S”

    posted Friday, November 30 2007
  • Karin C

    karin c said:

    “I love the main character, Mma Ramotswe! It's great fun to follow how her mind works as the stories and the mysteries unfold. The book has appealing humor, and poignant situations. It feels realistic, and I was really rooting for this lady detective and her clients!”

    posted Saturday, November 17 2007
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