No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith - Book Review

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is a slim book that reads more like a pleasant literary story than a typical page turning mystery. There are mysteries in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and you can be sure that Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s number one lady detective, will get to the bottom of them; however, this book is less about building suspense than about taking the reader on a pleasant ride.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith is the first book in a series of mysteries about Mma. Precious Ramotswe. Mma. Ramotswe opens her own detective agency in this book, becoming the first lady detective in Botswana. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is a mix of chapters about Precious Ramotswe’s life and chapters that describe mysteries that Mma. Ramotswe solves.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency has more in common with Encyclopedia Brown than fast-paced mysteries like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. There is one over-arching mystery involving a witch doctor in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, but that story does not really move the novel forward the way a mystery does in a plot-driven page turner.

Don’t get me wrong, the mysteries in this book are interesting. They just are not the only, or even the most compelling, part of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. I would say the best thing about this book is the characters, and especially Precious Ramotswe. The setting is also a strong point. It is a delight to see Africa through Precious Ramotswe’s eyes.

I recommend The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency to anyone looking for a quick, uplifting read. This a fun book, and if you end up liking it, there are a series of follow up books to keep you reading for a while.