I keep coming back to this series for the likable characters, bright writing and beautiful descriptions. Alexander McCall Smith doesn't disappoint! I will be sorry when I'm all caught up, but for now I relish having these novels waiting for me in between longer, heavier books.

eefjesteijn's review

3.0

- 3.5/5 Stars -

Dit is de eerste keer dat ik een book van Alexander McCall Smith lees. Ik weet niet of het een goede keus was om enkel een boek midden uit de serie te lezen maar dat was nu eenmaal het enige boek dat ik van deze serie in huis had.

Dit boek brengt je even naar een andere wereld en laat je een geheel andere cultuur zien. Een cultuur/leefomgeving waar regen wordt verwelkomd, weesjes worden opgevangen door dorpsbewoners, mieren worden gegeten door kinderen (en smaken naar pindakaas), er nog de veronderstelling bestaat dat mannen een andere rol in de samenleving hebben dan vrouwen en het kopen van een bed in de vorm van een hart een geheel maandsalaris kost. Dit alles vond ik fantastisch aan het boek, het geeft me een rede om meer boeken uit deze serie te gaan lezen.

Aan de andere kant is het boek wel heel traag. Er lopen in het boek drie spanningsbogen echter blijft elke spanningsboog redelijk oppervlakkig en wordt er niks echt uitgediept, dit maakte het boek naar mijn mening soms saai.

Nice new addition to the series, keeping with the reflective style. New troubles confront the main characters, in addition to the new cases.

Reading books in this series are always like taking a vacation.

This particular installment made me laugh, even more than some of the previous ones, and I found all of the stories very compelling. The good thing about this series is that every book has several plot lines, some isolated to one book, and some of which continue from book to book like a lot of TV shows do.

This book was a welcome, light relief after reading the same looooong book all summer.

Another wonderful trip to Botswana! I love these characters and I love these simple mysteries of life. It always refreshes me to spend time with Precious Ramotswe.

I always look forward to these books! Nicely fleshed out characters, and the stories are peacefully told. Highly enjoyable.

This was a fun one. Many good storylines. Highlighted much of the best of the characters: Mma Ramotswe's dedication to her family, her heritage and her country; Mma Makutsi's moments of vanity and vulnerability; JB Matekoni's kindness and love. Mma Makutsi is still finding her way toward marriage with a mistake with a bed that threatens to cause bad feelings. Mma Ramotswe's makes a mistake with a case that could devastate two people. And someone may be threatening the agency. Is it an enemy or worse, a friend?

More feel good stories from Botswana--the #1 Ladies Detective Agency handles cases involving the reunion of an orphan with her brother, a series of poison pen letters, encounters with nemesis Violet, a very tacky velvet bed purchased by Mma Makutski as part of her romance, and newly adoptive father Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni being suckered by a faith healer to help his wheelchair using daughter. As always, honesty is the best policy, but only when delivered with tact and grace.

I like the way we live through the thoughts of the main female characters Mma Ramotswe & Mma Makutsi. All of his novels give you insight into the completely different world of Africa. Although this was not one of my favorites of the series, it still is worth reading.

Always a pleasure to visit with old friends, and after several years of reading about the adventures of Mma Ramotswe and her colorful entourage, that's exactly what this installment in the series feels like. Funny and thought provoking as usual, with a main mystery that hits particularly close to home for the characters and develops several of them really well. Great plot twist at the end, too!