Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
32nd out of 137 books
—
13 voters
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #8)
by
Alexander McCall Smith (Goodreads Author)
THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Book 8
Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor—not to mention help from her loyal ass...more
Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor—not to mention help from her loyal ass...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
March 11th 2008
by Anchor
(first published January 1st 2007)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
This was a surprise eighth installment to a series that was supposed to end with seven. While I am a big fan of the series, I found this particular book to be disappointing for a number of reasons, most of them related to the plot.
As is his usual set-up, McCall Smith starts a series of mini-mysteries to be solved by the ever-resourceful Mma Ramotswe and/or her colorful assistant, Mma Makutsi. In this book, several characters get their own mystery to solve, some with more success than others....more
As is his usual set-up, McCall Smith starts a series of mini-mysteries to be solved by the ever-resourceful Mma Ramotswe and/or her colorful assistant, Mma Makutsi. In this book, several characters get their own mystery to solve, some with more success than others....more
I loved the first few books in this series but lost interest after the Full Cupboard of Life. Something about this book's cover appealed to me and I looked forward to immersing myself in Mma Ramotswe's African world again.
I didn't really enjoy the book very much, it was an effort to finish it. The writing was as good, the little plots and twists and turns as amusing, and all the familiar characters were getting on with their lives, so what was it?
To me, Mma Ramotswe was just a paper figure in...more
I didn't really enjoy the book very much, it was an effort to finish it. The writing was as good, the little plots and twists and turns as amusing, and all the familiar characters were getting on with their lives, so what was it?
To me, Mma Ramotswe was just a paper figure in...more
Jan 11, 2013
Diana S
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2013,
remember-2013
"This is the first book of this series that I've read and I loved it! I really enjoyed getting to know Mma Ramotswe and her beloved Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, and their foster children, Motholeli and Paso. Her assistant Mma Makutsi and her fiancee Phuti Radiphuti of the Double comfort Furniture Store. I also loved the descriptions of their lovely country of Botswana. I would love to go there and see the sights described in the book and drink Red Bush Tea. For a mystery, it was so enjoyable and light h...more
1 like · like · see review
After quite a few years of living it, I've come to the conclusion that life is made of two things: time and attention. What I love about the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is the way the author, Alexander McCall Smith, handles both.
In The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, as in all the books in the series, the pace is lazy and relaxed. If I ever visit that part of Africa, I expect that I'll recognize the way the sun feels there, the way the dust settles on the roads after a car goes by. The um...more
In The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, as in all the books in the series, the pace is lazy and relaxed. If I ever visit that part of Africa, I expect that I'll recognize the way the sun feels there, the way the dust settles on the roads after a car goes by. The um...more
Feb 02, 2009
Holli
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
book-group,
coffee-club
This was a very good book. I chose it for Book Group because Deborah, one of my colleagues, used to live in Botswana. She is bringing pictures and artifacts to Book Group and to Coffee Club. According to Deborah, McCall Smith does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of Botswana.
I love the optimistic and humorous tone, the simplicity and underlying wisdom of Mma Ramotswe, and the courtesy and dignity with which the characters treat one another. I also like the repetition of phrases and imag...more
I love the optimistic and humorous tone, the simplicity and underlying wisdom of Mma Ramotswe, and the courtesy and dignity with which the characters treat one another. I also like the repetition of phrases and imag...more
Jan 11, 2009
Kathleen Hagen
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2007-audio-books,
2007-mysteries
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, by Alexander McCall Smith. A.
Downloaded from audible.com.
Publisher’s Note:
In the life of Precious Ramotswe, a woman duly proud of her fine traditional build, there is rarely a dull moment, and in the latest installment in the
universally beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, there is much happening on Zebra Drive and Tlokweng Road. Mma Ramotswe is experiencing staffing
difficulties. First Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni asks to be put in charge of a case involving an...more
Downloaded from audible.com.
Publisher’s Note:
In the life of Precious Ramotswe, a woman duly proud of her fine traditional build, there is rarely a dull moment, and in the latest installment in the
universally beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, there is much happening on Zebra Drive and Tlokweng Road. Mma Ramotswe is experiencing staffing
difficulties. First Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni asks to be put in charge of a case involving an...more
This is another installment in McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and is as pleasant and enjoyable as the rest.
Yes, there are moments you want to stuff a sock in Mma Makutsi's mouth. Yes, poor Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has several moments of worry. Yes, Mma Ramotswe finds herself struggling with ethical issues. But by the end of the---well, it's hardly a story, more a series of vignettes---all is well. Except for Charlie the apprentice, who I actually felt sorry for by the last pag...more
Yes, there are moments you want to stuff a sock in Mma Makutsi's mouth. Yes, poor Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has several moments of worry. Yes, Mma Ramotswe finds herself struggling with ethical issues. But by the end of the---well, it's hardly a story, more a series of vignettes---all is well. Except for Charlie the apprentice, who I actually felt sorry for by the last pag...more
I love the series, but like with other of my favorite book series, I don't dare to read all books at once, but rather enjoy one, then read a bunch of other books, then another... (what would be more horrible than running out of the favorite reads?)
Precious is just such a happy read (odd way to describe a mystery, isn't it?) for either when you need some happy reads to cheer you up, or when you... just need something happy, light, and bubbly. Or like a nice cup of bush tea.
This time Mmas Ramotsw...more
Precious is just such a happy read (odd way to describe a mystery, isn't it?) for either when you need some happy reads to cheer you up, or when you... just need something happy, light, and bubbly. Or like a nice cup of bush tea.
This time Mmas Ramotsw...more
Mma Remotswe and her friends and family get a chance to test the waters as they are all thrown in opportunities for change. Mma Makutsi is the one facing the biggest amount of change. As she starts to finalize preparations for getting married, tensions start to bubble up between herself and her boss. Some of it comes down to the fact that Grace wants to have more of an opportunity to grow into her position, but a lot of it is really do to the fact that her impending marriage means she really doe...more
It was so good to come back to this series after a long break! Seemed like nothing much had changed in the first few pages; Mma Ramotswe still drank red bush tea while Mma Makutsi's love affair with shoes and for that matter, her conversations with them, were still on. But a few chapters in and you see that some of the characters are itching for change and this is what The Good Husband of Zebra Drive is about, that and solving mysteries of course. Mma Potokwane makes a guest appearance and so do...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book probably actually gets 3.5 stars, but I'm feeling generous this evening. :-)
I generally really enjoy the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, kind of like one enjoys a nice cup of tea in a rose garden. The books are an easy read, relaxing, and ultimately uplifting. I wouldn't say these are going to be classics, but they reliably make me feel happy after I put them down. I've never been to Botswana, but it feels like McCall Smith has captured something unique about the country and its...more
I generally really enjoy the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, kind of like one enjoys a nice cup of tea in a rose garden. The books are an easy read, relaxing, and ultimately uplifting. I wouldn't say these are going to be classics, but they reliably make me feel happy after I put them down. I've never been to Botswana, but it feels like McCall Smith has captured something unique about the country and its...more
Jul 28, 2011
Adriane Devries
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
summer-read-novels
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive is another satisfyingly charming installment in the adventures of Precious Ramatswe, a “traditionally built” African woman who inspires us with her joyful optimism, kindness and unpretentious wisdom as she solves mysteries in her No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Various endearing familiar characters poke around at new careers, while others explore the validity of gender roles in a nation that has come only lately into the equality movement—all with humorous results...more
È il primo libro che leggo di Alexander Mccall Smith: mi avevano sempre colpita queste spettacolari copertine, piene di colori, di disegni africani, ma non avrei mai creduto che aprendole sarei riuscita ad immergermi davvero nell’Africa, a vivere per qualche attimo di gradevole lettura al ritmo lento, ma completamente efficiente della signora Ramotswe.
Nella Ladies' Detective Agency N°1 si vive al ritmo delle pause per il tè, quelle ufficiali e quelle ufficiose, ed i casi da risolvere sono tanti...more
Found this book to be just as enjoyable as the last few I've read from the series.
Mr J L B Maketoni's first case was rather cringe-making - it was easy to see where it was headed - but turned out ok in the end. Do we ever find out his first name?...
What might [Mma Ramotswe] write - in that style - of Mma Makutsi, if she had to write her a testimonial? She divides the office doughnuts with complete impartiality. That would be a good recommendation, she thought; how a person divided a shared doug...more
Mr J L B Maketoni's first case was rather cringe-making - it was easy to see where it was headed - but turned out ok in the end. Do we ever find out his first name?...
What might [Mma Ramotswe] write - in that style - of Mma Makutsi, if she had to write her a testimonial? She divides the office doughnuts with complete impartiality. That would be a good recommendation, she thought; how a person divided a shared doug...more
This is a book of change in the Ladies' Number One Detective Agency. Mma Makutsi is undergoing the biggest change. Her impending wedding is approaching and she realizes she need no longer work. She wants to grow in her work and feels she does not need to take the rudeness of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's apprentices so she quits.
Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni thinking detective work must be very easy and wanting to help his wife takes on the case of a woman who feels her successful husband is cheating on her.
Charl...more
Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni thinking detective work must be very easy and wanting to help his wife takes on the case of a woman who feels her successful husband is cheating on her.
Charl...more
Ok, we're up to the 8th installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, it's pretty review-proof and/or just not a whole lot to say other than it's another perfectly pleasant literary trip to visit some perfectly pleasant friends (well, Mma Makutsi tends to get a bit crabby at times.
This time around I almost was creating a No. 1 Ladies' drinking game. Mention of Mma. Makutsi's 97% score at Secretarial School? Drink! Reference to Mma. Ramotswe's how-to book Clovis Anderson's "The Principles o...more
This time around I almost was creating a No. 1 Ladies' drinking game. Mention of Mma. Makutsi's 97% score at Secretarial School? Drink! Reference to Mma. Ramotswe's how-to book Clovis Anderson's "The Principles o...more
I was surprised how much I liked the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. It's not the kind of book I normally read. Mostly, I read 'high' literature, many of which win a Booker, Orange or some kind of prestigious award. But I find I enjoy this series precisely for it's lighter tone in between other books. And I appreciate the honest, simple, happy look at the world so many have commented on.
That being said this was not my favorite of the series. I would give it a two and a half if that was...more
That being said this was not my favorite of the series. I would give it a two and a half if that was...more
While THE GOOD HUSBAND OF ZEBRA DRIVE is, on the surface, a typically satisfying addition to the long-running series of Botswana-set books by Alexander McCall Smith, there's something about it that isn't quite right.
Superficially, the story is as good as ever; Smith carries out his usual attention to detail and weaves separate sub-plots together in an engaging and pacy read. The characters are drawn from real life, the human interaction and conversations are witty and engaging, and the mysteries...more
Superficially, the story is as good as ever; Smith carries out his usual attention to detail and weaves separate sub-plots together in an engaging and pacy read. The characters are drawn from real life, the human interaction and conversations are witty and engaging, and the mysteries...more
Aug 27, 2012
Eva
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ebook,
detective-mystery
I love murder in my mystery. What I mean is, I read widely and enjoy stories where murderers are hunted and stopped.
But, what I love about this series is its feelgood tone. It is the story of day to day life and I am always lightened by reading Alexander McCall Smith's series of the "traditionally built" Precious Ramotswe. He writes Botswana so well, I want to visit and drink red bush tea with his characters. And then he writes these lines of such beautiful emotion, I want to cry.
"Great feuds o...more
But, what I love about this series is its feelgood tone. It is the story of day to day life and I am always lightened by reading Alexander McCall Smith's series of the "traditionally built" Precious Ramotswe. He writes Botswana so well, I want to visit and drink red bush tea with his characters. And then he writes these lines of such beautiful emotion, I want to cry.
"Great feuds o...more
I love this series. I did not love this book, which makes me kind of sad. I had two major problems with this particular volume. First, the overarching theme appeared to be "people are who they are, and there's no point trying to change who you are," which I find defeatist and unappealing. Second, nearly all of the intertwining subplots made me uncomfortable. Part of the reason is that Mma Makutsi and Mr. JLB Matekoni were acting in ways that seemed out of character to me (which of course was to...more
Mma Ramotswe is solving mysteries again. This time her husband Mr.JLB Matekoni believes that he too may have the skills to be a detective, afterall how hard can it be? So begins the lastest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies Dective Agency Series. As usual McCall Smith's warm writing and colorful characters make for easy, joyful reading. As in the last books, often the stories revolve around the characters relationships and descriptions of life in Botswana. Again as in the other...more
Buku yang kedelapan ini kurang seru. Kasusnya sedikit. Buku ini lebih banyak mengulas tentang kehidupan para tokohnya. Mma Makutsi yang sudah bertunangan dengan seorang pengusaha kaya sekarang lebih kuat posisi tawarnya. Dia mengajukan pengunduran diri. Selain itu, koleksi sepatu Mma Makutsi juga tambah banyak. Charlie, apprentice #1, juga mengundurkan diri. Dia berniat memulai usaha taksi. Sementara itu, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni penasaran pada kegiatan detektif. Dia menawarkan diri untuk membantu mem...more
I stopped part way through this book as I started reading another book. Three weeks later, I picked this book up again and carried on reading, which goes to show I wasn't dying to find out what happened and there wasn't a problem with picking up from where I'd left off .
Upon reading other people's reviews of this book, I learned that the book before this one, "Blue Shoes and Happiness" was supposed to be Alexander McCall Smith's last book in the series. I googled the books to see if he had writ...more
Upon reading other people's reviews of this book, I learned that the book before this one, "Blue Shoes and Happiness" was supposed to be Alexander McCall Smith's last book in the series. I googled the books to see if he had writ...more
I didn't enjoy this eighth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series as much as I had the previous books. I was ready to quit in the middle of the book, but I'm glad I saw it through to the end, because the story threads were tidied up nicely and I was satisfied by the final page.
Maybe I didn't like it as much as other books in the series because everything seemed to be changing in the beginning. Mma Makutsi quit the agency and just seemed to be more mean-spirited than ever, and Mr JLB...more
Maybe I didn't like it as much as other books in the series because everything seemed to be changing in the beginning. Mma Makutsi quit the agency and just seemed to be more mean-spirited than ever, and Mr JLB...more
I love the relaxed and lazy pace of these books. I find them very refreshing after reading other stories which can be depressing or way more involved. The only thing I found slightly annoying was Mma Makutsi's lashing tongue and abrasive behaviour. However, like all things in life, and this series of books, there is a moral to the story here. The friendship between the two women is obvious and they have to take the good with the bad and overlook the shortcomings. I also found it quite funny that...more
In “The Good Husband of Zebra Drive” Alexander McCall Smith has given us another delightful series of morality plays. We see the world through the eyes of Precious Ramotswe, J.L.B. Matekoni, and Grace Makutsi, each with their own unique perspective, but still rooted in the traditional values of Bothswana. The mysteries that they investigate, as well as their own interactions have them testing and reaffirming their beliefs in faithfulness, friendship, and honesty with plenty of smiles along the w...more
Great addition to the series with Precious Ramotswe, the main character's reflections on what is true and what is not. Her husband "the Good Husband of Zebra Drive" Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni wants to investigate "bad Husbands." Mma Grace Makutsi who has been with Precious since the beginning of the series, is considering leaving the agency. I won't say more because I don't want to give the stories away.
I love Alexander McCall Smith's light and lyrical take on Botswana and the Zebra Drive characters....more
I love Alexander McCall Smith's light and lyrical take on Botswana and the Zebra Drive characters....more
Excerpts from this book:
'Mma Makutsi smiled encouragingly at the young man. She tried to keep her eyes off the face of the young man with the gaping mouth , but found that she could not; such a deep space, like the mouth of a cave...absurdly, temptingly, she wanted to put something into it: pieces of paper, perhaps, small erasers, anything that would block it up..'
Funny tid bits such as these made the book so enjoyable. This time Mma Ramotswe husband; that fine mechanic Mr. J.L.B Matekoni decide...more
'Mma Makutsi smiled encouragingly at the young man. She tried to keep her eyes off the face of the young man with the gaping mouth , but found that she could not; such a deep space, like the mouth of a cave...absurdly, temptingly, she wanted to put something into it: pieces of paper, perhaps, small erasers, anything that would block it up..'
Funny tid bits such as these made the book so enjoyable. This time Mma Ramotswe husband; that fine mechanic Mr. J.L.B Matekoni decide...more
Jun 27, 2012
Sue Smith
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-in-2012
Another series of detecting adventures with Mma. Ramotswe and her colleagues.
I do enjoy listening to these books - Lisette Lecat does such a wonderful narration & brings such a warmth and gentleness to the characters. I can't help but wonder if it wasn't for her if I would enjoy them as much. She brings the feelings of each individual character to the front and has a wonderful way of imparting the ease of the pace of life that I feel must be in such a warm and sunny country. Certainly it ma...more
I do enjoy listening to these books - Lisette Lecat does such a wonderful narration & brings such a warmth and gentleness to the characters. I can't help but wonder if it wasn't for her if I would enjoy them as much. She brings the feelings of each individual character to the front and has a wonderful way of imparting the ease of the pace of life that I feel must be in such a warm and sunny country. Certainly it ma...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what...more
More about Alexander McCall Smith...
Share This Book
3 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“And if there's bad behaviour," Mma Potokwane went on. "If there's bad behaviour, the quickest way of stopping it is to give more love. That always works, you know. People say we must punish when there is wrongdoing, but if you punish you're only punishing yourself. And what's the point of that?”
—
18 people liked it
“The previously unloved may find it hard to believe that they are now loved; that is such a miracle, they feel; such a miracle.”
—
16 people liked it
More quotes…
Jan 28, 2008 05:31pm