book data
1956 ratings, 3.94 average rating, 263 reviews
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published
March 1st 2007
by Polygon Press
binding
Hardcover - Signed, 224 pages
isbn
1845795385
(isbn13: 9781845795382)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 2643)
Read in August, 2007
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 othe...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 othe...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone
I learned something about Botswana and how people relate to one another in this particular area of AFrica.
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Read in August, 2008
It's been several years since I have read a book in this series. I have always enjoyed them. They center on a ladies' detective agency in Botswana, Africa, particularly on the owner, Precious Ramotswe and her cases and the people around her. They are light and easy, sometimes really funny, and sometimes have really interesting little detective cases. I must say this one wasn't as good as I remember previous ones being. It's kind of like a television show where you may like the characters, ...more
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Read in July, 2008
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 pape...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 pape...more
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Read in April, 2008
What a sweet and . . . settling . . . continuation of this series. Like Mma Makutsi's lucky fiance, Phuti Radiphuti, I feel quite suddenly grateful -- not only to have received such a great much-better-than-plane-reading book from my mom, but in my own real life good soon-to-be-husband-of-Martinez-Campos. In this 8th installation of the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith shows us much more of the good man behind the lady detective of traditional build. Here is M...more
Read in November, 2008
recommended to Lindsay by:
Series recommended by Mom
The eight in a series from Alexander McCall Smith's "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," "The Good Husband of Zebra Drive is just what readers will expect. Set in Botswana, Precious Ramotswe's fledgling detective agency has some notoriety and longevity to add to its name. However, when her husband (the owner of the adjacent mechanic shop) decides he wants to give detective work a try and her assistant detective (the newly engaged shopping addict) suddenly resigns, Mma Ramotswe ...more
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Read in March, 2008
In the latest in this series Private Detective Precious Ramotswe is experiencing staffing difficulties and her husband Mr J.L.B. Matekoni asks to be put in charge of a case involving an errant husband. But can a man investigate such matters as successfully as the number one lady detective can? Then, Mma Ramotswe has a minor falling out with her Assistant, Mma Makutsi who decides to leave the agency. Along the way Mma Ramotswe is aked to investigate a couple of tricky cases. Will she be able to e...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Kelly by:
a diner friendrecommends it for: Anyone who likes good books
I am loving this one. I realized that part of why this series is so good is that it flows along so nicely. I also like that the mysteries and goings on are not just given away. For example, in this book something happens(which I can't say) and it is so definitive that the reader assumes it is over, then a different thing happens and there was no drawn out clues and warnings-it just happens. I think why I like it so much is that it is intriging yet I don't feel manipulated. Not too mention, ...more
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Read in August, 2008
Reading a new book in the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series is as comfortable and reassuring as your mother cooking your favorite meal for you. No real surprises to them; they are the least mysterious mysteries ever written. But solving a crime is far from Alexander McCall Smith's aim here; he portrays a world and a worldview most of us have never experienced, but which we can appreciate. If I ever needed to hire a private eye, I'd want it to be Precious Ramotswe. Her common sense and unfl...more
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Read in November, 2007
Another installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Again, not explicitly a detective book so much as completely charming parables or folk stories. As per the usual, there's a little rebellion, a lot of forgiveness, and wisdom out the wazoo.
Mma Ramotswe nodded, and glanced at her own watch. It was almost time to go to the office. It was, she felt, going to be an unusual day. Any day on which one's suppositions are so rudely shattered before eight o'clock is bound to be an unusual day, a day for discovering things about the world which are quite different from what you thought they were. ...more
Mma Ramotswe nodded, and glanced at her own watch. It was almost time to go to the office. It was, she felt, going to be an unusual day. Any day on which one's suppositions are so rudely shattered before eight o'clock is bound to be an unusual day, a day for discovering things about the world which are quite different from what you thought they were. ...more
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Read in August, 2007
Alexander McCall Smith continues the wonderful series of stories about Mma Precious Ramwotse's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and the lives of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, owner of the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and her assistant Mma Makutsi (founder of the Kalahari Typing School for men). These stories are so pleasant to read and filled with such sweet observations about people and life that it is hard to believe that the author also wrote The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs, a satire of a stuffed shirt G...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
McCall Smith fans
Eighth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
The big case in this installment concerns three unexplained deaths at a local hospital--three people have died unexpectedly in the same bed, at the same time of day. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni decides he is tired of being a mechanic and takes over a case of a cheating husband. All does not go quite as planned. Mma Makutsi resigns in preparation for being a married rich lady, but her newfound freedom doesn't live up to her expectations eith...more
The big case in this installment concerns three unexplained deaths at a local hospital--three people have died unexpectedly in the same bed, at the same time of day. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni decides he is tired of being a mechanic and takes over a case of a cheating husband. All does not go quite as planned. Mma Makutsi resigns in preparation for being a married rich lady, but her newfound freedom doesn't live up to her expectations eith...more
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Read in October, 2008
For some reason, I wasn't quite as enchanted with this latest edition of the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Some of the character plots seem to tie up too neatly at the end causing me to wonder if this will be the last we hear of Mma Ramotswe and her beloved Botswana.
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Read in January, 2008
I love all the books in the Number One Dectective Agency Series. Some of the books are better than others, but I have grown to love the characters. The author so expertly captures the essence of southern Africa; the people, the climate, the cities. It's wonderful.
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Read in August, 2007
The Club Dumas was not peaking my interest, so I had to return to that which is familiar and Precious Ramotswe, Grace Makutsi and the others from the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency are exactly that. I think McCall Smith is at times neglecting the "mysteries" and leaves them to be solved towards the end of the book or only takes a few paragraphs to wrap things up. But what I love about these stories, is not the mysteries to be solved, but is the interaction between the characters, the ...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in June, 2008
Ah, Mma Ramotswe. Ah, Mma Makutsi. Their adventures are not high art, but opening a new Ladies' Detective Agency series book is like watching a new episode of a favorite television show. I feel like I know these people, and I deeply enjoy falling into Alexander McCall Smith's poetic language and subtle expression of human emotion. This is a fairly good book, the most compelling part of which involves the dynamic between Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi and the dynamics of the boss/employee/friend re...more
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Read in June, 2007
Another visit to comfortable Botswana and Mma Rawotse’s detective agency. This edition centers around separating and rejoining. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni tries his hand at detecting with expected results. Mma Makutsi decides that she need no longer work at the agency and decides to strike out to find another job. Smith amusingly gives her blue shoes a voice. Charlie, the apprentice, wants to quit and start a cab company. The mysteries are the usual simple items. Mysterious deaths at a hospital resol...more
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Read in April, 2008
With the rest of the stuff I read, these books are like an oasis of forthright nobility. They're not complicated. The stories are always folksy and simple. The narrative is clean and the dialogue straightforward.
I'm not going to say a lot about this particular book, because there's really no point. You either "get" these books or you don't and, by #8 in the series, my review isn't going to change your mind one way or another.
If you're a fan of the series, then this one was abou...more
I'm not going to say a lot about this particular book, because there's really no point. You either "get" these books or you don't and, by #8 in the series, my review isn't going to change your mind one way or another.
If you're a fan of the series, then this one was abou...more
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Christina by:
Sally Delnort
Basically the same review for each of the books: I love the 'traditionally built' Precious Romatswe. She is down to earth and thoroughly good. I enjoy observing as her mind wanders. Every once in a while, a nugget of wisdom pops up. The book describes a simpler life and unique culture.
Each book seems like just a collection of stories about her work, but if you read the series as a whole, there is an underlying plot.
Each book seems like just a collection of stories about her work, but if you read the series as a whole, there is an underlying plot.
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Read in June, 2008
This is the only one I have read, of the series. With an uncomplicated writing style, this story illustrates common struggles in various relationships and brings to light how strong the bonds are that develop between people, through the sharing of day to day life.
I especially enjoyed the demonstration of affection between Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni through their "thoughts" about each other as well as their gracious acceptance for extended family.
It added interest...more
I especially enjoyed the demonstration of affection between Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni through their "thoughts" about each other as well as their gracious acceptance for extended family.
It added interest...more
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