These are cozy little reads that are really more about the characters' relationships to each other than about any mysteries taken on by the detective agency. I recently saw a documentary about Alexander McCall Smith. He confesses that he wants to present books about Africa that are not tragedies. He sets the pace slowly (as per the "cozy mystery" genre conventions). He likes to imagine himself as grounded and wise as Mma Ramotswe. He also explains how he travels from Scotland back to Botwana once a year to conduct research for each subsequent book in the series. These books are slow-paced, domestic, charming and educational. I am learning a bit about Botswana, which makes me feel less guilty about reading genre fiction.