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The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
[Penguin Readers Level 3]
English Precious Ramotswe is a kind, warm-hearted and large African lady. She is also the only female private detective in Botswana. Her agency the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is the best in the country. With help of her secretary, Mma Makutsi, and her best friend, Mr JLB Matekoni, she solves a number of difficult problems. A missing husband, a missing finger and a missing child she will solve these mysteries in her own special way.
English Precious Ramotswe is a kind, warm-hearted and large African lady. She is also the only female private detective in Botswana. Her agency the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is the best in the country. With help of her secretary, Mma Makutsi, and her best friend, Mr JLB Matekoni, she solves a number of difficult problems. A missing husband, a missing finger and a missing child she will solve these mysteries in her own special way.
56 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2006
5 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Alexander McCall Smith
658 books12.8k followersAlexander 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 is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 7, 2023
so cute, I love the main character and it mixed mystery so well with a little bit of adorable romance and beautiful descriptions of Botswana
December 29, 2024
One completely gets into the world of Mma Precious Ramotswe, and you wish you were one of her dear best friends. While acknowledging and appreciating that McCall Smith writes as a lifelong British colonial, having been raised in then Rhodesia, and returning to Africa after his university education, his love for Africa bleeds through every story. As someone who falls asleep reading every night, I enjoyed the format of each chapter reading like a short story. Some very short. None the less, I sped through the book and have the rest of the series ready to go.
March 8, 2026
There is many detective novels, but most of those books I had read are written in the USA or England. The stage of this book is Botswana in Africa. Unexpected things would be enjoyable us. For example, besides the county's development, there have many horrified wild animals nearby. Main character's wonderful and charming activity made my heart warm.
July 4, 2023
So funny!
November 11, 2025
Enjoyable, humorous, a simple life, loved it!
April 12, 2023
it’s not a bad book, but since it didn’t really got me that into it, i am putting 3 stars. i think the storyline is interesting maybe just not the way things are explained.
August 27, 2020
Bhadra 11, 2077, Thursday
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith (Author), Anne Collins (Adapter) (1998)
(No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #1)
[Penguin Readers Pre-Intermediate (Level 3)]
Genres: EnglishGradedReaders/ Fiction/ Mystery/ Detective fiction/ Adaptation
Pages: 64
Rating: 7/10
Themes: Human nature/ National Identity/ Women Empowerment/ Truth and Lies/ Sense of Community
Opener:
“Mma Precious Ramotswe had a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of Kgale Hill. She was the only lady private detective in Botswana, and her agency was the best. So she called it the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.”
Summary:
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is the first in a series of books by Alexander McCall Smith about Mma (Mrs) Precious Ramotswe. This large African lady has an instinctive talent for solving mysteries, so she decides to set up the first (and only) ladies’ detective agency in Botswana. The book follows the story of the agency in its early days, the mysteries that Mma Ramotswe is hired to solve and the growing friendship between the heroine and the charming Mr JLB Matekoni. Most of the mysteries that Mma Ramotswe solves are not serious crimes. Each of the stories is very charming, and the perpetrators of the crimes are often shown to be normal human beings with strengths as well as flaws in their characters.
Final review:
I simply adore the books I have read in the episodic Alexander McCall’s slice of life series 44 Scotland Street. The World According to Bertie is a gem of a book, in my opinion. However, I feel like the same magic is not present in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. I’d tried out the book before, but I had given up after a few chapters. Alexander has a knack for creating a wonderful sense of community in his novels; his stories are peopled with varied amusing characters and are very, very fun to read hence. Though the theme of the book is of crime and mystery, the tone still remains Alexanderesque — uplifting and optimistic, which I think was the undoing of the book for me.
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith (Author), Anne Collins (Adapter) (1998)
(No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #1)
[Penguin Readers Pre-Intermediate (Level 3)]
Genres: EnglishGradedReaders/ Fiction/ Mystery/ Detective fiction/ Adaptation
Pages: 64
Rating: 7/10
Themes: Human nature/ National Identity/ Women Empowerment/ Truth and Lies/ Sense of Community
Opener:
“Mma Precious Ramotswe had a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of Kgale Hill. She was the only lady private detective in Botswana, and her agency was the best. So she called it the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.”
Summary:
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is the first in a series of books by Alexander McCall Smith about Mma (Mrs) Precious Ramotswe. This large African lady has an instinctive talent for solving mysteries, so she decides to set up the first (and only) ladies’ detective agency in Botswana. The book follows the story of the agency in its early days, the mysteries that Mma Ramotswe is hired to solve and the growing friendship between the heroine and the charming Mr JLB Matekoni. Most of the mysteries that Mma Ramotswe solves are not serious crimes. Each of the stories is very charming, and the perpetrators of the crimes are often shown to be normal human beings with strengths as well as flaws in their characters.
Final review:
I simply adore the books I have read in the episodic Alexander McCall’s slice of life series 44 Scotland Street. The World According to Bertie is a gem of a book, in my opinion. However, I feel like the same magic is not present in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. I’d tried out the book before, but I had given up after a few chapters. Alexander has a knack for creating a wonderful sense of community in his novels; his stories are peopled with varied amusing characters and are very, very fun to read hence. Though the theme of the book is of crime and mystery, the tone still remains Alexanderesque — uplifting and optimistic, which I think was the undoing of the book for me.
July 30, 2025
A book I love to return to when I am in need of peace.
Mma Ramotswe’s life is depicted in such a way that I feel I am along with her for the ride—with Botswana personified by the patter of life we tend to miss in the modern day: the bird-calls, the shrubs, genuine connection between people.
McCall-Smith’s writing allows the reader to form a spiritual connection with the characters: I read this book first as a young girl, and Precious’ experience with Note sticks with me to this day.
A book that is entirely thrilling, but at a much calmer pace than most crime fiction.
A great read when you are looking for an escape.
Mma Ramotswe’s life is depicted in such a way that I feel I am along with her for the ride—with Botswana personified by the patter of life we tend to miss in the modern day: the bird-calls, the shrubs, genuine connection between people.
McCall-Smith’s writing allows the reader to form a spiritual connection with the characters: I read this book first as a young girl, and Precious’ experience with Note sticks with me to this day.
A book that is entirely thrilling, but at a much calmer pace than most crime fiction.
A great read when you are looking for an escape.
May 23, 2009
Takes place in Botswana Africa, and the main character is named Precious! She's a big woman who starts up her own detective agency - if you've seen this on HBO, they've done a good job with keeping true to the books. I will probably read more of these because they can be read in spurts; different chapters deal with different cases. All of them have to do with her observations on human behaviors and human nature. Many are funny! Enjoyable reading.
December 12, 2012
-Penguin Readers, level 3
-Time: 100 minutes
-7 Words: agency, woman, Botsuwana, secretary, friend, problems, and father
-Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever asked a detective agency for help?
No, I haven't. I'm happy because I have never experienced problems which I have to ask him/her for help.
2. Do you want to be a detective agency?
No, I don't. But I want to help people who have some problems.
-Time: 100 minutes
-7 Words: agency, woman, Botsuwana, secretary, friend, problems, and father
-Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever asked a detective agency for help?
No, I haven't. I'm happy because I have never experienced problems which I have to ask him/her for help.
2. Do you want to be a detective agency?
No, I don't. But I want to help people who have some problems.
December 2, 2013
1. Penguin Readers
Level=3
2.Time 12/2=70min
3.7wordssummary:woman-detective-Africa-father-cattle-blood-bad husband
4.The main charactor is a detective. Have you ever met detectives?
-No,I haven't. I want meet detectives and I want to listen to interesting stories.
5.This week, I couldn't read the whole book, but I enjoyed reading this book. I like the stories that related to detectives. I thought the main character was wise.
Level=3
2.Time 12/2=70min
3.7wordssummary:woman-detective-Africa-father-cattle-blood-bad husband
4.The main charactor is a detective. Have you ever met detectives?
-No,I haven't. I want meet detectives and I want to listen to interesting stories.
5.This week, I couldn't read the whole book, but I enjoyed reading this book. I like the stories that related to detectives. I thought the main character was wise.
February 24, 2016
mystery, realistic fiction, culture. Short stories/chapters about the main character's adventures solving mysteries as the area's first female private detective. The setting is Africa, so the reader learns a bit about culture as well. The main character shows creativity and boldness. There is also a love interest that plays out along the way, ending in her marriage. The first book in a series.
October 16, 2014
1 Penguin Readers Stage3
2. 10/16 90min
3. Detective agency, white van, Botswana, husband, letter, manager, boyfriend
4. She wanted to help them solve the mysteries in their lives, so she became a private detective.
I want to decide purpose of working.
5. She always try hard. I want to be like her. I thing detective is very difficult work, but it looks interesting.
2. 10/16 90min
3. Detective agency, white van, Botswana, husband, letter, manager, boyfriend
4. She wanted to help them solve the mysteries in their lives, so she became a private detective.
I want to decide purpose of working.
5. She always try hard. I want to be like her. I thing detective is very difficult work, but it looks interesting.
September 24, 2008
I liked this book. It's an easy read. Some amusing bits in it. The characterisation is good. Nothing earth-shattering but just a nice read.
March 22, 2009
this highly rated book is surprisingly ordinary. or may be i am missing a point.....
felt the same with Adiga's white tiger
felt the same with Adiga's white tiger
Read
March 29, 2009Chilhowee Readers Book Club ... I may have driven around with this one in the car for a bit, but nope, never actually read it.
Read
November 24, 2017the story is good, but not amazing. The author was compare it to Sherlock Holmes, but actually the cases is too simple
January 27, 2018
I think Mma Ramotswe is very exited . and story's of Mma Ramotswe and Mr JLB its very sweet ♡♡ it's cool
May 8, 2019
I liked it a lot. Quick, smart, shows a lady detective's efforts to grow her business in Botswana.
Different detective story from what I am used to.
Different detective story from what I am used to.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews