Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #3) in Q&A with Alexander McCall Smith

Apr 13, 2009 PurplyCookie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-series, mystery-fiction, detective-fiction, cozy-mystery

Mma Makutsi rises to her own in this volume "Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 3)". As Mma Ramtoswe feels the pinch economically and emotionally, what with money being tight in the agency and the illness of her fiance, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, she comes to rely on the unexpected talents and strength of her secretary. Mma Makutsi, with her too dark complexion and too big glasses, a less than beautiful facial features, shows true beauty in her no-nonsense approach to Mma Makutsi rises to her own in this volume "Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 3)". As Mma Ramtoswe feels the pinch economically and emotionally, what with money being tight in the agency and the illness of her fiance, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, she comes to rely on the unexpected talents and strength of her secretary. Mma Makutsi, with her too dark complexion and too big glasses, a less than beautiful facial features, shows true beauty in her no-nonsense approach to taking on the business managerial load of Tolkweng Road Speedy Motors and its "lazy, girl-crazy apprentices", as well as landing a big paying client for the detective agency.

Mma Ramotswe doesn't exactly take the back seat, but as she wrestles with the case of depression of her normally steady and reliable Motekoni, she is able to see her secretary's best qualities. In fact, I found the very modern issue of medical depression quite fascinating, along with Mma Ramotswe's recognition of the need to read about it, and get help from the other strong woman in the series, specifically Mma Potokwane, the director of the children's orphanage who relies on Rra Matekoni for help.

As for the agency's cases, Precious Ramotswe takes on the case of an obnoxious Governmental Official who wants his own family investigated. Her wisdom in using the cultural courtesies of Botswana to interview the would be "culprits" and find a solution are offshoots of plain common good sense. Her strength of character reinforces the issue of morality in the story.

"Morality is for everybody, and this means that the views of more than one person are needed to create it. That was what made modern morality, with its emphasis on individuals and the working out of an individual position, so weak. If you gave people the chance to work out their morality, then they would work ouyt the version which was easiest for them and which allowed them to do what suited them for as much time as possible. That was simple selfishness, whatever grand name one gave to it."

Most amusing of all is the big money customer that Mma Makutsi obtains who requires a quick investigation into the character of four Miss Beauty and Integrity of Botswana candidates, a rush job with an unusual need and surprising resolution.

"Men usually let their defences now and then, and the art of being a successful woman, and beating men at their own game, was to wait your moment. When that moment arrived, you could manipulate a man with little difficulty." Mr. J. L. B.'s recuperative visit to the orphanage and connection with a wild child there further enrich his gentleman's character. Although I did wish for a better resolution as to the mystery surrounding the boy who smelled of lion.

Book Details:

Title Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 3)
Author Alexander McCall Smith
Reviewed By Purplycookie ...more

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