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No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series

27 primary works • 49 total works
Featuring Precious Ramotswe – Botswana's leading, and only, female private detective.

Note: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Cases is a children's book series featuring young Precious Ramotswe.

BBC Afternoon Drama: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series is a radio drama based on the series.

Book 1

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
by
3.81 · 278603 Ratings · 14373 Reviews · published 1998 · 25 editions
Precious Ramotswe has only just set up shop as Bot…

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    Book 2

    Tears of the Giraffe
    by
    3.98     · 61793 Ratings · 3734 Reviews · published 2000 · 44 editions
    Librarian note: Older cover edition of 97803491166…

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    Book 3

    Morality for Beautiful Girls
    by
    3.99     · 46700 Ratings · 2386 Reviews · published 2001 · 106 editions
    The third book in the multi-million copy bestselli…

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    Book 4

    The Kalahari Typing School for Men
    by
    4.01     · 43121 Ratings · 1993 Reviews · published 2002 · 1 edition
    An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be …

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    Book 5

    The Full Cupboard of Life
    by
    4.03     · 35312 Ratings · 1713 Reviews · published 2003 · 3 editions
    Mma Ramotswe, who became engaged to Mr J.L.B. Mate…

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    Book 6

    In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
    by
    4.10     · 31493 Ratings · 1595 Reviews · published 2004 · 80 editions
    Mma Ramotswe's normally unshakable composure is ra…

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    Book 6.5

    The Shape of Ladies
    by
    4.04     · 54 Ratings · 3 Reviews · 1 edition
    First published in Woman & Home magazine. Later pu…

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    Book 6.6

    The Problem of Men
    by
    3.83     · 46 Ratings · 4 Reviews · 1 edition
    First published in Woman & Home magazine. Later pu…

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    Book 6.7

    Doctors, Detectives, Common Sense
    by
    3.86     · 109 Ratings · 17 Reviews · published 2005 · 2 editions
    Some light-hearted fun. Mma Ramotswe visits her GP…

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    Book 7

    Blue Shoes and Happiness
    by
    4.06     · 30313 Ratings · 1430 Reviews · published 2006 · 5 editions
    There is considerable excitement at The No. 1 Ladi…

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    Book 8

    The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
    by
    4.08     · 28251 Ratings · 1506 Reviews · published 2007 · 73 editions
    THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Book 8

    Fans ar…

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    Book 9

    The Miracle at Speedy Motors
    by
    4.11     · 26051 Ratings · 1626 Reviews · published 2008 · 12 editions
    Precious Ramotswe, traditionally built owner of th…

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    Book 10

    Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
    by
    4.13     · 24478 Ratings · 1846 Reviews · published 2009 · 56 editions
    The latest installment of this universally beloved…

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    Book 10.5

    Men Don't Wear Pink
    by
    3.95     · 21 Ratings · 1 Reviews · 1 edition
    Can be found in "The Book Lovers' Appreciation Soc…

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    Book 10.6

    Special Seasonal No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Story
    by
    3.90     · 51 Ratings · 8 Reviews · 1 edition
    Untitled 'seasonal story about the No 1 Ladies Det…

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    Book 11

    The Double Comfort Safari Club
    by
    4.07     · 21274 Ratings · 1940 Reviews · published 2010 · 66 editions
    Readers will agree that this touching and dramatic…

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    Book 12

    The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
    by
    4.10     · 18654 Ratings · 1960 Reviews · published 2011 · 46 editions
    At a remote cattle post south of Gaborone two cows…

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    Book 12.5

    A Precious Christmas
    by
    3.99     · 74 Ratings · 14 Reviews · published 2011 · 1 edition
    An exclusive short story from The No. 1 Ladies Det…

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    Book 12.6

    The Cleverness of Ladies
    by
    3.56     · 1175 Ratings · 149 Reviews · published 2012 · 10 editions
    Glorious short stories from international bestsell…

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    Book 13

    The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection
    by
    4.14     · 17489 Ratings · 2006 Reviews · published 2012 · 53 editions
    Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved, bestselling No. …

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    Book 14

    The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon
    by
    4.13     · 16115 Ratings · 1997 Reviews · published 2013 · 42 editions
    Modern ideas get tangled up with traditional ones …

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    Book 15

    The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café
    by
    4.02     · 14843 Ratings · 1727 Reviews · published 2014 · 41 editions
    The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency often helps peo…

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    Book 16

    The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
    by
    4.08     · 14511 Ratings · 1667 Reviews · published 2015 · 40 editions
    In this latest installment of the beloved and best…

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    Book 17

    Precious and Grace
    by
    4.10     · 13378 Ratings · 1597 Reviews · published 2016 · 36 editions
    This is the story of Precious and Grace, known to …

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    Book 17.5

    Mma Ramotswe and Rra Burns
    by
    3.84     · 31 Ratings · 1 Reviews · 1 edition
    Very short story available at author's website.

    Bur…

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    Book 17.6

    The No. 1 Lady Detective's New Year Resolutions
    by
    3.95     · 85 Ratings · 7 Reviews · published 2017 · 1 edition
    A truly delightful misadventure starring Precious,…

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    Book 18

    The House of Unexpected Sisters
    by
    4.16     · 12710 Ratings · 1530 Reviews · published 2017 · 35 editions
    Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are approached by the…

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    Book 19

    The Colors of All the Cattle
    by
    4.16     · 11212 Ratings · 1326 Reviews · published 2018 · 29 editions
    In this latest installment of the beloved and best…

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    Book 20

    To the Land of Long Lost Friends
    by
    3.94     · 10055 Ratings · 1180 Reviews · published 2019 · 2 editions
    In the latest book in the widely beloved No. 1 Lad…

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    Book 21

    How to Raise an Elephant
    by
    4.12     · 9996 Ratings · 1225 Reviews · published 2020 · 3 editions
    The next book in the perennially adored No. 1 Ladi…

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    Book 21.5

    From Mma Ramotswe, for Mother’s Day
    by
    3.71     · 24 Ratings · 3 Reviews · published 2021 · 1 edition
    A gift for Mothers everywhere...
    Alexander has writ…

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    Book 21.6

    Under The Acacia
    by
    4.02     · 51 Ratings · 9 Reviews · 1 edition
    Short Story available free online on the author's …

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    Book 22

    The Joy and Light Bus Company
    by
    4.19     · 9460 Ratings · 1043 Reviews · published 2021 · 1 edition
    "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (22)"--Title page.…

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    Book 23

    A Song of Comfortable Chairs
    by
    4.27     · 8531 Ratings · 953 Reviews · published 2022 · 25 editions
    In this latest installment in the beloved No. 1 La…

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    Book 24

    From a Far and Lovely Country
    by
    4.20     · 7519 Ratings · 778 Reviews · published 2023 · 3 editions
    The latest installment in Alexander McCall Smith's…

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    Book 25

    The Great Hippopotamus Hotel
    by
    4.15     · 6640 Ratings · 705 Reviews · published 2024 · 13 editions
    In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smi…

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    Book 26

    In the Time of Five Pumpkins
    by
    4.27     · 4386 Ratings · 501 Reviews · published 2025 · 11 editions
    In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smi…

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    Book 27

    The Big Cats Dance Party
    by
    0.00     · expected publication 2026 · 5 editions
    Book 27 in the multi-million copy bestselling and …

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    Book 6.5 & 6.6

    The Slice of No.1 Celebration Storybook
    by
    4.06     · 431 Ratings · 22 Reviews · published 2013 · 2 editions
    In this delicious short collection to celebrate th…

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    Book 1-3

    No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Box Set: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls.
    by
    4.20     · 754 Ratings · 54 Reviews · published 2013 · 5 editions
    The first three books in Alexander MCCall Smith's …

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    Book 1-4

    The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Collection
    by
    4.13     · 641 Ratings · 41 Reviews · published 2005 · 4 editions
    The Full Cupboard of Life( A No. 1 Ladies' Detect…

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    Book 1-5

    The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Five Novels
    by
    4.26     · 824 Ratings · 87 Reviews · published 1995 · 2 editions
    Boxed set of first five. Botswana Mma Precious Ram…

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    Book 1-6

    The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency / Tears if the Giraffe / Morality for Beautiful Girls / The Kalahari typing School for Men / The Full Cupboard of Life / In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
    by
    4.26     · 120 Ratings · 2 Reviews · published 2014 · 3 editions
    The first 6 books in the ever popular series. Seal…

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    Book 1-8 & 11-12

    The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 10 Books Set
    by
    4.33     · 24 Ratings · 2 Reviews · 1 edition
    Titles in the Set The Full Cupboard of Life, the L…

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    Book 2-4

    The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Box Set (Books 2-4): Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, The Kalahari Typing School for Men
    by
    4.46     · 93 Ratings · 2 Reviews · 1 edition
    Here are three heartwarming books in Alexander McC…

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    Book 5-6

    Full Cupboard of Life/In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
    by
    4.22     · 242 Ratings · 10 Reviews · 2 editions
    Full Cupboard of Life
    In the fifth book in the prod…

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    Book 7-8

    More From the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Blue Shoes and Happiness / The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
    by
    4.23     · 211 Ratings · 8 Reviews · published 2008 · 3 editions
    Blue Shoes and Happiness
    From universally beloved a…

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    Mma Ramotswe's Cookbook: Nourishment for the Traditionally Built
    by
    3.73     · 70 Ratings · 8 Reviews · published 2009 · 4 editions
    'This woman who was everything to him - mother, Af…

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    Precious Ramotswe: A Mysterious Profile
    by
    4.30     · 369 Ratings · 27 Reviews · 1 edition
    In this profile, the bestselling author of the No.…

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