Reviews
"The apparent simplicity of the story belies McCall Smith's keen eye and sly sense of humour." -- Layla Dabby, "The Gazette (Montreal) "They [McCall Smith's books] are closer to being moral fables, fascinating explorations of guilt and conscience and reparation and atonement. ... [Mma Ramotswe's] cleverness lies in her way of resolving the situations that arise to the satisfaction of all parties. I can't even begin to say how profoundly satisfying this makes the books. ...[A]t a certain point in reading the Ladies' Detective books, I experienced something I haven't felt since reading Nancy Drew books as a child. I no longer wanted to read about Mma Ramotswe: I wanted to "be her." -- Sara O'Leary, "The Vancouver Sun "Reader, be warned: This is not your ordinary detective novel. With more than a touch of whimsy, Alexander McCall Smith filters his sometime homeland of Southern Africa through the Agatha Christie medium, and emerges triumphant...." The Kalahari Typing School for Men" maintains the breezy-to-read, gentle tone of Smith's previous work, and leaves us wanting more adventures ASAP" -- Daneet Steffens, "The Globe and Mail, April 26, 2003 "There are no great mysteries in this book, simply a sweet tale of a small town, some dastardly tactics and some evocative descriptions of a satisfied life lived in a barren and unforgiving place." -- "Winnipeg Free Press "[A] sweet and uplifting tale." -- "Toronto Star "I confess: I love spending time with Precious Ramotswe. She makes me feel good. She is an oasis of calm in my hectic world. ... Alexander McCall Smith spins sparkling gems about human nature. McCall Smith's crystalline writing -- not a word too many nor toofew -- lets the readers discover the depth. Like Faulkner or Twain, the joy is finding your own truths reflected back at you or refracted through the lenses of the characters. Here the epiphanies are less smack-on-the-forehead moments than crinkle-at-the-corner-of-your-mouth." -- Mark Whittington, "The Hamilton Spectator " "There's no mystery as to why Alexander McCall Smith's books are everywhere. ... His works are engaging, delightful events, immersing readers in a world that is foreign, yet familiar, where good people try to do their best in life, with mixed results. ... [T]his is a love letter to Botswana and her people. ... The memorable characters, cadence, turns of phrase and imagery create a pleasing, haunting, [sic] tableaux readers will want to visit more than once." -- Ruth Myles, "Calgary Herald "The fourth appearance of Precious Ramotswe, protagonist of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and two sequels, is once again a charming account of the everyday challenges facing a female private detective in Botswana.... But the real appeal of this slender novel is Ramotswe's solid common sense, a proficient blend of folk wisdom, experience and simple intelligence.... A dose of easy humor laces the pages, as McCall Smith throws in wry observations, effortlessly commenting on the vagaries his protagonist encounters as she negotiates Botswana bureaucracy. This is another graceful entry in a pleasingly modest and wise series." -- "Publisher's Weekly "His fondness for the country is deeply felt and his highly amusing books are gems. ... Smith's characters, too, are captivating, their sanguine celebrations of life the perfect backdrop to small and curious adventures." --"The London Free Press "Gentle humour plus the exotic setting of Botswana add up to a fun light read." -- "Chatelaine "It's a novel rich in humour and insight that provides a glimpse into African culture." -- "The Observer Praise for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and Alexander McCall Smith: "General audiences will welcome this little gem of a book just as much, if not more, than mystery readers." -- "Publishers Weekly "The author's prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precision. His descriptions leave one as if standing in the B, "The apparent simplicity of the story belies McCall Smith's keen eye and sly sense of humour." -- Layla Dabby, The Gazette (Montreal) "They [McCall Smith's books] are closer to being moral fables, fascinating explorations of guilt and conscience and reparation and atonement. … [Mma Ramotswe's] cleverness lies in her way of resolving the situations that arise to the satisfaction of all parties. I can't even begin to say how profoundly satisfying this makes the books. …[A]t a certain point in reading the Ladies' Detective books, I experienced something I haven't felt since reading Nancy Drew books as a child. I no longer wanted to read about Mma Ramotswe: I wanted to be her." -- Sara O'Leary, The Vancouver Sun "Reader, be warned: This is not your ordinary detective novel. With more than a touch of whimsy, Alexander McCall Smith filters his sometime homeland of Southern Africa through the Agatha Christie medium, and emerges triumphant…. The Kalahari Typing School for Men maintains the breezy-to-read, gentle tone of Smith's previous work, and leaves us wanting more adventures ASAP" -- Daneet Steffens, The Globe and Mail , April 26, 2003 "There are no great mysteries in this book, simply a sweet tale of a small town, some dastardly tactics and some evocative descriptions of a satisfied life lived in a barren and unforgiving place." -- Winnipeg Free Press "[A] sweet and uplifting tale." -- Toronto Star "I confess: I love spending time with Precious Ramotswe. She makes me feel good. She is an oasis of calm in my hectic world. … Alexander McCall Smith spins sparkling gems about human nature. McCall Smith's crystalline writing -- not a word too many nor too few -- lets the readers discover the depth. Like Faulkner or Twain, the joy is finding your own truths reflected back at you or refracted through the lenses of the characters. Here the epiphanies are less smack-on-the-forehead moments than crinkle-at-the-corner-of-your-mouth." -- Mark Whittington, The Hamilton Spectator "There's no mystery as to why Alexander McCall Smith's books are everywhere. … His works are engaging, delightful events, immersing readers in a world that is foreign, yet familiar, where good people try to do their best in life, with mixed results. … [T]his is a love letter to Botswana and her people. … The memorable characters, cadence, turns of phrase and imagery create a pleasing, haunting, [sic] tableaux readers will want to visit more than once." -- Ruth Myles, Calgary Herald "The fourth appearance of Precious Ramotswe, protagonist of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and two sequels, is once again a charming account of the everyday challenges facing a female private detective in Botswana…. But the real appeal of this slender novel is Ramotswe's solid common sense, a proficient blend of folk wisdom, experience and simple intelligence…. A dose of easy humor laces the pages, as McCall Smith throws in wry observations, effortlessly commenting on the vagaries his protagonist encounters as she negotiates Botswana bureaucracy. This is another graceful entry in a pleasingly modest and wise series." -- Publisher's Weekly "His fondness for the country is deeply felt and his highly amusing books are gems. … Smith's characters, too, are captivating, their sanguine celebrations of life the perfect backdrop to small and curious adventures." -- The London Free Press "Gentle humour plus the exotic setting of Botswana add up to a fun light read." -- Chatelaine "It's a novel rich in humour and insight that provides a glimpse into African, "The apparent simplicity of the story belies McCall Smith's keen eye and sly sense of humour." -- Layla Dabby,The Gazette(Montreal) "They [McCall Smith's books] are closer to being moral fables, fascinating explorations of guilt and conscience and reparation and atonement. … [Mma Ramotswe's] cleverness lies in her way of resolving the situations that arise to the satisfaction of all parties. I can't even begin to say how profoundly satisfying this makes the books. …[A]t a certain point in reading the Ladies' Detective books, I experienced something I haven't felt since reading Nancy Drew books as a child. I no longer wanted to read about Mma Ramotswe: I wanted tobeher." -- Sara O'Leary,The Vancouver Sun "Reader, be warned: This is not your ordinary detective novel. With more than a touch of whimsy, Alexander McCall Smith filters his sometime homeland of Southern Africa through the Agatha Christie medium, and emerges triumphant….The Kalahari Typing School for Menmaintains the breezy-to-read, gentle tone of Smith's previous work, and leaves us wanting more adventures ASAP" -- Daneet Steffens,The Globe and Mail, April 26, 2003 "There are no great mysteries in this book, simply a sweet tale of a small town, some dastardly tactics and some evocative descriptions of a satisfied life lived in a barren and unforgiving place." --Winnipeg Free Press "[A] sweet and uplifting tale." --Toronto Star "I confess: I love spending time with Precious Ramotswe. She makes me feel good. She is an oasis of calm in my hectic world. … Alexander McCall Smith spins sparkling gems about human nature. McCall Smith's crystalline writing -- not a word too many nor too few -- lets the readers discover the depth. Like Faulkner or Twain, the joy is finding your own truths reflected back at you or refracted through the lenses of the characters. Here the epiphanies are less smack-on-the-forehead moments than crinkle-at-the-corner-of-your-mouth." -- Mark Whittington,The Hamilton Spectator "There's no mystery as to why Alexander McCall Smith's books are everywhere. … His works are engaging, delightful events, immersing readers in a world that is foreign, yet familiar, where good people try to do their best in life, with mixed results. … [T]his is a love letter to Botswana and her people. … The memorable characters, cadence, turns of phrase and imagery create a pleasing, haunting, [sic] tableaux readers will want to visit more than once." -- Ruth Myles,Calgary Herald "The fourth appearance of Precious Ramotswe, protagonist ofThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agencyand two sequels, is once again a charming account of the everyday challenges facing a female private detective in Botswana…. But the real appeal of this slender novel is Ramotswe's solid common sense, a proficient blend of folk wisdom, experience and simple intelligence…. A dose of easy humor laces the pages, as McCall Smith throws in wry observations, effortlessly commenting on the vagaries his protagonist encounters as she negotiates Botswana bureaucracy. This is another graceful entry in a pleasingly modest and wise series." --Publisher's Weekly "His fondness for the country is deeply felt and his highly amusing books are gems. … Smith's characters, too, are captivating, their sanguine celebrations of life the perfect backdrop to small and curious adventures." --The London Free Press "Gentle humour plus the exo, " The apparent simplicity of the story belies McCall Smith' s keen eye and sly sense of humour." -- Layla Dabby, "The Gazette" (Montreal) " They [McCall Smith' s books] are closer to being moral fables, fascinating explorations of guilt and conscience and reparation and atonement. ... [Mma Ramotswe' s] cleverness lies in her way of resolving the situations that arise to the satisfaction of all parties. I can' t even begin to say how profoundly satisfying this makes the books. ... [A]t a certain point in reading the Ladies' Detective books, I experienced something I haven' t felt since reading Nancy Drew books as a child. I no longer wanted to read about Mma Ramotswe: I wanted to "be" her." -- Sara O' Leary, "The Vancouver Sun" " Reader, be warned: This is not your ordinary detective novel. With more than a touch of whimsy, Alexander McCall Smith filters his sometime homeland of Southern Africa through the Agatha Christie medium, and emerges triumphant... ." "The Kalahari Typing School for Men" "maintains the breezy-to-read, gentle tone of Smith' s previous work, and leaves us wanting more adventures ASAP" -- Daneet Steffens, "The Globe and Mail," April 26, 2003 " There are no great mysteries in this book, simply a sweet tale of a small town, some dastardly tactics and some evocative descriptions of a satisfied life lived in a barren and unforgiving place." -- "Winnipeg Free Press " " [A] sweet and uplifting tale." -- "Toronto Star "" I confess: I love spending time with Precious Ramotswe. She makes me feel good. She is an oasis of calm in myhectic world. ... Alexander McCall Smith spins sparkling gems about human nature. McCall Smith' s crystalline writing -- not a word too many nor too few -- lets the readers discover the depth. Like Faulkner or Twain, the joy is finding your own truths reflected back at you or refracted through the lenses of the characters. Here the epiphanies are less smack-on-the-forehead moments than crinkle-at-the-corner-of-your-mouth." -- Mark Whittington, "The Hamilton Spectator" " "" There' s no mystery as to why Alexander McCall Smith' s books are everywhere. ... His works are engaging, delightful events, immersing readers in a world that is foreign, yet familiar, where good people try to do their best in life, with mixed results. ... [T]his is a love letter to Botswana and her people. ... The memorable characters, cadence, turns of phrase and imagery create a pleasing, haunting, [sic] tableaux readers will want to visit more than once." -- Ruth Myles, "Calgary Herald" " The fourth appearance of Precious Ramotswe, protagonist of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and two sequels, is once again a charming account of the everyday challenges facing a female private detective in Botswana... . But the real appeal of this slender novel is Ramotswe' s solid common sense, a proficient blend of folk wisdom, experience and simple intelligence... . A dose of easy humor laces the pages, as McCall Smith throws in wry observations, effortlessly commenting on the vagaries his protagonist encounters as she negotiates Botswana bureaucracy. This is another graceful entry in a pleasingly modest and wise series." --"Publisher' s Weekly "" His fondness for the country is deeply felt and his highly amusing books are gems. ... Smith' s characters, too, are captivating, their sanguine celebrations of life the perfect backdrop to small and curious adventures." -- "The London Free Press "" Gentle humour plus the exotic setting of Botswana add up to a fun light read." -- "Chatelaine "" It' s a novel rich in humour and insight that provides a glimpse into African culture." -- "The Observer " Praise for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and Alexander McCall Smith: " General audiences will welcome this little gem of a book just as much, if not more, than mystery readers." -- "Publishers Weekly" " The author' s prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precisi, "The apparent simplicity of the story belies McCall Smith's keen eye and sly sense of humour." -- Layla Dabby, The Gazette (Montreal) "They [McCall Smith's books] are closer to being moral fables, fascinating explorations of guilt and conscience and reparation and atonement. … [Mma Ramotswe's] cleverness lies in her way of resolving the situations that arise to the satisfaction of all parties. I can't even begin to say how profoundly satisfying this makes the books. …[A]t a certain point in reading the Ladies' Detective books, I experienced something I haven't felt since reading Nancy Drew books as a child. I no longer wanted to read about Mma Ramotswe: I wanted to be her." -- Sara O'Leary, The Vancouver Sun "Reader, be warned: This is not your ordinary detective novel. With more than a touch of whimsy, Alexander McCall Smith filters his sometime homeland of Southern Africa through the Agatha Christie medium, and emerges triumphant…. The Kalahari Typing School for Men maintains the breezy-to-read, gentle tone of Smith's previous work, and leaves us wanting more adventures ASAP" -- Daneet Steffens, The Globe and Mail, April 26, 2003 "There are no great mysteries in this book, simply a sweet tale of a small town, some dastardly tactics and some evocative descriptions of a satisfied life lived in a barren and unforgiving place." -- Winnipeg Free Press "[A] sweet and uplifting tale." -- Toronto Star "I confess: I love spending time with Precious Ramotswe. She makes me feel good. She is an oasis of calm in my hectic world. … Alexander McCall Smith spins sparkling gems about human nature. McCall Smith's crystalline writing -- not a word too many nor too few -- lets the readers discover the depth. Like Faulkner or Twain, the joy is finding your own truths reflected back at you or refracted through the lenses of the characters. Here the epiphanies are less smack-on-the-forehead moments than crinkle-at-the-corner-of-your-mouth." -- Mark Whittington, The Hamilton Spectator "There's no mystery as to why Alexander McCall Smith's books are everywhere. … His works are engaging, delightful events, immersing readers in a world that is foreign, yet familiar, where good people try to do their best in life, with mixed results. … [T]his is a love letter to Botswana and her people. … The memorable characters, cadence, turns of phrase and imagery create a pleasing, haunting, [sic] tableaux readers will want to visit more than once." -- Ruth Myles, Calgary Herald "The fourth appearance of Precious Ramotswe, protagonist of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and two sequels, is once again a charming account of the everyday challenges facing a female private detective in Botswana…. But the real appeal of this slender novel is Ramotswe's solid common sense, a proficient blend of folk wisdom, experience and simple intelligence…. A dose of easy humor laces the pages, as McCall Smith throws in wry observations, effortlessly commenting on the vagaries his protagonist encounters as she negotiates Botswana bureaucracy. This is another graceful entry in a pleasingly modest and wise series." -- Publisher's Weekly "His fondness for the country is deeply felt and his highly amusing books are gems. … Smith's characters, too, are captivating, their sanguine celebrations of life the perfect backdrop to small and curious adventures." -- The London Free Press "Gentle hum
