Life is never dull at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Mma Ramotswe has successfully helped her fiancé, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, overcome his illness, but she has yet to persuade him to set a date for their wedding. Their adopted children are becoming a handful. Their employee, Mma Makutsi, has opened a typing school for men and fallen in like with one of her students. And a male detective agency has opened across town.

That probably makes this book sound tense and exciting, but the Botswanans are far too polite for anything of that sort. This book is charming, plain and simple. If you want traditional mystery antics, you'd best look elsewhere. No one ever shouts at anyone else, or insults them, or slaps them around. Instead, they approach even the most difficult of confrontations with friendly small talk and polite banter. They refer to certain people by their full names, (ie, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni), presumably as a mark of respect. They're genuinely nice to one another. It is not, perhaps, the most compelling thing out there, but it's still a pleasure to read.

This particular volume pushes the characters in a couple of new directions, too, and that's nice to see. My main beef with the last couple of books was the lack of forward movement. Things changed, sure, but there wasn't all that much to it. To be honest, there's still not a whole lot to it, but this book is definitely an improvement on the last couple. Mma Makutsi, in particular, comes into her own as she takes the initiative and discovers some new talents.

I'd certainly recommend this to anyone looking for a heartwarming read that celebrates Africa with every word. You can tell that Alexander McCall Smith loves Botswana and her people.

(This review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

In this fourth installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is just as charming as ever. The agency finds it has a rival. Mma Ramotswe is asked to help a client who wants to make reparation for the misdeeds he committed 20 years ago. Mma Makutsi opens a business of her own and has a shortlived romance. Nothing very dramatic really, and yet they are important because they happen to characters we have come to care about. ( )

The fourth book of the Botswana series, and same style, same humour, same simple philosophy. If anything, the narrative style shows more assurance. Another good, restful read. Read February 2009 ( )

so many mccall books so little time

Another charming view of the better side of African life. This one, though, tangles seriously with adulterous husbands and saved Christians, and begins to address the changes that are taking place in society, including 'that disease which has run this way and that through the country'. ( )