Tears of the giraffe (original 2000; edition 2002)

Book 2 of the Ladies’ Number 1 Detective Agency series.

Several years ago, our local book group read the Kalahari Typing School for Men and I discovered Mma Precious Ramotswe of Gabarone, Botswana. I was charmed and went on to read the titular first book in the series quite some time ago.

In Tears of the Giraffe Mma Ramotswe searches for the fate of a young American man who worked on a co-operative farm in the area a decade earlier. She is also surprised by her fiancé with the addition to their ‘family’ of two orphans.

If you’ve not read McCall Smith before, you’ll probably be surprised at the cadence of these “mystery” novels. They are very gently paced and phrased, and nostalgic for the older, simpler ways of African life.
The series is delightful, and this book was moving as well. 4½ stars

Read this if: you looking for a series that evokes the character of Africa & its people, and don’t mind the absence of high action. ( )

The second in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and as entertaining as the first - also equally difficult to put down once started!

Mma Ramotswe investigates the disappearance of an American woman's son from a farm on the edge of the Kalahari 10 years ago. Mr J.L.B. Matekoni accidentally fosters two children. Mma Makutsi is promoted to 'Assistant Detective'.

Beautifully evocative descriptions of Botswana, and delightful characterization (e.g. the conversation about Freud).

Disappointing second installment of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency focused too much on personal life and not enough on the work of the Agency for my taste. ( )

I'm reading this series as I find the books, so completely out of order. However, this doesn't seem to be a problem. There's a very sweet story running through them about a romance with the main character, but it's not tumultuous or terribly intense, so events in the relationship progress slowly enough that I don't seem to miss much, even if I skip a book. The mysteries or issues the detective deals with are generally simply solved and not terribly tension-filled. The series, to me, is mostly about life in Botswana and the small instances in people's lives. Nice, mellow, rather sweet series. This book is no exception; good read for the bus. ( )

I’m a bit behind in this series as this is only the second of what will, this year, be a ten-book collection. This installment begins with Mme Ramotswe and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni confirming their engagement. At the same time Mme Ramotswe is called upon to investigate the disappearance of a young American man some ten years previously and Mr Matekoni is assisting the local orphan farm to maintain its ageing machinery.

If you have read any of these books at all you’ll know exactly what to expect. The individual annecdotes and events might change from book to book but the overall feel of all them is, I suspect, similar. There’s a plethora of homespun philosophy and wry ovservations from Mme Ramotswe although, in this book more than the first, Mr Matekoni’s personality and views on how the world is to be tackled are explored more fully. Both are truly delightful characters: the kind of people you would happily travel to the other side of the world to have a cup of tea with.

McCall Smith was born in what was then Rhodesia and has lived in Africa on and off over his life. His love for, and understanding of, the continent is evident in every word of this book. The cadence of the dialogue, the vivid descriptions of the places and the traits exhibited by the key characters all combine to provide an utterly immersive experience. And, as with the first book, it paints a picture of Africa not often seen: a collection of happy, productive, proud people going about their daily lives with the same struggles, concerns and triumphs that people do the world over.

This book contains a more cohesive several-threaded narrative than the first one which was more a collection of vignettes and I prefer the apporach here. However, the story is still gentle and can drag a little as there’s a sense of inevitability rather than suspense. If you’re looking for a heart-thumping thriller then I suggest you go elsewhere but if you can spare some time to relax and view the world from a different perspective I doubt you’ll be disappointed. For your investment you should get a few laughs, some intelligent food for thought, possibly a tear or two and, I can virtually guarantee this, you’ll feel better when you finish than you did when you started. ( )