The second story of Precious Ramotswe, her dectective agency, her family and her town. Charming and touching.

I could not stop reading this book because I really wanted to know where the story would go and know the truth of the mystery. It is a detective story but there is much more to this story. I am so busy and have got lots of things to do that I can forget considerration for others. I think I should keep in mind that I cannot live without others. ( )

http://www.book-blog.com/2009/12/book... ( )

Absolutely love this series!! I cannot wait to read the next installment!! A really cute, funny series! ( )

A great follow-up to the first book in the series! ( )

Wonderful story. A story about Africa without violence and folktale stereotypes. Hopeful in a setting of real problems. ( )

2007

If approached at a surface level, this book is excellent light reading - bits of humour, warmly drawn characters, and an unusual language style which I think probably echoes the Botswana way of thinking (not that I'd know really). By that I mean that the language is unusually simple and direct, with a tendency to state straight out, in the most matter-of-fact way, things that Western cultures tend to euphemise and dance around on tiptoe.

I think the relationship between Mma Ramotswe and Mr J.L.B Matekoni is very nicely done, and undergoes some development in this book, after its beginning in The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Mr Matekoni is perhaps the most endearing character I came across in the book, mainly because of his humble opinion of himself and his high opinion of everyone else, Mma Ramotswe in particular.

On a deeper level, I don't quite know what to think, and can only assume it's not meant to be approached deeply. But there's a tendency to cliche, and a sense of the author choosing all the things that are supposed to appeal to women and throwing them all into the book to keep us happy. Orphans in wheelchairs, a mother seeking for a 10-years-lost son, womanising men being punished, and faithful men being rewarded. All very moral, which I usually like in a book, but it all seems a bit too purposefully designed to tug at the heart strings. Which it didn't really do for me.

All the same, it was a good read, great for a palate cleanser in between heaver-weighted books. I have every intention of reading the whole series over a very long period of time, just one here and there, when the opportunity arises and the mood takes me. I have long loved the title of the next in the series, Morality for Beautiful Girls, and like the idea of reading it some day.

Just as enjoyable as the first! Mma Romatswe finds herself with new mysteries to solve and a brand new family. This is one of the most leisurely book series I've ever read, and I look forward to reading book 3! ( )

In this installment of life in Botswana, Mma Ramotswe solves the mystery of an American boy who disappeared from an experimental farm 10 years previously. She also acquires a fiance and two adopted children.

The style is just as charming as the first book. The difficult side of life is not ignored but is downplayed in favour of the hopes of people for whom life is getting better and who therefore don't get in the headlines. ( )

The follow-up book to the No 1 Detective agency – and more of the same folk wisdom and insights. Lovely to read. Read December 2008 ( )

Charming. Mma Makutsi is promoted to Asst Dectective. 10 year old case is solved. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni takes in two children.

Sequel to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency this book is equally delightful. Following Precious Ramotswe's detective agency through more interesting and touching cases, and her life through interesting changes. It still has an utter delight in the landscape and traditions of Botswana and its people. And overall it has a huge emphasis on the importance of family and friends and being nice to one-another. Lovely. ( )

colourful

Precious Ramotswe tracks a wayward wife, uncovers an unscrupulous maid, and searches for an American man who disappeared into the plains many years ago. In the midst of resolving uncertainties, pondering her impending marriage to a good, kind man. Mr. JLB Matekoni, and promoting her talented secretary (a graduate of the Botswana Secretarial College, with a mark of 97%), she also finds her family suddenly and unexpectedly increased by two. ( )

Tears of the Giraffe is the second book in The No. Ladies Detective Agency series. I recently watched three episodes of the T.V, series produced by the BBC and I was instantly charmed by Precious Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi. The book is utterly beguiling, the stories are simply told (just how I like detective stories to be told, I don’t like puzzles) and the characters are lovingly drawn. The Botswana setting is also quite magical.

The episode in the book where Mr. J L B Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe’s fiancé, introduces her to the two orphan children he has unofficially ‘adopted’ is very moving. Her response brought a tear to my sentimental old eye. This is a lovely book and if you have not yet made the acquaintance of Precious Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and Mr. J L B Matekoni then you are in for a great treat.

My Recommendation:

Cons:

For those who are looking for plot twists and conundrums this is not that kind of detective novel.

Pros:

But if you want to spend some time enjoying a quietly amusing, sometimes moving story with superbly-drawn characters then this book and series is the one for you. ( )

Great story. Can't wait to finish the next in the series. ( )

After reading the first book in this series I couldn't wait to read this second installment. Invariably in this situation I end up disappointed but I am happy to report that this was not the case here!. The descriptions of Botswana (which I would have skimmed over mercilessly in any other book) were as remarkable as ever and Mma Ramotswe was an even more engaging character than in the first novel.

The storytelling style differs slightly in this book but I found myself pleased with the results. The stories of the cases in the first book were no more than vignettes really. In this second novel the cases have more depth and even take more than one afternoon for Mma Ramotswe to solve. I enjoyed this tweaked style a great deal. ( )

I love this author. He writes the funniest things. I love the perspective on Botswana culture. ( )

Things are changing for Mma Ramotswe, but she takes them all in her stride. It is a pleasure to read about her unflappable wisdom, her caring heart and those around her who love her so. ( )

Another heartwarming addition to Alexander McCall Smith's series on the dramas and mysteries surrounding the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency of Gaborone, Botswana. We are pulled into the conflict between the languid, mannered rituals of old Botswana and the new materialistic values of the rising generation as we watch Mr J.L.B. Matekoni's inability to understand his lazy assistants at the mechanic shop and our heroine Mma Ramotswe's sadness in dealing with rampant infidelity in marriages and other assorted problems of morality as she goes about her work. Written with gentle humor and insightful character development. ( )

I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series as I felt the characters developed more and I understood them better. It was still easy to read and the mysteries interested me more. ( )

On the recommendation of my sister-in-law and mother I finally picked up a copy of The Number One Ladies Detective Agency. I had been debating whether to read it or not. It was such a gentle tale- and gave interesting glimpses into Botswana, that I picked up the sequel at the second hand place. ( )

I loved this book. The beauty of the writing is that it is deceptively simple and easy to read, but actually deals with quite complex issues. ( )