The Double Comfort Safari Club

"In this story, Precious Ramotswe deals with issues of mistaken identity and great fortune against the backdrop of Botswana's remote ans striking Okavanga Delta.

"Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi head to a safari camp to carry out a delicate mission on behalf of a former guest who has left one of the guides a large sum of money. But once they find their man, Precious begins to sense that something is not right. To make matters worse, shortly before their departure Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti, suffers a debilitating accident, and when his aunt moves in to take care of him, she also pushes Mma Makutsi out of the picture. Could she be trying to break up the relationship? Finally, a local priest and his wife indepently approach Mma Ramotswe with concerns of infidelity, creating a rather unusual and sticky situation. Nevertheless, Precious is confident that with a little patience, kindness and good sense things will work out for the best, something that will delight her many fans."
~~front flap

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have some of the others. The plot seemed weak and wandering, and the characters not quite so true to life as in the earlier books. ( )

I am beginning to weary of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books. The writing is as good as ever, McCall has his own distinctive style - warm, compassionate and almost childlike, but the series has deteriorated into a serial. I suppose it was bound to happen, the endless repetitions about exactly who Mma Ramotswe (and her long-late father, Obed), Mma Makutsi, Mr. J.L.B. Makatoni, Mma Pokowane and the evil Violet Sephotho could not go on and this book has revealed nothing new about them at all. But with only those characters to build the stories around, it has become too cosy and a bit silly. Violet Sephotho is almost a cartoon character in a children's serial - what man will she attempt to scam next?

So although the book was enjoyable, it seemed tired compared to the freshness of the first half-dozen books and a bit formulaic. I'm almost at the Jodi Picoult stage - promising myself I won't read yet another one of her-variations-on-a-theme always written the same way, but this series is headed that way.

I do like Mma Ramotswe et al very much, but when there isn't anything new to say perhaps its time to call it a day and say goodbye as they all drive off in the little white van into the endless Botswanan sunset. ( )

3.5 stars

My Blog post about this book is at this link. ( )

The books in this series always calm me, and make me appreciate the beauty of different things in life - good writing, wise sayings, nature around us, having wise parents... the list goes on.
I don't know how the author manages to continue the excellence book after book, but I am continually impressed by it.
There was one plot twist that was a shocker to me, but I liked it, and it took the rest of that subplot onto a hilarious and exciting path.
My favorite part was the ending. I LOVED how the supporting characters involved in the ending were themselves to the utmost, and I cheered out loud while reading even though I was by myself. I only wish I could read have read it slower somehow (although when you get into it, you really can't), to make it last longer. ( )

Probably the best book in the series so far. ( )