Modern ideas get tangled up with traditional ones in the latest intriguing installment in the beloved, best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Precious Ramotswe has taken on two puzzling
cases. First she is approached by the lawyer Mma Sheba, who is the executor of a deceased farmer's estate. Mma Sheba has a feeling that the young man who has stepped forward may be falsely
impersonating the farmer's nephew in order to claim his inheritance. Mma Ramotswe agrees to visit the farm and find out what she can about the self-professed nephew. Then the proprietor of the Minor
Adjustment Beauty Salon comes to Mma Ramotswe for advice. The opening of her new salon has been shadowed by misfortune. Not only has she received a bad omen in the mail, but rumors are swirling that
the salon is using dangerous products that burn people's skin. Could someone be trying to put the salon out of business? Meanwhile, at the office, Mma Ramotswe has noticed something different about
Grace Makutsi lately. Though Mma Makutsi has mentioned nothing, it has become clear that she is pregnant . . . But in Botswana - a land where family has always been held above all else-this may be
cause for controversy as well as celebration. With genuine warmth, sympathy, and wit, Alexander McCall Smith explores some tough questions about married life, parenthood, grief, and the importance of
the traditions that shape and guide our lives.
Editorial Reviews
Editorial Reviews
“A possible
impostor and a cosmetologist’s nightmare are at the center of this No. 1 Ladies’
Detective Agency novel…A fine addition to one of mystery’s most endearing
series.” —Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review
“Forgiveness
and generosity, she ultimately concludes, are the answer to most of life’s ills,
which may explain the longevity of the series. Precious Ramotswe’s adventures,
as inconsequential as they may seem, do not so much offer an escape from life’s
woes as a suggestion for how to make the whole deal more palatable—fragility,
fruit cake, and all.” —Boston Globe
“A
particularly endearing entry in the long-running series, which has lost none of
its gentleness or its love for Botswana, of which McCall Smith clearly has fond
memories.” —Christian Science Monitor
“The titles
of many of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels often have a wonderfully
cheery tone. Think of The Full Cupboard of Life, for example, or Tea
Time for the Traditionally Built. The latest title is brilliant in its
hopefulness, implying, as it does, that a person may only be a mere tweak away
from beauty. This hopeful attitude is exemplified by Mma Ramotswe, the owner
and operator of Botswana’s only detective agency, who resolutely tackles the
problems people bring to her in her small, out-of-the-way office under an
acacia tree. The clients’ problems showcase the usual suspects of greed, envy,
sloth—all the vices that cause trouble for others…As usual, these novels are
only a bit about actual mysteries. They’re leisurely, wonderfully crafted
descriptions of life in the agency and at home, the beauties of Botswana, and
the joys, big and small, of life. This latest is, especially, a tribute to
enduring friendship.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Two story
lines work as serviceably as Mma Ramotswe’s doughty white van to propel the
story forward, but the book’s appeal lies less in deduction than irrepressible
characters, intriguing local lore, and bone-deep love of Africa.” —Publishers Weekly
“A reader
favorite, the irresistible Precious juggles two cases with her usual aplomb.
She has more trouble grappling with changes within her own agency in her fourteenth
adventure.” —Library Journal
“When you are
in the company of Mma Ramotswe, you know that, despite the clamor and chaos
that passes for modern life, somewhere out there, all is right with the world.” —BookReporter
“Two and a
half new cases for Precious Ramotswe, who presides over the No. 1 Ladies'
Detective Agency… A little slower-moving and more diffuse than many of the
thirteen preceding volumes in this celebrated series, but it’s no more than you’d
expect from a heroine whose fleetness has never been as big a draw as her
wisdom.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Lisette
Lecat reprises her well-loved role as Botswana’s number one narrator as
listeners are welcomed back to Gabarone and the investigations of the No. 1
Ladies Detective Agency. Setting the tempo with a distinctive accent, Lecat
invites listeners to sit, perhaps with some tea, and enjoy Mma Ramotswe as she
observes human nature…Whether it’s Mma Ramotswe’s regular moments of self-reflection
or the dialogue of so many memorable characters, Lecat excels at capturing
inflection and emotion. Another charming, and addictive, performance. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.” —AudioFile
Sir Alexander McCall Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of over 120 novels, including the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series, 44
Scotland Street novels, Corduroy Mansions series, the Perfect Passion Company novels, and more. He has also written stand-alone novels, books for children, and nonfiction works. He has received
numerous awards for his writing, including the American Academy of Arts Medal for Literature, the Lifetime Award of the Scottish cultural organization, the Saltire Society, the UK Author of the
Year Award, and honorary degrees from thirteen universities in Europe and North America.
Titles by Author
Details
Details
Format:
Library CD
Format:
MP3 CD
Available Formats :
Library CD, MP3 CD
Category:
Fiction/Mystery & Detective
Publisher:
Recorded Books, Inc.
Publisher:
Recorded Books, Inc.
CDs:
8
CDs:
1
Runtime:
9.67
ISBN:
9781665012287
ISBN:
9781665027199
Audience:
Adult
Language:
English
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