What’s It About? (from Goodreads) It’s the detective as folk hero, solving crimes through an innate, self-possessed wisdom that, combined with an understanding of human nature, invariably penetrates into the heart of a puzzle. If Miss Marple were fat and jolly and lived in Botswana–and decided to go against any conventional notion of what an unmarried woman should do, spending the money she got from selling her late father’s cattle to set up a Ladies’ Detective Agency–then you have an idea of how Precious sets herself up as her country’s first female detective. Once the clients start showing up on her doorstep, Precious enjoys a pleasingly successful series of cases.
Why This? Probably because I heard about and saw the trailers for this show on HBO. I don’t even have HBO. Yes, I have issues. But Jill Scott just looked so sweet, and earnest and pretty in the promos that I wanted to see what the story was all about. It also takes place in Gaborone, Botswana- and I haven’t read anything about that country yet, I don’t think. So now I have it, and we will see how long it takes me to get around to reading it. That’s why loves these posts. I can always come back and figure out that it took me two years to getting around to reading this book. Well, hopefully not that long.
This is the first in the series so I am hoping that I will love it and have more of these to look forward to reading. I need a good mystery/detective novel series.
How exciting!
Has anyone read any of these books? Are they good? I think I’ve heard they’re good. This one looks like it should be good.
Other reviews and posts:
I love these books Nicole, they have such beautiful characters and always deliver a really good message. I really hope that you enjoy reading the first one!
I am looking forward to reading them Dot!
You will love this book – it is so good! We don’t have HBO either – our cable bill’s high enough without it.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday =-.
I don’t watch enough tv to justify HBO or tv period. I use Hulu and Netflix to watch what I want.
I saw those at the library, but never tried. Looks good though!
I’ll report back when I get a chance.
I really enjoyed this book. It is an easy going read. I hope you like it too.
I have a feeling that I will. It just seems like that kind of book.
Let us know how it goes! I think it looks great, but have never read any of them.
.-= Amy Reads Good Books´s last blog ..Amy’s First Giveaway! =-.
I will! I am just sure that I will enjoy it.
I quite enjoyed this book. I haven’t read the entire series yet, but I do intend to.
.-= Word Lily´s last blog ..Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge =-.
It does look like it will be good. I’ve seen interviews with the author and he seems like he has fun.
I have read the whole series (to date) and have really enjoyed all of them. They are light, easy reading. Great books when you need a feel good read break.
Well then I will definitely need them. I read quite a bit of heavy stuff.
I read the first book and really enjoyed it but haven’t had a chance to read the others yet.
.-= Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..Summer of Hitchcock: North by Northwest Discussion! =-.
At least you have them out there ready for you when you want them. Unlike that third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy!
I love mystery novels, so I was sure I would like these books and thought nothing of buying the first one…. and then I just couldn’t get it into it. It sat on my shelf for about four years, with me intermittently trying it over and over again, and it just failed to grasp me. So I reconciled myself to this just not being my kind of thing and let it go… I hope you have better luck!
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Zach Attack is Back! =-.
I think I remember someone saying that if yu were looking for a more mystery oriented stry then they weren’t the thing to read. I guess I will fid out.
I really enjoy this series and would love to hear what you think! After discovering the series, I read as many as I could straight through – I hope that you like Mma Precious Ramotswe.
I’d just borrowed the latest book from the library and reviewed it last week.
gaby
.-= gaby317´s last blog ..Giveaway: The Richest Man In Town: Twelve Commandments in Wealth by W. Randall Jones =-.
I’m looking forward to having a good series that I can go to the next book. It’s really fun to get to know characters over several books.
I love these books! I’ve only read the first 3 in the series, but I own the first 7 or 8. I hope you enjoy this book! (I also watched the pilot of the TV series and thought it was very true to the spirit of the book. I haven’t watched any more because I want to read the books first!)
My only disclaimer would be that they are not standard mysteries. I was actually a bit disappointed initially in the first book because it didn’t meet my expectations. If you don’t expect the focus to be on a mystery, the books are great!
.-= avisannschild´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday: BEA & other loot! (June 15) =-.
I have to read this book too!! Sounds great and like you I don’t think I’ve visited this country yet!!
I heard this was an awesome book/series.
I read this book last summer and it was a nice and easy read, nothing more, nothing less. I hope you enjoy it
.-= Ladybug´s last blog ..It’s Monday(again)! =-.
I haven’t yet, but I adored his book Dream Angus, so I expect I’ll enjoy these too. Especially because I particularly liked the writing and the warmth, which lots of people comment on in relation to this series.
I really enjoy McCall Smith’s writing, but the funny thing is that I’ve never read the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, although I do have the first book in my TBR pile. I really love his books set in Scotland – the Isabel Dalhousie books and the Scotland Street stories. I really should get this out of my pile and start on it!
.-= Belle´s last blog ..Incoming! A Version of the Truth, by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack =-.
I read the very first one with my book club but haven’t read any since although I don’t know why since I enjoyed it.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..Winners Announced! =-.
This is a wonderful series and qualify more as cozy mysteries. They aren’t your typical mystery and aren’t violent or thriller types.
I haven’t read the whole series yet and have a few more to read but will definitely read the whole series. They are definitely worth reading.
I don’t have HBO either and I wish that there was a way to watch the series online but I haven’t found a place. BBC site has them but you have to be in the UK to view them.
I love this serious! Nice and safe and just good plain entertainment! I haven’t read the newest — thanks for the reminder. I’d love to see the show! We don’t have television, but it’s already in the saved portion of my Netflix Queue so I can get it when I becomes available on DVD!