The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency: Summary and book reviews of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith, plus links to an excerpt from The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency and a biography of Alexander McCall Smith.

First published in the UK in 1998, and in the USA in 2001 by Polygon. Republished in 2002 and 2003 by Anchor. This first novel in Alexander McCall Smith's widely acclaimed The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series tells the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to "help people with problems in their lives." Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witchdoctors. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency received two Booker Judges' Special Recommendations and was voted one of the International Books of the Year and the Millennium by the Times Literary Supplement.

Media Reviews

Scotland on Sunday Highly amusing, intelligent and heart-warming   Los Angeles Times Smart and sassy...Precious' progress is charted in passages that have the power to amuse or shock or touch the heart, sometimes all at once.   The New York Times Book Review The Miss Marple of Botswana.   John Lewell, Femaledetective.com Why is this novel so good?…It is almost impossible to pin down such an inspired invention.   Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen Practical, non-judgemental, filled with laughter but determination, Precious never quails....I loved every word.   The Wall Street Journal One of the most entrancing literary treats of many a year…. A tapestry of extraordinary nuance and richness.   Publisher's Weekly Images of this large woman driving her tiny white van or sharing a cup of bush tea with a friend or client while working a case linger pleasantly. General audiences will welcome this little gem of a book just as much if not more than mystery readers.   The Sunday Telegraph - Anthony Daniels The author's prose has the merits of simplicity, euphony and precision. His descriptions leave one as if standing in the Botswana landscape. This is art that conceals art. I haven't read anything with such alloyed pleasure for a long time. Gerald Kaufman, Chairman of the 1999 BOOKER Prize Jury Indeed, the effort involved would have been justified by just one of them, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency Amy Tan ...pure joy. It's about the mysteries of human nature. The writing is accessible and the prose is so beautiful; you can read this in one sitting.

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by Muff
great summer read
A friend had recommended this book and others in the series but I just wasn't interested. Some time later, I got the book on CD and loved it! It helped with the pronunciation of the names and I agree that Lisette is a wonderful speaker. I have read...   Read More

Review (not rated) by Robin
different people
I was interested to read the really poor review that this novel got. Why would someone give the book a really poor review? I think it is because they just do not understand the story that is being told. A colleague of mine worked in the Power...   Read More

Review (not rated) by ahs students
we also had to read it for english - to write a 800 word essay on it. it was a struggle to get past the first page. did someone say wtf!?..... zzzzz....

Rated of 5 by had not heard of book 'til had to read for english
I found it quite interesting, but what annoyed me was little unfinished parts to the novel which i think were meant to leave the reader in suspence and wonder, but left me annoyed as i didnt know what had happened. The language was also a little...   Read More

Rated of 5 by kill me now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this book has got to be the worst novel i have read in my life!!!!!!!!!! i too have to study it for english and find it extremely boring. it is not your typical detective novel and my 9 year old brother would have enjoyed it more than me. it is a...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Jojo Vinick
I think this was an interesting read, one that I had to sit down and think about when I was done. The author really has a way of transporting the reader to Africa and showing them, the heart of the countinent, and Botswana as a whole.

...2 More Reader Reviews

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