Book Review: No 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith

This book is set in Botswana, and tells the story of Precious Ramotswe, who decides to start up a Ladies detective agency when her father dies, and leaves her his inheritance (a herd of cattle!). The narrative is split between her 'cases', which are mostly small incidents of mistrust and disappearance, and pieces about her and her country (with a lovely scene-setting piece by her father).

It is clear that the author wants the reader to also develop a relationship with the country, and the book is both informative and proud about southern Africa, and its different countries. McCall Smith describes his own love of Botswana through Precious, and paints her to be a logical and practical person. Raised by her cousin to solve problems and have an inquisitive mind, she goes on to have an ill-advised marriage with an abuser as a husband. These experiences lead her to have a healthy mistust of men, and a methodical approach to meeting her clients' needs.

The prose is mostly written in the first person, and this allows the English to take on a simplistic style. There is a lovely economy of words that makes the book extremely easy to read, and there is beauty in the way certain things are phrased. The way words are spoken are really indicative of a no-nonsence honesty that her people have, and as such hardly any words are wasted. Precious is described as a "good fat woman" in the book, again in a 'say what you see' style; such candour only illustrates how much we ourselves overcomplicate our lives, and how much there is to enjoy in the simple things in life.

For this reason, it's a feel-good book. Precious keeps the problem-makers in line (mostly men, it must be added), and bestows wisdom on those that need it. She also has a very touching platonic relationship with a local mechanic, who plainly worships her, despite her refusal to marry him. He helps her during different stages of the book, and their exchanges are also refreshingly written. But it's her relationship with Africa that most stands out. This book is not a literary classic, but it is a delightful read, and I'm half inclined to start working through the four sequels, to see what becomes of Precious Ramotswe and her detective agency, 7/10.

You can buy this book here.