The number 1 Ladies'Detective Agency by ALEXANDER MCALL SMITH

Book N°3 - Englishtravelbookclub's meeting of the 2nd of July 2017

A suggestion of Roger Palmer

The first in a series of, at the moment, eighteen books, Alexander McCall Smith introduces us to “The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency”

The setting for the book is Botswana, a country the size of France, but one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world with a population of around 2 million.  We discover that 70% of the country is desert, the Kalahari desert.  It is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, helped by having a stable representative democracy since independence from the UK in 1966.

The book begins with the story of Mma Precious Ramotswe, her upbringing as the only child of Obed Ramotswe, her abusive marriage to the jazz trumpet playing husband Note Mokoti which eventually breaks down.  The death of her father who seems to have brought her up in a different way to the traditional role of women in Botswana gives her the strength and personality to start again.  On the death of her father, she sells his cattle which he has bought over a number of years.  Although 50% of the population apparently own cattle, a large percentage are owned by 5% of the population so in Botswana terms one assumes he is a fairly wealthy man as the ownership of cattle is regarded as a symbol of wealth in the country.  The sale of the cattle enables her to buy a house and set up in business.  Presumable the father would have preferred that she set up a grocery store but she opted to open the first lady detective agency in Botswana.  She appears to have no knowledge of the business apart from reading a book by a famous American private detective.  Despite this she ploughs ahead and demonstrates her resourcefulness in finding work and solving problems.  The book deals with many issues; witchcraft, infidelity, abusive relationships and has a strong moral code running through it, a reflection of Mma Ramotswe’s desire for justice.

The book is a very easy read but does deal with serious issues in a light hearted and humorous way.  Our group particularly enjoyed the way Mma Ramotswe cuts corners in order to solve a case.  Getting an errant husband to be photographed kissing her to prove to his wife that he is unfaithful, has very humorous consequences.

We are also introduced to J.L.B. Matekoni the resourceful mechanic, useful to owners of worn out white vans and secretary Mma Makutsi.

I love the language that Alexander McCall Smith uses, he really seems to get under the skin of the Botswana society.  His reference to the women being “Traditionally Built” makes us consider the obsession with being thin in the west, in a light-hearted way.  It is refreshing to read a book that makes you think without feeling you are being lectured to.  One I would recommend