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Book Reviews of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged)

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged)
The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1 - Audio Cassette - Unabridged
Author: Alexander McCall Smith, Lisette Lecat (Narrator)
ISBN-13: 9781402541803
ISBN-10: 1402541805
Publication Date: 3/2003
Edition: Unabridged
Rating:
  • Currently 4.3/5 Stars.
 22

4.3 stars, based on 22 ratings
Publisher: Recorded Books
Book Type: Audio Cassette
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

6 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged) on + 47 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
awsome, wholesome, sweet story. first in a series.
reviewed The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged) on
Helpful Score: 1
unabridged. refreshingly different and enjoyable.
dolleygurl avatar reviewed The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged) on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (Audio book) by Alexander McCall Smith

Genre: Mystery, Series

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is the first in a series of 10 books focusing on the life of Precious Ramotswe and her fledgling detective agency in Botswana, Africa. When Mma Ramotswe's father passes away and leaves her with a large sum of money she decides that she will open the first detective agency run by a woman in Botswana. As her clients begin to trickle in, and she has success at solving their problems, more and more people come to her for help. As well as solving mysteries Mma Ramotswe also interacts with the people who are in her life and they help her to grow as a person and to solve her cases.

One of the most interesting things about this book is that you learn so much about African culture and the beauty of the nature. Africa doesn't usually end up in best selling fiction very often. I found myself engrossed in learning about the country of Botswana (I can name three cities, the capital, the border countries, major industry, and some basic history of the country). I also think this book is very much about the empowerment of women. Mma Ramotswe opens her own company in a male dominated world with a lot of pressure on her. She is able to solve mysteries others can't, run her business, and still have a personal life at the same time.

I found myself very interested in all of the characters in the book. It took me awhile to remember all of their names â and how to pronounce them â but they were very well written, well rounded characters. As I was listening, I decided that it was a very good decision to choose this on audio book â I would have found myself too hung up on the pronunciation otherwise. The narrator is a native South African woman whose speech pattern lent itself perfectly to making the experience very real and almost palpable.

While the early part of the story was a little slow going â I very much enjoyed the book. I found myself looking for the other audio books in the series at the library when I returned it (I think it will be the next audio book I get, if it is there).

I would recommend this to anyone interested in some light mysteries (nothing like the James Patterson type mysteries, more local grown mysteries) as well as learning about the beautiful, rich, African culture.

4 out of 5 stars.
reviewed The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged) on + 59 more book reviews
Just when I was getting sick and tired of books that have the same plot, different names & places, I accidentally found The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Set in Botswanaland, Africa, the star is a fat African lady who decides to become a detective. Actually, there were no murders, altho there was a death. There was a lot of cheating (man cheating on wife, greedy doctor having his twin fill in for him while he... but let's not spoil it.

The end is as peaceful an ending as you would want, and is no less important than the beginning and middle. :) Ma Ramatzway solves her cases very neatly.

I also discovered that this has been made into a TV series, and the one I saw was very fun. But why do they put kid-safe series on after Jay Leno?
reviewed The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged) on + 3559 more book reviews
Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages.These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life. "The Return of Note" finds Mma Ramotswe in a compromising situation when her past catches up with her. But things are looking brighter for her assistant, Mma Makutsi, when she takes up ballroom dancing..."The Ceremony" sees Mma Ramotswe's agency work under control at last, so she has time to take care of her own problems. Can she release her fiance Mr J. L. B. Matekoni from his rash undertaking to do a charity parachute jump? And will the return of an old love jeopardize her plan to spring a romantic surprise on her husband-to-be? Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatizations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective. 'Must-listen...beautifully cast, precisely timed, simply wonderful'.
reviewed The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Bk 1) (Audio Cassette) (Unabridged) on + 11 more book reviews
Wonderful series. I loved it.

I hope he continues to write more.