I picked this up because the 3rd episode of the HBO series had a story that I was not familiar with. Sure enough, I found it in this 3rd volume of the series. I did not realize that they were jumping back and forth between books for their stories! But in this volume Mma Ramotswe has decided to move her detective agency into the same building as her fiance's Speedy Motors garage. When he falls into a clinical depression, she finds herself having to deal with both businesses, and promotes her secretary Mma Makutsi to assistant manager of the garage. She proves herself astonishingly capable as the garage flourishes and she turns the two lazy apprentices into hardworking mechanics. Meanwhile Mma Ramotswe has to spend a week in a farm investigating an important government official's family to find out who among them could be a murderer. While she is gone Mma Makutsi handles her first case on her own, investigating the finalists in a beauty contest to find out if they are morally worthy of the grand prize. It's another laid-back cozy mystery in this well-done series set in Botswana, Africa.

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You've got to love Precious Ramotswe and her No.1 Ladies Detective Agency..You're drawn to read the entire series.

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A quick and easy read, seemingly simple prose but sometimes pretty deep insights into humanity and relationships. Great series (part of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books by McCall Smith)!

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I like the insights into human nature stated very succintly by the No. 1 Ladies Detective. In this book, there were three interesting mysteries for her and her assistant to solve, plus some personal issues to be resolved. Again, very absorbing.

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I am really enjoying this series, I think especially because the stories so much demonstrate actions of kindness. This is book three.

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Great book...loving the series! Thanks paperbackswap for the chance to enjoy books 1-5 (so far!)

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As always, I enjoyed reading about the delightful characters in this series. I can escape to a simpler place and a different culture. Love the "old Botswana" ways and the way they think and talk. They are so real. I recommend these books, not for the mystery, but for the sheer delight of being with these people in that place. Alexander McCall Smith is amazing as he writes about different types of people and cultures with such wisdom and understanding

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I loved it!

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