Cheerful, Gentle Company in Beautiful Botswana

Categories: Mystery & Suspense , Staff Picks , Fiction

For a soothing, peaceful getaway I love to visit Precious Ramotswe and her friends at The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Gabarone, a small city in Botswana. Blue Shoes and Happiness (2006), Alexander McCall Smith's seventh book in the series, again wraps the reader in the atmosphere of life in modern Africa that is very much in tune with the natural world of the countryside.

Mma Ramotswe, a lovely "traditionally built" African Lady, is the proud owner of the detective agency. The slower pace of days, the interaction with friends and family, the urgencies and concerns of life and business -- all are pleasantly  and quite capably addressed and dealt with, in a practical and sensible manner, usually over a pot of bush tea. 

It is easy to step down the pace of life a bit with these interesting mysteries. They are gentle without being cloying and give us a picture of life in modern Africa that is both eye-opening and appealing. We are reminded, respectfully, that these are people just like us, living half a world away.

I experienced these wonderful stories as audio books, in fascinating performances by South African actress Lisette Lecat. She brings the characters beautifully to life with her understanding of the subtleties of African languages.

So brew up some bush tea, and settle in with Mma Ramotswe and company solving mysteries and facing the everyday challenges of life at The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.