Alexander McCall Smith couldn’t have begun a mystery series with a more unique character. Mma Precious Ramotswe is a 40-something, “traditionally built” Botswana woman. She opens the only ladies detective agency in her country with money inherited from the sale of her father’s herd of cattle.Employing simple prose, the author transports the reader into the Botswana environment through Mma Ramotswe’s reflections. Readers can feel the heat, see the blue shimmer in the air and smell the dusty roads as Precious sits under the shade of the Acacia tree outside her office in Gaborone. The book is a model of simplicity, starting with the detective agency itself.Mma Ramotswe conducts business out of a small office, with one secretary, a typewriter and a teapot, all of which become an integral part of this novel and the entire series. But while the writing style is basic, Smith creates images, characters and a continuing story line that compels readers to go out and buy the next book in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series.Precious is a fast-thinking, likeable character with strong moral values, who solves mysteries by using basic common sense. The author employs the flashback technique to describe Mma Ramotswe’s early life. Her ethics are derived from her father and the traditional Botswana culture. While Precious laments the erosion of her county’s value system, where honesty and respect for neighbors was held in high regard, she is determined to live by those principles while conducting her day-to-day business.Book club member Claudia Smith, a teacher in Falcon, said that is what endeared her to the character. “You can tell Precious loves her country, and she has a lot of get-up-and-go as she goes about solving mysteries.” Jodi, the owner of Espresso’s Staffords, thought the novel was light and sketchy at first but then she grew to like the independence of the protagonists and the relationships between characters.Mma Ramotswe drives around Gaborone in a little white van, which would have stopped running years ago except for the repairs made by her good friend, J.L. B. Matekoni, owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. She gathers clues, and then heads back to her office to enjoy a cup of red-bush tea while discussing the mysteries with her secretary. There’s a man who went missing during a baptismal service, an insurance fraud case, a con artist who claims to be the long-lost father of a neighbor and a kidnapped boy.An old adage states: “Write what you know.” Alexander Mc Call Smith was born in Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. His understanding of Botswana traditions, culture and environment is evident throughout this novel. As in most mystery novels, no matter what twists or turns the story takes, the sleuth always solves the case. Mma Ramotswe does it with such style and grace that you will want to go out and get the next book.Note: Book club members have chosen the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver for August. It’s a lengthy book so the club may take two months to complete it. Feel free to read it and join your neighbors to discuss the book on Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Espresso Staffords Coffee Shop, near the Safeway in Falcon.
