The Saturday big tent wedding party

A challenging case awaits lady detective Precious Ramotswe in this twelfth entry in McCall Smith's always-delightful, best-selling series set in contemporary Botswana. This time around, Mma Ramotswe is retained by Mr. Botsalo Moeti, a well-to-do farmer whose cattle are being killed. (There's something decidedly unlikable about the man he verbally and, at times, physically abuses his workers and Mma Ramotswe wonders if a vengeful hired hand has been committing the heinous acts.) Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe's genial garage-mechanic husband, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, is also having trouble with his staff. Charlie, it seems, has fathered twins but is shirking his responsibilities to both mother and children. In contrast, it's nothing but domestic bliss for Associate Detective Grace Makutsi and her fiance, Phuti Radiphuti. The two will soon be married, and Mma Makutsi, who harbors an unabashed passion for shoes, looks forward to finding the perfect footwear for the event. McCall Smith has great fondness for Botswana and paints a loving portrait of this peaceful, prosperous, and progressive country. This wise and graceful installment will not disappoint series devotees.--Block, Allison Copyright 2010 Booklist

It's a busy time for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency as assistant detective Grace Makutsi is about to get married and must locate a pair of shoes that literally speak to her. Meanwhile, Precious Ramotswe has taken on a troubling case involving the murder of some of Botswana's beloved cattle. Additionally-and even more disturbing-both Precious and Grace have spotted what appears to be the ghost of Ramotswe's old white minivan rumbling about town. And apprentice mechanic Charlie, upon discovering that he's the father of twins, has disappeared. Lisette Lecat, a seasoned narrator of several previous books in McCall Smith's beloved mystery series, turns in another commanding performance. She deftly creates voices for every character-men, women, children, and even talking shoes-that are perfect down to the smallest detail. Lots of fun and totally charming, this winning audio version of McCall Smith's latest installment is not to be missed. A Little, Brown and Company hardcover. (March) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

A marvelous feature of McCall Smith's New York Times best-selling "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series is that each new title proves to be better than the last. Indeed, this 12th entry, following the novella Precious and the Puggies (2010) and revolving around the wedding plans of Precious Ramotswe's assistant, Grace Makutsi, may be the best yet. This is doubtless owing to the ever-deepening development of the central characters. Now intimately acquainted with them all, fans of the series will be hungry for every delicious detail of the wedding plans, Charlie's paternity crisis, Mma Ramotswe's quest to recover her beloved tiny white van, and the way she discovers who's maiming cattle on a client's farm. Actor/narrator Lisette Lecat's sensitive reading makes this a party not to be missed. Highly recommended. ["New readers, especially those who only know the folks in Gabarone from the well-done HBO television series, might want to start with the original book that gave this series its name," read the review of the Pantheon hc, LJ Xpress Reviews, 2/24/11.-Ed.]-R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Four last-minute complications for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to sort out before associate detective Grace Makutsi can tie the knot with furniture salesman Phuti Radiphuti.Mma Precious Ramotswe's latest client, Botsalo Moeti, made no enemies working for a mining company, and he's hardly had the opportunity to make any as a farmer. So why has someone killed two of his cattle by cutting their Achilles tendons? Although a trip to his farm persuades Mma Ramotswe that he may have more enemies than he realizes, it doesn't tell her which of them is responsible. Meanwhile, as usual, "the lady to help people" (The Double Comfort Safari Club, 2010, etc.) must deal with problems closer to home. Charlie, the eternal apprentice mechanic at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, the establishment owned by Mma Ramotswe's husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, seems so determined to avoid Prudence Ramkhwane after she bears his twins that he runs away when he's taxed with his responsibilities. Violet Sephotho, Mma Makutsi's mantrap nemesis from Botswana Secretarial College, is standing for a parliamentary seat she's obviously unqualified for. And Mma Ramotswe has been sighting her beloved white van, which her husband sold for parts when he finally judged it beyond even his expertise to restore, around Gaborone. If it's true that "there is no heaven for cars," what should she make of these spectral visions?Nothing very mysterious here, of course, but the solution to the problem of those dead cattle is wonderfully inconclusive, and you'll never get through the wedding with dry eyes.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A challenging case awaits lady detective Precious Ramotswe in this twelfth entry in McCall Smith's always-delightful, best-selling series set in contemporary Botswana. This time around, Mma Ramotswe is retained by Mr. Botsalo Moeti, a well-to-do farmer whose cattle are being killed. (There's something decidedly unlikable about the man—he verbally and, at times, physically abuses his workers—and Mma Ramotswe wonders if a vengeful hired hand has been committing the heinous acts.) Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe's genial garage-mechanic husband, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, is also having trouble with his staff. Charlie, it seems, has fathered twins but is shirking his responsibilities to both mother and children. In contrast, it's nothing but domestic bliss for Associate Detective Grace Makutsi and her fiancé, Phuti Radiphuti. The two will soon be married, and Mma Makutsi, who harbors an unabashed passion for shoes, looks forward to finding the perfect footwear for the event. McCall Smith has great fondness for Botswana and paints a loving portrait of this peaceful, prosperous, and progressive country. This wise and graceful installment will not disappoint series devotees. Copyright 2011 Booklist Reviews.

Precious Ramotswe dreams that she is driving her dear, departed white van—and then she learns that the van is out there, just waiting for her to find it. Meanwhile, an apprentice has gotten a girl pregnant, cattle are being poisoned, and Violet Sephotho is running for Parliament. A no-brainer for mystery fans; with a 12-city tour.

McCall Smith finds his African groove again, after apparently getting lost in the bush looking for a plot in last year's The Double Comfort Safari Club. In this 12th installment in "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, Mma Ramotswe investigates the serious crime of cattle-maiming, and Mma Makutsi and Charlie, the garage apprentice, get into another of their verbal battles. While various plots meander, McCall Smith continues to do what he does best, giving us a warm and sympathetic look at people in a stable African country unmarred by civil war, famine, or corrupt dictators. As you can tell from the title, there is a happy ending for Grace Makutsi and her longtime fiancé, Phuti Radiphuti. Verdict Fans of this series undoubtedly look forward to each new novel. New readers, especially those who only know the folks in Gabarone from the well-done HBO television series, might want to start with the original book that gave this series its name. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/10.]-Leslie Patterson, Rehoboth, MA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.