The house of unexpected sisters

*Starred Review* The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels (this is the eighteenth in the series), starring Mma Precious Ramotswe, the owner and chief detective in the agency, located in Botswana, and her comically difficult sidekick, Mma Grace Makutsi, are not detective stories in any conventional sense. Bodies are rarely found or referred to (unless it's someone dragged off by a crocodile or bitten by a mamba snake). But evil frequently rears its head (most often seen in the recurring character, the beautiful and treacherous Violet Sephotho), and thorny problems abound. But the mysteries that people bring to the agency, located under a huge acacia tree adjacent to Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, definitely take a backseat to the vivid characters, their often humorous personality clashes, and the glimpses of contemporary life in Botswana. This time the official mystery presented to the agency involves the possibly unjust firing of a woman working at an office warehouse. What seems an open-and-shut case gets more and more complex, with Precious and Grace arriving at different conclusions. The hub of the novel, though, concerns the personal difficulties that Precious faces, based on surprises that force her to reconsider her past and her relationships. New readers may be somewhat perplexed, but longtime fans of the series will feel as if they've come home again. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Of all McCall Smith's ongoing projects, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels remain the standard bearer, with the largest built-in audience of devotees, especially in libraries.--Fletcher, Connie Copyright 2017 Booklist

The case of Charity Mompoloki, who claims she was fired unjustly from her job at an office supply company in Gaborone, Botswana, preoccupies Precious Ramotswe and her ambitious assistant, Grace Makutsi, who now styles herself principal investigating officer, in Smith's pleasing, leisurely paced 18th No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel (after 2016's Precious and Grace). Charity was charged with having been rude to a customer, but might her male boss have had devious reasons for getting rid of her? Meanwhile, Precious's disreputable ex-husband, trumpet player Note Mokoti, has resurfaced in Gaborone. And Precious's chance discovery of a hitherto-unknown relative, a nurse named Mingie Ramotswe, initially causes her a great deal of angst. Precious, who's so good at helping others in need, suddenly has serious personal problems, and her gentle husband, Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni, can provide only limited solace. On the way to the surprising resolution, Smith delivers some important lessons about human frailty and the value of charity. Agent: Robin Straus, Robin Straus Agency. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

*Starred Review* The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels (this is the eighteenth in the series), starring Mma Precious Ramotswe, the owner and chief detective in the agency located in Botswana, and her comically difficult sidekick, Mma Grace Makutsi, are not detective stories in any conventional sense. Bodies are rarely found or referred to (unless it's someone dragged off by a crocodile or punctured by a mamba snake). But evil frequently rears its head (most often seen in the recurring character, the beautiful and treacherous Violet Sephotho), and thorny problems abound. But the mysteries that people bring to the agency, located under a huge acacia tree adjacent to Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, definitely take a backseat to the vivid characters, their often humorous personality clashes, and the glimpses of contemporary life in Botswana. This time the official mystery presented to the agency involves the possibly unjust firing of a woman working at an office warehouse. What seems an open-and-shut case gets more and more complex, with Precious and Grace arriving at different conclusions. The hub of the novel, though, concerns the personal difficulties that Precious faces, based on surprises that force her to reconsider her past and her relationships. New readers may be somewhat perplexed, but longtime fans of the series will feel as if they've come home again.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Of all McCall-Smith's ongoing projects, the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels remain the standard bearer, with the largest built-in audience of devotees, especially in libraries. Copyright 2017 Booklist Reviews.

No plot details yet for the 18th outing of the top-notch ladies' detective agency run in Botswana by Precious Ramotswe with the help of Grace Makutsi, but McCall Smith has been busy. On May 9, he received the Medal of Honor for Achievement in Literature from the National Arts Club in New York.

The case of Charity Mompoloki, who claims she was fired unjustly from her job at an office supply company in Gaborone, Botswana, preoccupies Precious Ramotswe and her ambitious assistant, Grace Makutsi, who now styles herself principal investigating officer, in Smith's pleasing, leisurely paced 18th No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel (after 2016's Precious and Grace). Charity was charged with having been rude to a customer, but might her male boss have had devious reasons for getting rid of her? Meanwhile, Precious's disreputable ex-husband, trumpet player Note Mokoti, has resurfaced in Gaborone. And Precious's chance discovery of a hitherto-unknown relative, a nurse named Mingie Ramotswe, initially causes her a great deal of angst. Precious, who's so good at helping others in need, suddenly has serious personal problems, and her gentle husband, Mr. J.L.B. Maketoni, can provide only limited solace. On the way to the surprising resolution, Smith delivers some important lessons about human frailty and the value of charity. Agent: Robin Straus, Robin Straus Agency. (Nov.)