“I was enchanted by the character of Precious Ramotswe and the sly humour of Alexander McCall Smith’s writing, his deft evocation of a culture.”

 

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

The second in the series of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and a really delightful read.

I liked it better than the first, because the author doesn’t have to set up the scene and the characters (which made the beginning of the first book quite slow).

This book takes over from the ending of the first, wherein Mma Ramotswe agrees to get married to Mr Matekoni.

A mother brings the case of her long-lost son to Mma Ramotswe. You are left to wonder if letting the past alone is sometimes the best advice to be given and let it be buried with decency. But then, when she visits the remains of the 10-year old site, she can sense something. How can one convey these subtle truths to someone who conceived of the world as being entirely explainable by science?

There are small snippets of daily ongoings: a couple of orphans, Mma Makutsi (her secretary), cheating wives (yes, for a change it’s not the husband!) and so much more.

And I maintain, and re-iterate, these books are about humanity.
Simply written, full of warmth, somewhere deep down they tug at your heart!

My rating: 4/5

 

Reviewed by:

Ranjini Sen

Added 10th August 2017