Tears of the Giraffe

More from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

By: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by: Lisette Lecat

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

In this thoroughly entertaining book, the best-selling, critically acclaimed author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency continues the story of Mma "Precious" Ramotswe, the clever proprietor of the only detective agency in all of Botswana.

Now engaged to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe must contend with the hostility of her fianci's unscrupulous maid, who quickly begins plotting the disintegration of the arrangement. Then an American woman asks for help to learn the truth behind her son's disappearance in Africa, and Mma Ramotswe has all the troubles she can handle.

Part detective story, part comedy of manners and part African travelogue, Tears of the Giraffe is an indisputable joy.

Listen to the other titles in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

©2000 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"I haven't read anything with such unalloyed pleasure for a long time." (The Sunday Telegraph)

Takes you to a different place...

The pace of this series is steady but peaceful. I don't want to say that it's slow, because it isn't. It is chock full of things happening, layer upon layer. When I read these, I am THERE. And that is something to be savored. And just think: A woman running her own business...it's the same the world over. But the perspectives are very different. That makes for a very thought provoking tale.

Very simple Clever wonderful book

Love it I definitely recommend this wisely written book. It’s talk about love hate poor and rich and every include in life

Excellent Series

I couldn’t stop. I Loved the stories that were told through her solving detective work. I am getting the 3rd book immediately

I’m listening to these again!

Actually, I read most of these books in paper not too long after they were released. I loved them then and was completely charmed by their stories, the characters and the uniquely Botswanan (or African) points of view.

Listening to them is a wonderful experience, and I am hearing many of the stories in ways I had not considered them before. Of course, Lisette LeCat must be mentioned as the ultimate voice of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. She does an incredible job and the lilt in her voice as she speaks for Precious and the rest of the characters is superb.

I was thrilled to find the first 3 books of the series available in the Plus Catalog, so if you haven’t read these yet, start with the first book, The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and give them a try.

Wonderful story told so well

The adventures of the courageous lady detective are beautifully written and performed. A pleasure to listen.

Every bit as good as the first book in the series

This second book in the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series is another outstanding story. The reader is excellent and by the time you're into this second book you realize that she IS the voice of the series. You'll also want to visit Botswana as a result of this series.

love it

this was another great book. I am hooked on this series. I know I will have to read them all to see where this journey in Botswana takes me. Big surprise to find out about the children too😊.

lyrical and haunting

what an interesting departure from the typical detective genre. filled with more heart and human feeling than mystery, and endlessly suspenseful for all that. maybe even because of that.

fantastic

This beautiful story allows the reader to have some detailed sense of Botswana, from setting and cultural details to the narration--without overburdening the story--but enough that makes me want to visit. (Some books spend so much time on setting that the reader is bored before they can become engaged with the story.) This author adds only the richest details that propel the story forward and add meaning. I didn't want it to end and liked it so much, I'm going to buy a printed book.

excellent series

all of the books in these series have such wonderful stories about people and simple lessons but yet so deeply moving and thought provoking. Love the performance absolutely excellent