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The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency  By  cover art

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

By: Alexander McCall Smith
Narrated by: Lisette Lecat
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Publisher's summary

This remarkably fresh and charming best seller took the world by storm upon its publication. It has since earned two Booker Judges' Special Recommendations and was voted one of the "International Books of the Year and the Millennium" by the Times Literary Supplement.

Mma "Precious" Ramotswe sets up a detective agency in Botswana on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, making her the only female detective in the country. At first, cases are hard to come by. But eventually, troubled people come to Precious with a variety of concerns. Potentially philandering husbands, seemingly schizophrenic doctors, and a missing boy who may have been killed by witch doctors all compel Precious to roam about in her tiny van, searching for clues.

Chosen as a Top Ten Mystery by the Organization of Independent Booksellers, U.S.A., The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is that rare novel that imparts a sage wisdom while inspiring hearty laughter and lasting smiles.

Listen to the other titles in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.
©1998 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

  • Book Sense Book of the Year Award Finalist, Paperback, 2003
  • Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner, Best First Novel by an American Author, 1998

"One of the most entrancing literary treats of many a year...A tapestry of extraordinary nuance and richness." (Wall Street Journal)
"An artful, pleasing novel...General audiences will welcome this little gem of a book just as much if not more than mystery readers." (Publishers Weekly)
"Smart and sassy...Precious' progress is charted in passages that have the power to amuse or shock or touch the heart, sometimes all at once." (Los Angeles Times)

What listeners say about The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    2,955
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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loved this!

Very interesting and clever. Very well written. I didn't want to put it down. Loved it. Highly recommend it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pure and simple

Loved it! Fabulous narrator! Other rvws said “nothing happened” but I learned a lot, completely invested in characters, beautiful story. Wonderful writing. A great little cultural experience.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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very entertaining!

Loved that this was a good, entertaining story without gratuitous sex or obscene language. Very interesting to learn about Botswana as well! Highly recommend!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Never wanted it to end!

Really enjoyed this and now have a new series to listen to. Recall watching this movie, the book is so much better. Loved the unexpected ending. The informative dialog about African lifestyle is another book tucked between the narrative pages and adds the cherry on top....sometimes you hate spending a credit on a 7 or 8 hr book, but this series is worth it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Charming, funny, grabs your heart

Wonderful heart-breaking beginning as you learn the female detective's backstory (and her father's - this was the book's highlight for me!), followed by weird and funny cozy mysteries involving crocodiles, cheating husbands, fake fathers, and lots of twists and creative solutions! I especially loved getting to know 20th century Botswana and the many eccentric characters. Highly recommended!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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New Favorite Book!

I loved this story so much! I think the portrayal of all the characters was perfect. Very well done. Definitely worth the read (listen)! I fell in love with Botswana while also falling for the thrill of the chase and the juicy details of others lives. I’ll keep this one in my circulation for the future. So good!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful stories! Wonderful story telling!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! This book has several stories going on and they are all great and heartfelt. The narrator does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency?

Every story was memorable. The first case was hilarious!

What does Lisette Lecat bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Everything! She is a wonderful storyteller!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

definitely !

Any additional comments?

A great glimpse at a dignified culture through wonderful stories! I already downloaded the next one in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

Smart, funny, mysterious and heartwarming. The writing and narration both convey the flavor of Africa and its people. Love the feminist perspective. I am looking for sequels immediately!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

It was okay

I enjoyed the story but wasn’t enthralled. I had to remind myself to read it. Maybe it just wasn’t the book for me!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointed, a bit formularic and at time clunky

After I heard so much about this series I was expecting a lot more. The writing could be formularic and clunky - I could predict outcomes chapters in advance. The best part was the personal history but the detective stories could use work.

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