Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

By: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by: Lisette Lecat

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

The 10th entry in the internationally best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series finds Precious Ramotswe investigating a mystery that hits close to home.

When she asks her dependable husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, to fix her tiny white van, Precious fears he might just sell the vehicle and buy her something more modern. And so he does. But this will not do. So Precious tries to track her beloved van down - and learns it has already been stolen from its new owner.

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

©2009 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A literary confection of gossamer deliciousness....There is no end to the pleasure that may be extracted from these books." ( The New York Times Book Review)

Excellent

As always, go into these novels with the understanding that you need to sit back, relax, and calm down. These are not thrillers; the action is slow. I read thrillers as well and they have their rewards, but the rewards of this series are completely different. Most books in the series don't even hint at a plot in the first few chapters. The draws here are the characters and setting, which are both wonderfully drawn and suprisingly compelling. The rewards are scattered throughout the novels (most of which come from the insights of the main character), with the biggest of these coming near the end as all the loose ends are tied up and all the events come to their conclusions, nearly always in satisfying - if unexpected - ways.

One other comment: I've read one book in the series and listened to the other 9. Lisette Lecat is one of the best narrators I've ever heard. I found myself hearing her voice in my head when I read the print book. After that I went back to audio... her voice and presentation are definitely and enhancement, a rare quality.

JUST OK - HORRIBLE NARRATOR

I have NEVER heard anyone from Botswana drag the "M" in names and words like this narrator! Everything sounds like "Mmmmmother mmmmmmakes mmmmmuch mmmmmmoney! IRRITATING! And it makes what could be a pleasing story drag along. I guess I got used to Jill Scott's expert acting as Precious Ramotswe in the HBO series. No one in the series went around drawling out "Mma" like "Mmmmmmmmmma". Hearing this over and over again, several times in one sentence hurts my ears! ! Lisette Lecat may be South African-born but not BLACK SOUTH AFRICAN! I'm tired of white narrators thinking that they know how we talk. Guess what? YOU DON'T!!!!

This is the only one of many reviews that I've written here where I have nothing to say about the story because the narration is the worst in over 300 Audible.com I've purchased. Glad I got this book on sale but it's not even worth the sales price! Does Audible even listen to these books when the narration is completed? Obviously not! I know there must be black, African-American, and African narrators out there to do justice to our voices. Find some, Audible! I'm getting weary of listening to us sound like minstrels or just plain ridiculous as in this book! A MEERKAT could have done better than LECAT!

Always a delight

Several mysteries in one book with delightful characters. This writer always leaves you with a good feeling of moral values.

Entertaining but slow starter

Where does Tea Time for the Traditionally Built rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to most of the series now and have enjoyed it immensely. This was the first book that was a bit of a disappointment in that it wasn't as meaty with problems for the lady detective to solve. The beginning was so slow - the pace was simply not like his prior books in the series..

Would you be willing to try another book from Alexander McCall Smith? Why or why not?

Absolutely. McCall Smith has done what many have not - combined moral and ethical people with interesting adventures without one bit of moralizing. His insight into friendships and the interelationships between spouses is spot on. I've learned some social skills as I witness this lady detective moving through her world making it a better place. In short, these are interesting and entertaining stories with a conscious.

Have you listened to any of Lisette Lecat’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She's very consistent. I feel that I know the characters very well through her interpretations.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Wisdom among friends

Any additional comments?

I listen to books while going to sleep so I don't like anything heavy or too exciting. These books give me entertainment with purpose. I love this series and am sorry to be coming closer to the end of it. However, I want to see the quality as consistent as the reader.

Not the best listen

Just an ok listen and not very memorable. I'm not sure I'll try another with this combo of writer and reader.

love the characters and their love for Botswana

I really enjoy the solutions Mma Ramotswe comes up with. the characters are developing so organically and I love the peace they find in their town.

One question answered....

Mma Ramotswe and her associate, Mma Makutsi work on a case together and learn a bit about football (soccer, to Americans) while solving a big case. Mr Polopetsi is more involved also.
The younger apprentice now has a name, and impresses Mma Ramotswe. Violet Sephotho makes yet another disturbing appearance......
These are the continuing stories of the only private detection agency in Botswana, and the characters are quite busy for a while.
Now to solve the rest of the questions; I hope this series continues forever..........

Enjoyable

This book is a little slower paced compared to the others, but I did enjoy it.

Narrator is good

The newer narrator on later books is unintelligible Love the series but second thoughts about ordering newer episodes

Disappointed

I didn't like this book nearly as much as The #1 Ladies Detective Agency. I thought the pace was crawling, and regretted purchasing it.