The Kalahari Typing School for Men: More from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The Alexander McCall Smith books are jewels, and Lisette Lecat, the reader, makes every facet sparkle. Pick one. Pick them all. They are gems.

As in each of the A.McCall books, this one, again, takes me to a place of peace/without boredom; learning and discovery/without condescension; and, excitement/without adrenaline. The Reader, Lizette, is not "good." She is brilliant. I would love to see her perform, for she must be a splendid actress onstage/film, as well as on recorded books. Give yourself a wonderful treat with all these Botswana books...careful though, might make you want to move there - soon.

I usually only buy audible books that have 10 hours plus listening time (more for the money!) but bought The Kalahari Typing School for Gentlemen when I was sick with a cold and wanted to listen to something light (I had read the previous 4 books the old-fashioned way). But after listening to Ms. Lecat's narration, I've ordered the next in the series from Audible too. Both she and Mma Ramatswe rock!

If you haven't listened to a No. 1 Detective Agency Series, i recommend it. Not exciting crime here --just human foibles investigated by a delightful cast led by the traditionally build Mma Ramatswe.

I have never had much interest in visiting Africa but after reading this series (and seeing the HBO/BBC television mini series), I find myself wishing I could go to Botswana and walk the streets of Gabarone, visit the African mall, and drink bush tea on the porch of a nice, traditionally built Botswanan woman, though I doubt if any real person could measure up to Precious Ramatswe.

This one does not disappoint! I like that we got to learn more aout Mma. Makutsi. Simply charming.

I overheard a conversation by two attendees at the Utah Shakespeare Festival last summer. They were discussing their favorite series: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. I had been looking for a new series to get into and this overheard recommendation seemed worth trying. They were right! Much to his amazement, my husband enjoys it too.

We like the people. They are real, they are funny and imperfect. The plot moves along nicely, but it's the people we like.

If you want a fun read without expectations of fast moving adventure and deep mystery, this book will keep you interested and smiling at the two ladies and their friends and the pictures the book conjures in your mind of the African bush country. I recommend this book for reading when you just want to chill out with a fun story and colorful characters.

The shoes that Mma Cotswai (sp?) was able to buy with her earnings from the Typing School.

Wonderful accent and speech pattern.

If you're in the mood to visit a whole other world, where life moves at a slower pace, people have good intentions, where it's okay to be 20lbs overweight and driving a used car, then you can't do better than this series. (If you're in the mood for action, snappy dialogue, and plot twists, this is NOT the book/series for you.)

I liked this book as much as the previous ones read by Lisette Lecat. But there were some continuity issues on small details which drove me nuts.

For example:

In the previous book, Mma Makutsi says she makes 'better money than she could at any other job'; in this book, she suddenly isn't making enough money, but no explanation why (was her salary reduced? rent increased?).

In the previous book, Mma Makutsi's brother's illness is secret from Mma Ramotzwe, but in this one Mma Ramotzwe knows all about him - again, no explanation why.

But that kind of stuff bugs me more than other people, so I wouldn't let it stop you from getting this one.

If you're a fan of the series you'll like this one too. I especially like reading more about Mma Makutsi.

The story jumped around and I had a hard time following the various folks as they lived thier life. It had a heart warming ending, but took a long time to get here.

This book is an earlier sequel which I have somehow missed among the 8 or so now completed. It is, like the others, a good clean story about Botswanan culture and Mma Ramotswe's adventures with her detective agency. She is a bit of a feminist in a male dominated culture. No 1 Ladies Detective Agency stories are always a delight for my listening.

I hope Alexander McCall Smith writes a few more of this series.