• The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

  • No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Number 13
  • By: Alexander McCall Smith
  • Narrated by: Lisette Lecat
  • Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,453 ratings)

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The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection  By  cover art

The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

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

Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series has become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the appeal of endearing protagonist Precious Ramotswe and the author’s charmingly quirky prose. In this 13th installment, Mma Ramotswe’s attention is focused on a pesky disciplinary problem at her adopted daughter’s school - while Grace Makutsi adjusts to wedded bliss and the famed Clovis Andersen arrives in Botswana looking for more than bush tea.

©2012 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

What listeners say about The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

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    5 out of 5 stars
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This series + this narrater = great entertainment

This series is best enjoyed with a really good narrator and Lisette Lecat is that. Her reading brings the characters to life. Since there are many unfamiliar places and names in Botswana hearing them pronounced correctly contributes to the enjoyment of these books. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series is not "serious literature" but it is great fun and very entertaining. The characters are engaging and the insight into the day to day lives of "ordinary" people in Botswana is interesting. This book is the latest in the series and does not disappoint. I would recommend starting to listen to the series from the beginning since there are many references to events and people from the earlier books, so knowing some of the background of the characters does add to the enjoyment. It is like visiting old friends from far away.

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15 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A Delightful visit with Mma Ramotswe

I am a fan of Alexander McCall Smith and love his meandering philosophizing. Lisette Lecat bring the book to life with her narration of the book. In this story Clovis Anderson comes to town and helps Precious solve her crime. Smith's stories always impart some pearls of wisdom and or ethics in an interesting story. When reading his books I always feel like I have just had afternoon tea with an old friend. For those of you who are fans enjoy the book. This series always makes me want to take a trip to Botswana. I understand this month they are releasing another new book called The Great Cake Mystery. It takes place when Precious is a child. Can not wait for it to come out.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Another gem

Where does The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Whenever there is a new book in the series from the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency I jump on buying it. This is such a charming series with characters that I have grown to love and almost think of as real. I envision them living their lives in Jabarony in Botswana and each of these books is a snapshot of what they have been doing. I love this series.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters. Hands down. They are real and lovable and fallible and comforting. I like knowing they are there. Nothing really ever happens in these stories, but I still can't put them down. They are a delicious slice of life. I also LOVE the narrator. She is one of the best audible has.

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

Amazing as always. She is wonderful and consistent and I love listening to her melodious voice.

Any additional comments?

I almost shouted for joy when the foreigner walked into Ma. Ramotswy's office. I think I was just as excited as they were to meet him.

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6 people found this helpful

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Just like pulling on my favorite sweatshirt

I have become a huge fan of this series. My first introduction to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency was through the audiobook, and I loved the way Lisette Lecat made Botswana real to me. I love the way she pronounces Mma Ramotswe's name (and every other Botswana name, for that matter). I have read some books in the series, but know that I much more enjoy them when listening. There is nothing surprising or monumental in any of the books, and this one is no exception. But the wisdom, grace, and humor I find in the traditional Botswana wisdom woven for me in these stories is the equivalent of putting on my favorite comfortable sweatshirt and curling up in front of the fire with a nice cup of tea. Except I can be drawn into this world while still doing tasks that need doing.

I also found myself brewing a lot more tea while I listened to this book.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Al
  • 04-18-12

These can never be bad

This one is not quite as good as the others. I love listening to Lisette Lecat. She has a wonderful voice and she is so good at bringing the characters in this series to life.
I think what I missed in this book is the time out then the author tells us about Africa and how beautiful it is. There really wasn't that moment in this book and I missed it.
The story was ok and the characters wonderful and that means alot.

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No. 13 in the No. 1 Ladies Detectives.

In this 13th installment of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, MMa Ramotswe and MMa Makutsi have lots of problems to solve. One of the apprentices of the car repair takes on extra work from a friend for money, and it turns out he is working on stolen cars. Both he and his friend are arrested, and the apprentice turns out to have a very bad lawyer. MMa Ramotswe must help him find his way out of this problem. Then the matron of the orphanage is dismissed from service because the board of directors wants to build a new kitchen instead of each little house having its own kitchen and housemother, and she opposes this change. Mma Ramotswe investigates to find out what really is going on with the board, (shady business to be sure) and to help the matron get her job back. And Mma Makutsi and her newly wed husband are building a house, but there’s something a little shady about the builder. And finally, Clovis Anderson, whose book on private detection both women have memorized to help them in their investigations, comes to Botswana coincidentally, (that’s a little hard to swallow but for these books I’ll suspend disbelief) and helps them with the investigations already mentioned, and they, and we find out about Clovis Anderson. It’s the warmthand humor in these books that makes them so wonderful. And no one could read them better than Lisette Legat. Her pace may be too slow for some, (it normally would be for me), but the pace fits the books and the slower pace of Botswana. These are books that make you feel good, unusual for mysteries.

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4 people found this helpful

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I think this is the best of the whole series

I really loved this book. It's hard to put my finger on why I enjoyed this even more than some of the others in the series, but I did. If you love this series, I think you will be really happy with this one. This one is much more memorable than some of the others which I can hardly remember. I won't forget this one!
I recommend whole heartedly!

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Enjoyable light listen

I always enjoy this series, largely because of Lisette Lecat. She makes me want to talk like a Botswana native! This story didn't seem as well developed as some of the earlier books in the series, but it is still very enjoyable. I particularly enjoy Precious' internal struggles with retaining her moral principles while being sure that the culprit is appropriately punished. The gentle humor and constant reminders of the value in taking the time to slow down and appreciate the world around you is a refreshing change from murder and mayhem.

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Slow down and enjoy!

Any additional comments?

That is how this series affects my psyche! This series is literally brought to life by narrator Ms. Lecat, the world that seems far away is brought home. The way the daily lives of the wonderfully created characters make any situation in their lives easy to work thru with a cup of tea and taking time to think. With the rich story and descriptive background there is no need for sex, violence, or even mushy romance to make for a truely saticfing story. I hope to enjoy many more stories from Mr. McCall Smith & Mma Rawmoswe

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lucky #13

What did you love best about The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection?

I always love the easy flow of this series. The people and story line are like old friends that you care for. The mystery is never so far off base that is unbelievable, but everyday troubles and solutions.

Which scene was your favorite?

i loved the scenes when Grace as usual is Miss Busy- Body- Know-It-All and states her unsolicited opinions

Any additional comments?

I love the story and really love the narrator Lisette Lescat.
I would love to see the series back on HBO..LOVED JILL SCOTT IN THE PRECIOUS ROLE

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