The Kalahari Typing School for Men

More from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

By: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by: Lisette Lecat

International best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith delivers another delightful tale from his critically acclaimed No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

Precious Ramotswe's comfortable existence as the only detective in Botswana is suddenly rattled when the Satisfaction Guaranteed Detective Agency opens, and its brochure proclaims, "Don't take any chances! Entrust your enquiries to a MAN!" As if the development isn't enough, Mma Ramotswe has also taken on two difficult cases, one of which hits close to home. But with wisdom on her side, Mma Ramotswe figures to crack both cases and upstage her competition.

©2002 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A dose of easy humor laces the pages, as McCall Smith throws in wry observations, effortlessly commenting on the vagaries his protagonist encounters as she negotiates Botswana bureaucracy. This is another graceful entry in a pleasingly modest and wise series." (Publishers Weekly)
"Lisette Lecat, a native South African, offers a near perfect narration...Lecat handles male voices exceptionally well, and her version of Mma Ramotswe is the definitive voice of that remarkable woman." (AudioFile)
"One of the most entrancing literary treats of many a year...A tapestry of extraordinary nuance and richness." (Wall Street Journal)

Love the stories. So sweet

I will be reading the entire series and looking forward to the different stories, and the different people in the stores

Another Great Intstallment

If you could sum up The Kalahari Typing School for Men in three words, what would they be?

Sweet. Funny. Familiar.

If you’ve listened to books by Alexander McCall Smith before, how does this one compare?

I have read all of the Ladies Detective Agency books, but this is the first one I listened to on Audible. It starts out very, very slowly and I almost gave up on it but I was glad I stuck it out. It is perhaps not as exciting as some of his previous installments in this series.

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

Her narrative is smooth and lyrical, which fits the story well. She pronounces the names so effortlessly and I immediately fell into the rhythm of her voice. She kept me listening even through the slow first part of the book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not have an extreme reaction, but it did make me smile and occasionally mist up.

I am addicted to this series

What did you love best about The Kalahari Typing School for Men?

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.

Any additional comments?

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

Simplicity

The apparent simplicity of the people is very well portrayed and the mastery of the writing pairs perfectly with the verbal interpretation. The voices and the tones and accents are delightful and well done.

Great if you like the series, but...

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.