To the Land of Long Lost Friends

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 20

By: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by: Lisette Lecat

Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

In the latest book in the widely beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Precious Ramotswe takes on a case for a childhood acquaintance and finds that family relationships are always a tricky proposition - even for Botswana's premier female detective.

Mma Ramotswe has reconnected with an old friend who has been having problems with her daughter. Though Precious feels compelled to lend a hand, she discovers that getting involved in family affairs is always a delicate affair. The young woman appears to be involved with a charismatic preacher. But are his ministrations entirely of a godly nature?

Elsewhere, Charlie is also struggling with a tricky matter of the heart. He wishes to propose to his girlfriend, Queenie-Queenie, but he's struggling to come up with a bride price that will impress her father. When Queenie-Queenie's brother offers to help by giving him a job, the offer may not be quite what Charlie expected.

As always, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni will offer wise counsel, Mma Makutsi will weigh in with her opinions, and Mma Potokwane will be there with her welcome fruit cake. But in the end it will be up to Mma Ramotswe to reflect on love, family, and the nature of men and women in order to resolve family dramas and remind everyone about all the good things they have in life - so many, in fact, that it would take far too long to count them.

©2019 Alexander McCall Smith (P)2019 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"How lovely to spend time again with Mma Precious Ramotswe, of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Thanks to the quiet performance of Lisette Lecat, series fans reconnect with a bevy of fully formed Botswana residents.... Sensitive writing, wry humor, and Lecat's deft performance make this choice listening." (AudioFile Magazine)

More lovliness

I loved it. It has more of the gentle sweet descriptions of land, people, trouble & joys we have come to expect from #1 Ladies.

like an old friend, this book's sweet listening

absolutely does not disappoint! lissette lecat is superb as always. she is the voice of these characters and of Botswana. just a delight!!!

Wonderful

I have listened to all of this series during the pandemic. Started the first one in Jan. and finished this one today. I have loved these books and I will miss it. It is a wonderful book and series where you root for the good guys and are happy when the bad guys are caught. A great book where you just feel good listening to it. In a world where everything is doom and gloom, this book and series made me laugh. I will miss all of the characters. I hope the little white van lasts forever! Lisette Lecat does an amazing job! I love her R’s and I will miss her voice. I am sad to see this series come to an end.

Gentle and full of humor

Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies Detective Agency series is where I go when I seek solace from hectic, jarring interactions of everyday life. The main characters in The Number One Ladies Detective Agency are imbued with contradictions that are endearing. For example, Mma Makutse respects and loves Mma Romotswe as her dear friend, yet notices that she always quotes Seretse Kama on many more subjects than he could ever have commented upon. The characters' inner dialog is interesting. And Mma Romatswe herself is not always right. So in many ways the author gently and humorously exposes contradictions in human nature that make people so interesting, and that's one of the things that make these books so enjoyable. I have read this series for years, and each book several times. For me reading or listening to these books are like coming home after a tough day. I think it's the kindness and humor in the author's heart that shines through.

Amusing

I find this series of books light and amusing with a bit of philosophy and human nature tucked in for good measure. The author does an excellent job of drawing the characters in words making it fun to picture them in my mind’s eye.

Who is Hector?

Is the author mixing up the names of characters? Or is it a case of poor proofreading? I love this series, but these kinds of mistakes make the story line confusing. As always, Lisette Lecat does a wonderful job narrating!

Another triumph of storytelling.

McMcall Smith and Mma Ramotswa never disappoint. This story was particularly moving. I enjoyed the mysteries and as always, loved the humor.

More of the wonderful story ....

To those who have yet to meet Mma Precious Ramotswe, you will develop a fine relationship with her and her compatriots in this latest telling of the Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency.
If you have not experienced these stories prior to this tale, you should really, really, go back and start with the first book. The stories are thoroughly enjoyable, and the narration is absolute perfection. Ms Lisette Lecat, who is from South Africa, gives the stories the lilt and inflection that only a person who is thoroughly familiar with the idioms of the area would have.
I have read these books, and I have listened to them, and the Audible version is far, far better: some pronunciations are simply not transferable to the printed page ( such as the pronunciation of, ‘Mma’ ) and this narrator is perfectly suited to these wonderful stories.

Hooray for Madame Ramotswe

Lisette Lecat is a wonder. She brings McCall’s characters to life so they feel like old friends. The civility and humanness in his characters is so uplifting- particularly in these trying times.

Another enjoyable entry

Another enjoyable entry in the series. Two mysteries: why a daughter has cut ties with her mother, Ma Ramotswe's old friend (and why she's suddenly driving a Mercedes) and is a husband really studying math on evenings he's spending with a teacher. (Ma Makutsi doubts his innocence and doesn't want to close the case quite yet.) And happy news: Queenie Queenie wants to marry Charlie (but she wants her brother to help him make money fast for the cattle for the bride price. The brother is not on the level but wants Charlie to render cars inoperable for those who can't or won't pay their loansharks. Charlie meets Queenie Queenie's father and surprised me with his honesty, winning my heartfelt admiration.) A good one. (Especially since I started the next one and HATE the new reader. She TRILLS her R's so much she becomes incomprehensible. After years of enjoying Lissette Lecat, I found the new reader a abominable.)