In the Time of Five Pumpkins

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #26

by Alexander McCall Smith

In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe and her loyal associates take on a sensitive new case and learn valuable lessons

Life is never dull for Botswana’s premier lady detective, Precious Ramotswe. As a particularly delicate situation is brought to her attention, she must, with the help of her loyal associate Grace Matsuki, set out to investigate the peculiar circumstances surrounding the case. Over the course of their inquiries, unexpected information continues coming to light, leaving the pair puzzled—eventually, Mma Ramotswe will realize that the truth, as ever, is more complicated than it first seems.

With the generosity and good humor that guide all her endeavors, Mma Ramotswe will untangle these questions for herself and her loved ones, and prove that with a healthy dose of wisdom and a steaming cup of red bush tea, compassion will always win the day.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Africa, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Botswana, Adult Fiction

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

#26 in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I love the imaginative titles for each book in this series.

In this episode Charlie, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are all involved in working on one very confusing case. Meanwhile Mr J.L.B. Makatoni makes a new friend but is he to be trusted? We get to spend plenty of time with Mma Pokotoni eating her marvellous fruit cake and drinking rooibos tea. And we discover that not all of Botswana's wildlife is safe to be around.

As usual a book to read when you feel like time out from the busy world we live in. McCall Smith's Botswana is calmer and more relaxed place, although there was plenty of action in that puff adder chapter! Definitely a feel good book and fully worth five stars.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful read from Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana. This whole series is like coming home after a long day, kicking off your shoes, and collapsing on the couch. I never tire of it.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I love the many stories written by Alexander McCall Smith. He has written over 100 adult and children's books and has several ongoing series. (My favourite is 44 Scotland Street, set in Edinburgh, because of the adorable young boy, Bertie.) The popular No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is always high on my 'must-read' list, and I have been reading the series since its beginning. The author infuses each story with a vivid sense of place and with memorable characters. In the Time of Five Pumpkins is the 26th in this series, and set in Botswana. I love the wit, wisdom, and gentle philosophy of life included in his writing. Kindness, tolerance, patience, and forgiveness are virtues displayed by Precious Ramotswe, the head of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

This is a cozy and comforting series that immerses one in the beauty and culture of Botswana and brings back the significant characters. It is like revisiting old friends. The main detectives are functioning in a more tolerant and cooperative manner. Grace Matsuki inserted herself as secretary when the agency first opened. She soon promoted herself to detective and continues to add many new titles to her position. She now calls herself 'executive president of development'.She comes across as entitled, critical, and belligerent, but Mma P. Ramotswe recognizes Grace's insecurity and chooses to ignore her annoying personality, praising her for her fine work ethic. Grace was intolerant of young Charlie when he was sent to help out around the office. Charlie assumed the title of assistant detective, and Grace is presently acting as his advisor. Precious is helping by bringing him on investigations. They are functioning better as a team.

A husband and wife become the first cases. They come in separately, both asking to have their partner followed. They each feel a coldness in their marriage, believe they are no longer loved, and want to confirm if their partner is faithful or is having an affair.
Precious is concerned about her husband, J.L.B. Makatoni, who runs a small car repair business in an adjacent building. He has been befriended by the prosperous owner of a large auto business.
Precious and Grace suspect something suspicious is behind their friendship, but can't figure out the motive. After the two men encounter dangerous situations, Charlie fears a murder is planned. Is J.L.B. or his small business in danger?
Precious R. manages to sort out the problems over cups of bush tea, fruitcake, and kind, comforting conversations.

This seemed a bit slow, predictable, and repetitive, but probably because I'd read the previous books in the series.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading the twenty-sixth installment in one of my favorite series, The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency. This book, “In the Time of Five Pumpkins”, continues Alexander McCall Smith’s signature style of gentle storytelling and moral reflection. I have thoroughly enjoyed this long-running series over the years. From what I’ve seen, readers tend to either love his work or find it not to their taste.

As always, the story unfolds at a leisurely pace, inviting readers to ponder ethical dilemmas and everyday kindness—often over a cup of bush tea. McCall Smith has a gift for weaving small but powerful insights into his narratives. In this book, one such idea is the importance of employers recognizing and valuing long-serving employees. It is a simple suggestion, yet one that could make a meaningful difference in the world.

I listened to the audiobook version, which runs seven hours and twenty-three minutes and is available on Audible. Bianca Amato delivers a solid narration, and one of the pleasures of the audio format is hearing the Botswana accent brought to life. It adds a layer of authenticity and warmth that enhances the experience.

[Seawitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read every book in The #1 Ladies Detective series.

In any long-standing series, some books stand out more than others. This one was a bit slow-going for me in terms of plot and the “sameness” of the characters. There are suspicious/cheating couples, big slices of fruitcake, mechanics needing interventions, orphans with sad beginnings.

Nonetheless, even when the story is a bit the same, Alexander McCall Smith is gifted in his inimitable ability to create pleasant, hopeful books that affirm the importance of goodness and kindness and tolerance.

What touched me deeply in this book, was a short paragraph where Precious takes a moment to acknowledge and appreciate her employee and friend Grace, with simple but powerful words.

Workplaces, bosses, colleagues can be so toxic, and what a beautiful reminder to appreciate those who we spend our days with - those people we toil with day in and day out often for decades. Sometimes we may even find these people annoying and probably they find us the same at times! Grace surely can be. But, her history is a sad one, yet she is so resilient. Sometimes her resilience presents as pedantic, ambitious, insecure. She wants so much to succeed and to be recognized for all her efforts. I love that AMS reminds us of the power of kind and supportive words to heal those around us. I’m inspired to be a more appreciative human to those in my daily life. Recently, I’ve had a number of colleagues who have been especially kind to me - so perhaps that’s why this was so poignant for me. Thank you, Sandy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Installment #26 of this series, and I still look forward to each one. The ladies find out all they need to know about a case where both the husband and the wife retain their services, so it gets a little tricky. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni makes a new friend who is disliked by everyone else, especially Charlie, who has deep suspicions. Mma Potokwane dispenses fruitcake and advice....in other words, business as usual in Botswana. There was a lot of gentle philosophy in this one about aging, charity toward others and human decency in a changing world. Always a pleasure and a nice break to read these gentle books.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander McCall Smith continues to surprise and delight us through this wonderful series. I found this volume to be particularly filled to the brim with tea and comfort. Indeed, I guffawed out loud when I read, "Nobody ever looks back over her life and says, 'I wish I had drunk less tea,' Mma Ramotswe observed. Nor did one ever hear, at a funeral service, the words, 'She drank far too much tea.'"

I enjoyed the passage that talks about business owners of businesses such as dry cleaners and hardware stores knowing the basic needs of their customers before they come through the door. However, "nobody went into a dry-cleaner's or a hardware store to unburden themselves of some long-concealed secret or a nagging fear." For those needs, they might visit a detective agency and hope to "find the listening ear, and the solace, that troubled people so sorely need."

One of my favorite characters is Mma Potokwani who manages the Orphan Farm. I love how she expands her initial banner that answers the question what do children need? She begins with:
"They need one thing: unconditional love. If they have that, they have everything," and adds a second thing: "healthy food, with not too many fried dishes," next she adds a third thing: "a lot of outdoor exercise," and finally, a fourth thing: "a regular routine."

When we are young, well-meaning people tell us our lives will pass by very quickly and "we think that this is just one of those things that adults say and that as children we know to be false." Then, before we know it we have lived a lifetime and are telling young people about the "old days" that they have no memory of and we realize that it is true that life passes quickly by and we "feel a bit sad, really, because none of us wants to say goodbye to the place we love, and the people too..."

I felt sadness creep over me again as I read that "words were dying, quietly and unlamented, through lack of use on the lips of younger people; it seemed, at times, that only the old remembered, and as they in due course became silent, whole lexicons of vocabulary were heard no more."

However, I found comfort in: "Their world - their country, with all its stories - was still there, not just in memory, but, in sometimes quite subtle ways, all around them, a reassuring presence that gave the same comfort as a parent might give, just by being present, when darkness falls."

Then, I found it endearing when Mma Ramotswe notices that her husband "had eaten his last sausage and had almost finished his helping of pumpkin, and with that instinct that so many women have, that wonderful caring feeling for those whom they loved, she speared a sausage on her fork and passed it to him."

Wise words from Mma Ramotswe: "We are a detective agency - we are not menders of souls. All we can say is that it is best not to be unkind in this life."

Further tea quotes:

"Perhaps we should think about it over a cup of tea. Tea, of course, was always the solution to a difficult issue."

"she added, 'Would you like another cup of tea, Mma Makutsi?' Tea was always safe - always."

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She had felt doubtful earlier on, but now she felt more confident about the likely outcome. Lunch could do that sort of thing: you might sit down in a state of indecision, and get up from it with a renewed sense of certainty, particularly if you took your lunch at the President Hotel, and if the chicken and rice that you ordered was perfectly cooked and quite delicious – particularly then.”

In The Time Of Five Pumpkins is the twenty-sixth book in the popular Ladies Number One Detective Agency series by award-winning, bestselling British author, Sir Alexander McCall Smith. In it, readers are once again privy to the lives of Botawana’s finest private detectives and vehicle mechanics as they ply their trade on the Tlokweng Road in Gabarone. The audio version is narrated by Adjoa Andoh.

When Precious Ramotse notices Grace Makursi’s latest promotion of herself, to executive president for development, she muses that “People paid very little attention to the titles that people gave themselves in the working world. What mattered was whether the work of the business was done to the satisfaction of the client, and there was no doubt but that Mma Makutsi was efficient and, what was more, effective.”

Although the first impression that their new client, Mr Excellence Modise conveys is none too favourable, he is a client, and he believes his wife is having an affair. In the process of teaching apprentice detective Charlie, their surveillance is less covert than it could be, and Mma Alesang Modise challenges Precious to support the sisterhood and, instead, investigate her husband. It presents her with a conflict of interest: what will she decide?

At Mma Sylvia Potokwani’s Orphan Farm, Precious observes a boy whose history proves he is brave, and in his interaction with her, unfailingly polite. He might have lost the running race, but Precious presents him with a prize anyway. Fruitcake is enjoyed, and Precious is shown the titular pumpkins that are being grown by Mma Potokwani for the Tlokweng Agricultural Show: will any of them win a prize?

When Mr JLB Matekoni suddenly acquires a new friend, Mma Makutsi is not the only one who questions the genuineness of Freddie Mogorosi’s intentions and, after a potentially fatal incident, Charlie shares his theory about what is really going on. Is Mr J.L.B. Matekoni’s life in danger?
Afterwards, “he wanted nothing more than to be back home, sitting on the veranda of the house on Zebra Drive, drinking tea with Mma Ramotswe and reflecting on the fact that between an exciting life and a dull but safe existence, he would, on balance, choose the latter.”

In this instalment, Precious opines that both Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and the Number One Ladies Detective Agency are in the business of caring; Grace and Phuti discuss the alarming trend towards uncomfortable furniture; A fable about a coop of hens and a jackal is used to illustrate a point; Precious reconnects with a friend from her youth.

Also, the energy of small children is marvelled at; Precious remembers the wise words about the country’s creatures that her beloved Daddy, Obed Ramotswe bestowed upon her; observing Mma Ramotswe, Charlie learns the value of the right questions and the occasional compliment in garnering useful information; and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni improvises to facilitate an act of bravery, later demonstrating his goodness by being generously forgiving.

As always, McCall Smith gives the reader some minor mysteries that don’t tax the brain too much, laced with plenty of gentle philosophy, humour, and wise and insightful observations. Guaranteed feel-good.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Precious and Grace receive a visit from a new client neither of them particularly likes, but they still have to work the case, which turns out to be wrought with confusion. Precious' husband has a new friend who is spending a lot of time with him, but even Precious struggles to like him--yes, two unlikable men in the same book. Pumpkins are growing, and Precious' good friend at the orphanage hopes to enter her biggest one in a contest once the rainy season gets going.

Better to read the blurb; even better yet, read the book. It never ceases to amaze me that McCall Smith manages to keep this series singing after so many installments.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read every book in this series and unfortunately I feel the characters are getting a bit stale. There was almost no mention of Mma Romatswe’s children in this book. As a long time reader, I would have liked to see the children’s characters developed a bit more as they grow older, perhaps working with Precious or JLB in their respective businesses. No mention at all of Mma Makutski’s child at all. I was disappointed in the same old rehashed plots of the past. I agree with many of the other reviewers that in this chaotic world it is a comforting book to read when all the characters are good and honest people, but the story needs some refreshment.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is exactly what fans of the series love: a cozy, slightly meandering trip through the pages, with plenty of tea-drinking moments and reflective conversations, alongside a couple of lightly plotted cases for the ladies to exercise their insight on. There is definitely a need for quiet and gentle fiction like this in today's world, and I'm happy that Alexander McCall Smith is around to provide it.

Thanks to Pantheon through Netgalley for this digital review copy!

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the twenty sixth in the captivating No.1 Ladies Detective series. The beloved characters, including the talking shoes, are all back.

Precious Ramotse and her associate, who has yet again given herself a new title, are approached by a man who seeks their help in investigating his wife. As they delve into the case, there are some unexpected twists. Meanwhile, her husband, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, has a new friend, a prosperous man in the auto business. The women and Charlie harbor suspicions about this new friend’s ulterior motives.

Mma Ramotswe, as always, demonstrates her remarkable ability to devise clever and successful solutions to problems. Her gentle demeanor and unwavering optimism in finding the positive in even the most challenging situations offer a sense of comfort and solace. Her wisdom is profound in its simplicity.

With its intriguing plotlines and colorful characters, this is another delightful addition to the series. It’s an ideal choice for a cozy afternoon or evening read, accompanied by a warm pot of tea. Fans of McCall Smith’s gentle prose and insightful musings will undoubtedly find this latest endeavor to be a welcome addition to their reading list.


Thanks to @NetGalley and @aaknopf for the DRC.

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mma Makutsi take a dislike to the new prospective client, who wants surveillance on his wife, who he thinks is having an affair. Then, the wife comes to the agency requesting surveillance on her husband, convinced that he's cheating on her. Meanwhile, Charlie is suspicious of Mr. JLB Matakoni's new friend, who takes him on a dangerous fishing trip. There is also contributed wisdom from Mma. Potokwane and of course Precious Ramotswe is able to solve her cases, as usual, in a kind and diplomatic way.

[Terris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 26th book of the series is another leisurely visit with the ladies of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. It is always a joy to drink Red Bush tea and eat a slice (or two) of fruitcake with Mma Ramotswe, Mma Potokwani, and Mma Makutsi.

In this one, they are asked by a man to find out why his wife doesn’t love him anymore and to see if she is having an affair with another man. A few days later, the man’s wife comes in and hires them to find out if he is having an affair on her! Well, Precious and Grace must put their heads together to figure this one out. And with a little help from Charlie they get to the bottom of the mystery.

At the same time, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni makes a new friend -- or is he a friend? There are many questions about this new man, and there might even be a little danger involved!

What fun and excitement rolls through the lives of these unlikely characters who would rather sit, drink tea, and talk about the philosophy of life. But they still do their best to try to make the world a better place.

I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it!

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Pantheon for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always fun to return to these Botswana characters. This one was a light-hearted cozy read like they all are and there were some funny moments along with some poignant ones but overall it's not going to be the most memorable book of the series for me. Good on audio and just a light, easy read.

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time spent reading a No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel is always well-spent.

Precious has a new case involving a husband who suspects his wife is having an affair. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has a new friend, but that friendship involves a brush with a crocodile and other dangers. As always, there is fruitcake and the chance to sit and talk over cups of tea.

[Fenno Ugri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aivan ihana hyvän mielen kirja, niin kuin nämä kaikki.

[Michele Dancer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mme. Ramotswe latest client is, everyone agrees, very annoying. And while discovering whether a spouse has been unfaithful is usually a simple matter, the case becomes rather more complicated when his wife comes to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and hires them to follow her husband who she claims is the unfaithful one. Meanwhile, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has made a new friend but everyone else is convinced that the man's motivation for seeking friendship is not what it seems.
As usual, reading these stories is always a lovely and relaxing journey to a place that it is impossible to believe exists, especially now. Where people are greeted in a respectful manner, orphaned children are cared for, rain always comes eventually to a parched and grateful land, and goodness and kindness win in the end. I've read all 26 and look forward to the next.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Time of Five Pumpkins is another delightful and heartwarming addition to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series! Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi have a new client, Mr. Modise, who feels his wife no longer loves him, and may be having an affair. As they begin their investigation, they are approached by his wife, who feels her husband may be having an affair! Meanwhile, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe's husband, has developed a friendship with another garage owner, Mr. Mogorosi, who may not have honorable intentions. Mma Makutsi and Charlie both aid in this case, with a little advice from the shoes. (The shoes are a favorite character in the series!) Both cases are puzzling mysteries, and there is a bit of danger, but the heart of the book lies in the wit and gentle wisdom of the characters, and their interaction with each other. There are visits with Mma Potokwane, who runs the orphanage, and interactions with one of the orphans. She is growing pumpkins for the fair, and she frequently shares with Mma Ramotswe several slices of her famous fruitcake. I have never been to Botswana, but these books have transported me to that country and all its beauty. Alexander McCall Smith has written another beautiful addition to this series, with two intricate plots, that is full of his wit, wisdom and the love, caring and friendship as seen through the eyes of his characters. I love this book and the series. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She had felt doubtful earlier on, but now she felt more confident about the likely outcome. Lunch could do that sort of thing: you might sit down in a state of indecision, and get up from it with a renewed sense of certainty, particularly if you took your lunch at the President Hotel, and if the chicken and rice that you ordered was perfectly cooked and quite delicious – particularly then.”

In The Time Of Five Pumpkins is the twenty-sixth book in the popular Ladies Number One Detective Agency series by award-winning, bestselling British author, Sir Alexander McCall Smith. In it, readers are once again privy to the lives of Botawana’s finest private detectives and vehicle mechanics as they ply their trade on the Tlokweng Road in Gabarone.

When Precious Ramotse notices Grace Makursi’s latest promotion of herself, to executive president for development, she muses that “People paid very little attention to the titles that people gave themselves in the working world. What mattered was whether the work of the business was done to the satisfaction of the client, and there was no doubt but that Mma Makutsi was efficient and, what was more, effective.”

Although the first impression that their new client, Mr Excellence Modise conveys is none too favourable, he is a client, and he believes his wife is having an affair. In the process of teaching apprentice detective Charlie, their surveillance is less covert than it could be, and Mma Alesang Modise challenges Precious to support the sisterhood and, instead, investigate her husband. It presents her with a conflict of interest: what will she decide?

At Mma Sylvia Potokwani’s Orphan Farm, Precious observes a boy whose history proves he is brave, and in his interaction with her, unfailingly polite. He might have lost the running race, but Precious presents him with a prize anyway. Fruitcake is enjoyed, and Precious is shown the titular pumpkins that are being grown by Mma Potokwani for the Tlokweng Agricultural Show: will any of them win a prize?

When Mr JLB Matekoni suddenly acquires a new friend, Mma Makutsi is not the only one who questions the genuineness of Freddie Mogorosi’s intentions and, after a potentially fatal incident, Charlie shares his theory about what is really going on. Is Mr J.L.B. Matekoni’s life in danger?
Afterwards, “he wanted nothing more than to be back home, sitting on the veranda of the house on Zebra Drive, drinking tea with Mma Ramotswe and reflecting on the fact that between an exciting life and a dull but safe existence, he would, on balance, choose the latter.”

In this instalment, Precious opines that both Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and the Number One Ladies Detective Agency are in the business of caring; Grace and Phuti discuss the alarming trend towards uncomfortable furniture; A fable about a coop of hens and a jackal is used to illustrate a point; Precious reconnects with a friend from her youth.

Also, the energy of small children is marvelled at; Precious remembers the wise words about the country’s creatures that her beloved Daddy, Obed Ramotswe bestowed upon her; observing Mma Ramotswe, Charlie learns the value of the right questions and the occasional compliment in garnering useful information; and Mr J.L.B. Matekoni improvises to facilitate an act of bravery, later demonstrating his goodness by being generously forgiving.

As always, McCall Smith gives the reader some minor mysteries that don’t tax the brain too much, laced with plenty of gentle philosophy, humour, and wise and insightful observations. Guaranteed feel-good.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one is my favourite to date. A cheating couple, a shady new friend, a potential murder plot, an informer called Big Nose? What's not to love. There's even a few action scenes and a few chapters end on a cliff hanger, rare in these books.
In a world that seems mad, like its literally on fire and chaos reigns these books are a comfortable happy place to escape. A place where everyone shows kindness and even the biggest problems can be solved and the smallest worries fade away with a cup of red bush tea and a conversation.
The book begins with a new client Excellence Modise who's wife is ignoring him and he suspects an affair, only for the wife to catch Mma Ramotswe and Charlie and flip the tables on them and her husband.
Mr. JLB Matekoni has a new friend who wants to help him advance onto a motor trades government body, but does he have another motive?
Always a light, cozy, quick and fun read. Like visiting old friends. There's always a touch of humour and lots of kind wise words and I quite enjoyed this installment. There's not as much rambling or tangents these books tend to go off on and the story moves along nicely making it difficult to put down once you get going. I look forward to seeing what the next story brings.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed. I needed a quick trip to Botswana to find out the latest in the life of Precious and friends to see what the current problems were they'd have to solve. Of course with every mystery there is a dose or two of philosophy offered. This time the message was to be more charitable in dealing with others and to consider your own personal failings before heaping too much criticism on others. I thought it was interesting that the topic of friendship between women was explored in contrast to friendship between men. There is a difference in depth and numbers. Charlie continues to mature, shoes continue to talk, and lots of tea is consumed. You get to catch up with all the characters once again, and Violet even gets a mention. The two people you never hear much about anymore are the children Precious and her husband adopted. Perhaps once they are older there will be an issue that Precious will have to deal with on their behalf or maybe eventually one or both of them might become detectives. Always ready for the next book in this series!

[Donna Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always a pleasure to read about the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. The pace of the book is what I hope is the pace of life in Botswana is like—slow and gentle. As Mma Ramotswe says: “We are reminded of how fortunate we are to live in this country.” She loves her life and her friends and family. She takes the time to appreciate everything around her, which explains why she is respected and beloved…and certainly why her little detective agency is successful.

Thank you, Alexander McCall Smith.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, this latest installment in the series does not disappoint. It was lovely and sweet and fun, but this time there was a bit of excitement and danger! Such a gentle reminder of the good things of life.
“One’s friends might be here one moment, and then the next in the jaws of some crocodile somewhere.”
“Do not wait until it is your last day or two on this earth to stop and gaze at the sky, to breathe in the morning air, to be grateful for the simple fact of being alive.”

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 can rest easy … I have read the annual instalment of No1 Ladies.

With the generosity and good humour that guide all her endeavours, Mma Ramotswe will untangle questions for herself and her loved ones, and prove that with a healthy dose of wisdom and a steaming cup of red bush tea, compassion will always win the day.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the characters. The plot has a mystery of course, but the characters and Mma Ramotswe‘s positive outlook on life are foremost. A terrific comfort read for me. Now a long wait for the next one.

[Lee Hagens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful story of every day life in Africa, something we don't see in coverage of Africa. Those of us who grew up there and love Africa, love the call at the end of each of these beautiful, heart warming/wrenching books--Africa, Africa, Africa, Africa, Africa . . .

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved catching up with my friends from Gaborone. Mr. JLB Matekoni has a few exciting adventures that add to the fun of this one! EBN25 Category: Your choice (and my 50th and final book of the challenge)

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed-a reminder that there are good and decent people.

[Betty-Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a delight, the writing of Alexander McCall Smith. ❤️