The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Volume 1

BBC Afternoon Drama: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #1

by Alexander McCall Smith, Claire Benedict (Narrator), Nadine Marshall (Narrator)

Warm, humorous and uplifting, Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international bestsellers, sold over seven million copies, and been translated into 26 languages. These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books vividly to life.

The Daddy introduces us to Mma Ramotswe as she embarks on her first case and takes on a new secretary, the resourceful and talented Mma Makutsi. Together, they must find the truth about a Daddy who appears to have returned from the dead—as well as investigating a wayward teenage girl and attempting to find a vanished child. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 10 September 2004.

The Bone sees the determined duo following Mr Patel's daughter to find out whether she has a boyfriend. They must also solve the darker and more frightening case of the finger bone found in a car—does it belong to a missing boy snatched by a witch doctor? First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 17 September 2004.

Starring Claire Benedict as Mma Ramotswe and Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi, these dramatisations are guaranteed to appeal to all fans of the engaging lady detective.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Detective, Africa, Contemporary

2 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such enjoyable characters and vivid description of Botswana that you feel like you are there,or want to go visit Mma. Ramotswe's little village.

[Pratima Dumpala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating-3.7
Great book!

[Isabela]

Hello, I'm Isabela and I would like to share my opinion about this book.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is in general a good book, but at the first look, it’s boring and slow, Because of the long introduction. At least doesn’t matter because since the first problem and investigation its addictive and exiting. If you’re looking for entertainment this book is perfect for you, I extremely recommended, it’s for all the readers and ages and you can learn a lot with this reading. If you read it I hope you like it ;)

[Shabbeer Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful collection of vignettes featuring Precious Ramotswe, a woman of the traditional build (as she puts it herself) who laden with intelligence, oodles of common sense and quick-wittedness unravels mysteries being the proprietor and the only detective of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. With great depictions of the local character of Botswana, this BBC radio adaptation of the famous series is a real charm!

My Rating - 4/5

[liv phe hei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a woman in Botswana who sets up a detective agency, I found it by filtering by available+fiction+humor on Libby. There is one overarching mystery, and then little mysteries along the way as Mma Ramotswe grows her clientele and goes about living her life.

The tone is warm, charming, cozy, I thought it was a wonderful before-bed read. Although some of the stories/chapters involved heavier topics- grief, abuse, death. It also piqued my interest about Botswana.

[Tanja Joubert Author · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mma Ramotswe, the main character, is interesting and entertaining. An undercurrent of integrity and honesty runs through the entire book. I found the information about the African culture in Botswana interesting. I was surprised that a white male author could write such a convincing black female protagonist.

[aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a nice little book, and Mma Ramotswe is a strong, likeable character, but the plot was a bit dull. I expected more in depth, harder to solve murder and crime cases rather than ‘spy on my daughter because I think she’s got a boyfriend’ or ‘oh no, there’s a snake in my car’.

[James Brixey]

Odd. I think this is not the best way of consuming this media, I thought it would be a dramatization of the first book. It isn't. It is admittedly nice and chill to listen to, but I do want to read the entire franchies.

[JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the bbc audio adaptation and enjoyed it fine on my commute!

[Sarah Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Botswana, Mma Ramotswe has a series of adventures as she builds her PI practice. The stories are simple and full of folk life and simple moral messages. Ends happily.

[Lisa Emmerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining easy read about a woman you can relate to, with brains and charm and a serious core of strength. set in such a fabulous country

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts were really very good others not so much

[Mary Meschler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to sit in the corner of the agency and drink tea

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little stories wound together in a light narrative. Enchanting but not engrossing.

[Robin Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, light, fun read. Very entertaining. Fantastic writing. I will read them all.

[Julie Cookson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good easy read. I enjoyed the story of the main characters life, not sure if a true portrayal of Africa from some of other review I have read. Still a lovely light story.

[Kiara T · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was well dramatised, directed, acted and written. The stories were a bit simple but I still enjoyed them. I’m looking forward to reading/listening to the rest of the series.

[Edie Whittam · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny , warm , simply satisfying

[Becky Kimmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this so long ago, I don't remember, but it was sweet and so I bought another copy for beach reading, donating it today to the local library instead.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another dramatised version of a book that was listed as an unabridged audiobook but ended up being only 1 hour.

Gives a good taste of the books, but too simple and not as funny as I expected.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3, easy to pick up but feels abit weird he’s writing as an African woman

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just so enjoyable always. Amazing as audio

[Kzaino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like an anthology. Lighthearted and fun

[Dodo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Sandy Gurile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a bit of trouble getting engaged in the book, but glad I stuck with it. I loved Mma Ramotswe and also the ending!

[Narayanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should’ve probably given 3.5 stars for this book due to its simplicity of writing. The backdrop is new for me and the happenings are simple.

There is little intrigue for a detective agency

[Barbara Brabiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lovely trip to Botswana in the 90s

[Mbusi Sibiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very interesting book that really made you think and it was very fun to read

[Apoorva Chikkerur · Rating 5 out of 5]

one the best series I have read. It makes you feel like you are right in Botswana

[redmays · Rating 2 out of 5]

was not very interesting or a good mystery.