Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

In what is surely one of McCall Smith's finest books in the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" a truly wondrous mystery is presented to Mma Ramotswe and her assistance Mma Makutsi. The book centers around the solving of a problem with the local Soccer Club and why after such a great performance as a winning club, the team should start to lose game after game. In resolving the case, so many of "The Principles of Private Detection," Mma Ramotswe's `bible' of her craft, are put to use. The author of this book, Clovis Anderson, often gives advice about Private Detection that Mma Ramotswe uses and applies to her job every day. Such things are well represented in this story and are of significant usefulness in almost everyone's private and public life. Through the use of good, old fashioned detective work combined with insightful ratiocination and some helpful hints from her son Puso, Mma Ramotswe is able to get to the bottom of the problem with the soccer team. Along the way to this resolution, she assists her assistant in putting to rest a concern which threatens her relationship with her fiancé, Phuti Radiphuti, and her concern that he may be stolen away by Mma Makutsi's old nemesis, Violet Sephotho. It is very much one of the attractions of McCall Smith's writing that his characters appear over and over in his books and that they continue to be developed as the books are written in the series. This book is no exception in this regard and the reader can look forward to not only meeting with the two Mma's again, but also hearing about Mma Ramotswe's husband, J.L.B. Matekoni and his two apprentice mechanics. In fact in this book, the second apprentice, Fanwell, is developed as a character. In previous books, most of the development of the apprentices has centered upon Charlie, who is the more forward of the pair. But in this volume, McCall Smith takes time to utilize Fanwell's character and to develop him as a sensitive and caring individual who takes care of a large family as he works his way toward the completion of his mechanic's apprenticeship. Faithful readers of this series will recognize McCall Smith's life lessons in ethical behavior and might even be enlightened by his words. Smith is an expert in the field of bioethics and has served on many boards and groups devoted to the resolution of questions in that field. Issues of ethical behavior come up aplenty in this book, and Smith helps his characters find their way through those moments of common human doubt to a place of moral satisfaction. Thus Smith is true to form in this, his tenth installment in the series of "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency." As is usually the case, the reader may feel that the book ends too soon. This feeling is a welcome one, in a world of often verbose authors whose books seem to go on for 50 to 100 pages or more too much. But in the case of McCall Smith, the opposite is usually true. This book proves to be no exception to that general feeling. The

I give high marks to anyone who can successfully promote a series with such a depth of love and understanding and true to life settings. I love Precious, as well as Grace, and all the rest of McCall-Smith's characters in the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels. I got hooked by reading the one I consider the best so far: The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, but this one comes very close. I've read all of them now and will recommend them wholeheartedly!

I've enjoyed all of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books, but this is my favorite so far. Some of the conversations are laugh-out-loud funny, and others have a simple wisdom that is refreshing, such as Mma Ramotse's thoughts about war. The two mysteries for me were the one the agency was hired to discover, and what would happen with the volatile Violet. They were both suspenseful in a quiet way, so I didn't stay up all night reading but I did want to! Thank you, Alexander McCall Smith, for giving me the chance to keep visiting Botswana.

In Alexander McCall Smith's "Tea Time for the Traditionally Built," the proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe, is in mourning over her decades old tiny white van. The beloved vehicle is making terrible noises and is probably headed for the junk heap. The idea of parting from the van that has been an important part of her life for so long is breaking Mma Ramotswe's heart. Meanwhile, the prickly and outspoken Grace Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's assistant, has troubles of her own. Her arch enemy, the glamorous and scheming Violet Sephotho, has landed a sales job in the Double Comfort Furniture Shop, whose owner is Phuti Radiphuti, Grace's fiancé. It is obvious to the furious Mma Makutsi that Violet is determined to steal Phuti away from her. In addition, Precious and Grace are hired by Mr. Leungo Molofololo, the owner of a losing football team, to find out why his formerly successful Kalahari Swoopers are suddenly doing so badly. McCall Smith again delivers a gentle, heartfelt, and humorous look at life in the African country of Botswana. Precious is a thoughtful, unhurried, and compassionate person, who cares deeply for her husband, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, the proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, and their two foster children, the wheelchair-bound Motholeli and her younger brother, Puso. Mma Ramotswe refuses to apologize for her "traditional build," and she has contempt for "these very thin model ladies" who will someday "be blown away by the wind." Day by day, Precious deals with the ups and downs of life by drinking cup after cup of refreshing red bush tea and applying an ample dose of common sense to every problem that arises. Writing simple and eloquent prose without being maudlin is no mean feat, but Alexander McCall Smith makes it look easy. In addition, he captivates us with amusing dialogue and outlandish situations that are often laugh-out loud funny. The author has a unique gift of drawing the reader into the special world that he has created, a world that is inhabited by ordinary people to whom we can all relate. They struggle with money problems, jealously, anxiety, and frustration, just like the rest of us. Presiding over this universe is the formidable Precious Ramotswe, a woman who appreciates the beauty and tranquility of her country and clings to its old-fashioned values. She always gives full attention to those who need to pour out their hearts, and she tenaciously adheres to the principles that her father taught her. Mma Ramotswe treats everyone with respect, kindness, and sensitivity, believing that "until you hear the whole story, until you dig deeper, and listen, you know only a tiny part of the goodness of the human heart."

Occasionally I can't sleep because I lie in bed worrying. This always bemuses my husband, who usually offers well intentioned but essentially useless 2am advice like "think nice thoughts". Better advice would be to pick up one of the books in the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series. They are "warm fuzzy" reading, set in a dreamlike Botswana where the sun always shines, people have plenty of time to talk to one another and nothing gets in the way of a good cup of tea. This is the 10th book in this delightful series. If you are new to it, count yourself lucky at the treats that you have in store, but be aware that it is best to read the books in order. (Apparently Alexander McCall Smith is contracted to write 14, so there will be more). The title refers to Mma Ramotswe, with her love of tea and her pride in her large build which some may call fat, but which she prefers to refer to as "traditionally built". While Mma Ramotswe is the central heroine, McCall Smith is now juggling a large and disparate cast of characters, each with their own dramas. Essentially this series is a soap opera - while ostensibly about a private detective, the mysteries are only a small part of the books. I was lucky enough to see Alexander McCall Smith talking about this book and he cheerfully said that he takes pride in the fact that nothing happens in his books, being of the view that there is quite enough happening in the world without authors adding to it! Of course saying that nothing happens is an exaggeration. In this instalment, Mma Ramotswe's tiny white van has finally broken down, seemingly for good. Meanwhile Charlie the apprentice is dealing with a young lady who is claiming that her baby is his responsibility. Mma Rakutsi (Mma Ramotswe's assistant) is still engaged to Phuti Radiphuti, but Violet Sephotho plays a major role as she gets a job in the Double Comfort store with the sole aim of moving in on him for herself. And as ever, between solving cases (this time she's focusing on the local women's soccer team) Mma Ramotswe gives lovely little reflections on ethics and best detective practices. This is a lovely book which lives up in every way to its predecessors. My only regret is that I now have to wait a year for the next.