The Miracle at Speedy Motors

I enjoyed reading the latest adventures in Botswana because I can escape the worries of my world and visit a place that may or may not be simpler and more grounded in what matters in life. I rarely read non-fiction, but this series of books allows me a "time-out" from the world and its worries, such as high gas prices, food shortages, and carbon footprints.

The latest in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series is is as wonderful as all of the others. It caputes the feeling of Africa and the beauty of its people with sensitivity, humor and respect. An inspiring read!

Alexander McCall Smith's latest Precious Ramotswe novel, "The Miracle at Speedy Motors," once again celebrates the everyday blessings that too many of us tend to take for granted: the love of our friends and relatives, our good health, the beauty of one's native land, and the gratification that comes from doing our work well. Mma Ramotswe presides over the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Gaborone, Botswana. Her associate is the blunt Grace Makutski, who never fails to mention her score of ninety-seven percent on her final exams at the Botswana Secretarial College. Grace can be smug and patronizing, particularly when she addresses Charlie, the perpetually irritating apprentice of Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. Mr. Matekoni is Mma Ramotswe's sweet-natured and compassionate husband as well as the proprietor of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, where the detective agency occupies a small office. As always, Mma Ramotswe frequently quotes her hero, Clovis Anderson, who wrote "The Principles of Private Detection." This treasured book is the source of much of Mma Ramotswe's practical wisdom. As she drinks her refreshing morning cup of red bush tea, Mma Ramotswe ponders the case of an orphan, Manka Sebina, who wants to find out if she has any living relatives. Another matter that gives Precious pause is her receipt of a series of anonymous letters that are both insulting and vaguely threatening. Could the reserved Mr. Polopetsi, the general assistant at the garage and their occasional helper at the agency, be the source of the disturbing missives? Another subplot deals with the purchase of a beautiful bed with a heart-shaped headboard by Grace's fiancé, the kind gentleman, Phuti Radiphuti. Alas, the furniture brings Grace anguish instead of joy. This novel has vivid and nicely delineated characters: Grace Makutsi is still ambitious and has an exalted opinion of her abilities. She prides herself on her organizational skills: "A tidy office is an efficient office," she intones. Mma Potokwane, matron of the orphan farm, is a gold mine of information and the source of delicious fruit cakes that she barters for Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni's assistance around the orphan farm. Mr. Matekoni is often called upon to repair an old water pump, a bus, a tractor, and other broken down pieces of machinery. Mr. Matekoni and Mma Ramotswe share a house on Zebra Drive with their two foster children, a boy and girl named Puso and Motholeli. Puso is sometimes insecure and angry about his lot in life, and although Motholeli is confined to a wheel chair as a result of "transverse myelitis of the spinal cord," she has a generally upbeat personality. Although Motholeli's condition has been considered incurable until now, Mr. Matekoni learns that there is a doctor in Johannesberg who, against all odds, might enable his daughter to walk. "The Miracle at Speedy Motors" is an amusing, touching, and gentle look at ordinary people who crave a meaningful connection with others an

This is as brilliant a book as ever in the series, and shows a writer very much still at the height of his creative powers. While some might think one overarching mystery might be important, I think that that misses the point of a novel like this - the wonderful pace. As a leading London lawyer told me, the great things about these novels is that they are SLOW: the pace is leisurely and they induce a wonderful sense of calm in the reader. This is why they are so popular and it is what makes them so readable - all that, of course, as well as the superb sense of place you get in these novels, their magnificent evocation of the African atmosphere from someone who was born and raised in the area and the totally brilliant sense of characterisation that makes them so real. It is a shame that people tend only to read one of the many McCall Smith series. You can tell what a wonderful evocation of character he has by, for example, comparing his characterisation in both these novels and in his 44 Scotland Street series, where all the characters are equally well drawn. (One can do the same with others: for example the Isabel Dalhousie series and those of the Portuguese Irregular Verbs). The over-ambitious mother Isabel in 44 Scotland Street and Mma Makutsi in this novel: both are magnificent portrayals of highly memorable characters and show that McCall Smith is one of the true great writers of our time. So buy this book, give it to all your friends and then buy at least one of the other series as well: you don't have to be in Botswana to enjoy this series, for example, and you don't have to be in Edinburgh to enjoy some of his others. Christopher Catherwood (author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ and joint author of THE MERCHANTS OF FEAR).

Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's 'Ladies Detective Agency' series are sure to enjoy this latest offering. I just love the series. The author has a talent for making you feel right at home in Gabarone, Botswana, with Mma Ramotswe, Mr J.L.P. Matekoni, Mma Makutsi and the other colourful characters in the novels. Crossing continents is not a problem as McCall Smith brings these characters to life in a wonderfully vivid way. With touches of understated comic irony, the books are a delightful light-hearted read. Watch out for the moral elements - Mma Ramotswe spends a lot of her time philosophising on life, and the good old days in particular when morals were better, young people were more polite, there was more respect in society and, of course, there were more 'traditionally built' women too!... but her moments of reflection just add to the charm of this series! In 'The Miracle at Speedy Motors', Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi (newly promoted to 'Associate' Detective (!) have some serious detective work to deal with, including a nasty piece of malicious mail directed at the agency ("Fat Lady Watch Out"!)and a lady who has requested that the detectives find her some relatives... Mr J.L.B. Matekoni is hoping for a miracle for Motholeli; Mma Makutsi has some life crises of her own - should she tell her fiance about the fiasco with the bed?; Will Mma Makutsi and young Charlie, the apprentice finally see eye-to-eye?!; and we hear a bit more about Mma Ramotswe and Mr J. L. B. Matekoni's fostered children, Motholeli and Puso, in this book too. All-in-all you'll find here a few delightful hours of pure light-hearted entertainment.