This charming and cheerful mystery series take place in Gaberone, the capital of Botswana. Scottish author McCall Smith (who incidentally must be one of the most productive authors out there; check out his bibliography on Wikipedia) was born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and is in addition to being a writer a leading scientist on medical ethics. He has written eleven books in the ‘No. 1 Ladies’ Detective …’ series, which circle around main character Mma. Ramotswe.
Precious Ramotswe is a Motwsana woman somewhere in her forties, kind, good-humoured and of ‘traditional build’. She uses the inheritance from her beloved father, Obed Ramotswe, and starts the first ladies’ detective agency in Botswana; hence she’s number one. Mma. Ramotswe experiences some start-up challenges when it comes to choosing methods and means. For instance she’s very surprised when an early customer, who wants to find out if her husband is cheating, is outraged when Mma. Ramotswe has proved beyond any doubt that he is, by sleeping with him herself. She remains an unconventional detective in many ways, but with strong intuition.
Early in the business Mma. Ramotswe hires a kind, proud and somewhat awkward secretary, Mma. Makutsi. Mma. Makutsi got 97% on her final exams from Botswana Secretarial College, a fact that she brings up at any chance. She has a very special relationship with her shoes, which is the one luxury she allows herself, and frequently argues with them. Mma. Makutsi advances to being an associate detective throughout the series. Another central character is Mma. Ramotswe’s friend, fiance and eventual husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matakoni. He’s a good-hearted mechanic with his own garage and two no-good apprentices, Charlie and Fanwell. Charlie and Mma. Makutsi have a continuous show-down:
“Charlie did not reply, but whispered to Fanwell: ‘Who would dance with her? Nobody. Only that Phuti Radiphuti, and his feet are like elephants’ feet. Big dancer. Hot steps.’
Fortunately, Mma. Makutsi had gone back into the office and did not hear this remark. Mma. Ramotswe gave Charlie a reproachful look. ‘You should not say things like that, Charlie. It is not kind.’
‘She says things about me’, the apprentice replied.
Mma. Ramotswe sighed. ‘You will learn one day, maybe soon, that what others do is never an excuse. Have you not heard of turning the other cheek?’Charlie was unrepentant. ‘I have not heard of that.’
Mma. Ramotswe began to explain, but could tell that what she said was falling on deaf ears.
‘I would never do that’, said Charlie. ‘It would be very foolish, Mma. Ramotswe. You show your other cheek and, whack, they hit on that one too.’ “
-Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
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