“For All Confidential Matters and Inquiries. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Under Personal Management.” The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is not a mystery/detective book such as the ones we 
are accustomed to. Precious Ramotswe just wants to help people with the problems in their lives. She is a good woman in a good country. Botswana, Africa is as much a character in this series as the people Precious encounters.
Mma Ramotswe was able to set up her agency with money received from the sale of her daddy’s cattle upon his heartbreaking death. She has 2 desks, 2 chairs, a telephone and an old typewriter. Her secretary and only employee, Grace Makutsi, received the exceptionally high mark of 97% in her secretarial college examinations! And whenever Mma Ramotswe’s tiny, white van needs repair, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors is there to help. Just when it seems there will be no clients ever for this female agency–the only one of its kind in the country– Happy Bapetsi arrives with the first case to solve .
Precious Ramotswe is a “traditionally built” woman with whom I’d love to enjoy a cup of red bush tea while sitting beneath her acacia tree, contemplating issues that might otherwise be pushed aside. She has warmth and intuition and a great love of her country and its people. This is the first in a series of 12 books so far. You’ll want to begin with this first one and keep reading through all 12 and eagerly await the next one.
