Customer Reviews

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 5-Book Boxed Set

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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Nowhere in any description or review of this boxed set could I find a list of the books, so here they are: 1) The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 2)Tears of the Giraffe 3)Morality for Beautiful Girls 4)The Kalahari Typing School for Men 5)The Full Cupboard of Life

This is a wonderful collection; heartwarming, sweet, and simply written. One of the few series (along with Jan Karon's Mitford books and James Herriot's non-fiction veterinary set)suitable for young readers as well as adults. I highly recommend these books and hope that you read them soon!

All of the books in this charming series, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith, are a delight. Although Precious Mambotswe, our heroine, is prepared to sensibly solve the problems clients bring to her, usually she is able to bring the client to be able to see how to solve the problem too.
In these books, we see everyday situations and settings in this dry hot town in southern Africa come to life and love. I went out and bought a box of "red bush tea" since Precious got so much comfort from her regular cups of hot (Rooibos leaf) red bush tea.
The crimes she investigates are more often domestic problems, seldom with any violence or gore. Each book in the series has some continuing characters, and some new ones. I think it's best to read the books in order, to know the characters better.
rjlBrock, Aberdeen SD USA

By all accounts, and indeed I agree with them, these books (Alexander McCall Smith surpasses even his Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld series) are excellent in style, writing, and literary worth. Yet what strikes me even more as I read them is how wonderfully he captures the true Africa.
Have you ever been to Africa? I went only when I was three years old, yet the memory of it is still with me. Even that small visit at a young age has stayed with me, and enabled me to see how wonderfully Smith has captured Africa in his mystery series.
They are just small things, idiosyncrasies, ways of thinking, details, yet they combine to paint a picture of Africa that takes me there as though I were sitting in the market again, eating sugarcane and listening to people around me chatter in Swahili. Smith should be congratulated not only for his wonderful writing and fascinating characterization, but his ability to take you into a world that you cannot even dream of.

As he says at the end of his books...

Africa
Africa Africa
Africa Africa Africa
Africa Africa
Africa

... my country, my place, my home.

This entire set was purchased for myself and one had previously been purchased for my daughter who teaches English in Namibia, Africa at the Kandjimi Murangi Secondary School. Not only did I love it and get some insight to the life she is living, but she has told me that her students truly love them because they are books they can and do relate to!!!! An amazing gift for these wonderful students who need so many books for their library which they are just setting up. I can attest to how special these young people are because my husband and I were blessed to have been able to visit our daughter and her "learners" last April. A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE,indeed!

Like another reviewer, I absolutely loved, loved, loved these books! I received the 5-box set for Christmas (after reading the 1st novel and becoming hooked) and have not been able to put them down since.

These books offer a very charming look into a side of Africa one rarely hears about. I eagerly await the next novel, said to be out in April 07'. Mr. McCall Smith is quite the storyteller.

Great series of books. Quick read, interesting setting and characters.
Looking forward to reading the additional books in the series.

I loved this series, No. 1 Ladie's Detective Agency. I was intrigued since the stories are written by a Scottish MAN and are about a middle aged African WOMAN in Botswana who decides to open a Detective Agency. The author has a wonderful grasp of the culture and sense of Africa and especially Botswana. His writing provides very simple, very easy reading and kept me interested. LOVED Precious Ramotswe, the "traditionally built", observant heroine with traditional Botswanian values and morals. I was introduced to a country I'd barely heard of and was sad to leave when the books were all read.

for those who enjoy relaxing
and escaping into a world with
interesting characters of a unique culture.

I love this series of Alexander McCall Smith's. I miss the charaters when I'm finished reading. Please write more!! HBO needs to continue series as well. Casting was right on...

This seller went above and beyond my expectations by including MORE books in the series than I had ordered. What a generous gesture that was!