In the Company of Cheerful Ladies and over 360,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle � Amazon�s new wireless reading device. Learn more

Quantity:

Express Checkout with PayPhrase

What's this? | Create PayPhrase

More Buying Choices

203 used & new from $0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Share with Friends

Share your own customer images

Search inside this book

Start reading In the Company of Cheerful Ladies on your Kindle in under a minute. Don�t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 6) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: detective agency, tiny white van, new tea pot, Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, Mma Potokwane (more...)

4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (92 customer reviews)

List Price:	$19.95
Price:	$13.57 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save:	$6.38 (32%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Friday, November 27? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

60 new from $2.28 123 used from $0.01 20 collectible from $16.19

Formats		Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Kindle Edition $9.99 Available for download now. Published April 19, 2005	Kindle Edition, April 19, 2005	$9.99	--	--
Hardcover $13.57 In Stock. Published April 18, 2005	Hardcover, April 18, 2005	$13.57	$2.28	$0.01
	See # more hardcovers
	Show fewer hardcovers
Paperback $10.04 In Stock. Published March 13, 2006	Paperback, March 13, 2006	$10.04	$4.49	$1.10
	See # more paperbacks
	Show fewer paperbacks
Audio, CD, Unabridged $19.79 In Stock. Published March 31, 2005	Audio, CD, Unabridged	$19.79	$16.99	$9.99
	See # more audio books
	Show fewer audio books
Audio, Download Offsite Link $14.31 or less with new Audible membership Available at Audible.com.	Audio, Download Offsite Link	$14.31 or less with new Audible membership
	See # more audio downloads
	Show fewer audio downloads

Best Value

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Blue Shoes and Happiness (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 7)

by Alexander McCall Smith

4.5 out of 5 stars (108) $10.04

The Full Cupboard of Life (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 5)

by Alexander McCall Smith

4.3 out of 5 stars (87) $10.04

The Kalahari Typing School for Men (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 4)

by Alexander McCall Smith

4.4 out of 5 stars (98) $10.04

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

by Alexander McCall Smith

4.6 out of 5 stars (140) $10.04

Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 3)

by Alexander McCall Smith

4.2 out of 5 stars (102) $10.08

› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. In this sixth entry in McCall Smith's consistently delightful series, Botswana detective Precious Ramotswe, the traditionally built—and newly married—owner of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, is saddled with a surfeit of challenging cases and personal crises. There has been an intruder in her home (he managed to escape, but left a telltale pair of trousers in his wake). And the levelheaded sleuth is flustered by an encounter with a man from her past. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe's husband, master mechanic Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, is neck-deep in work after the resignation of one of his apprentices, who has become romantically entangled with a married woman (Mma Ramotswe and assistant detective Grace Makutsi slyly gather the scurrilous details). Scotsman McCall Smith, who was born in what is now Zimbabwe, renders colorful characters with names that trip off the tongue. Among the new arrivals: Mma Makutsi's new suitor and dance partner, Phuti Radiphuti, a stuttering furniture salesman with two left feet; and Mr. Polopetsi, a wrongfully imprisoned pharmacist Mma Ramotswe deems worthy of a second chance. As always, when troubles are brewing, nothing puts things in perspective like time spent on the verandah with a cup of bush tea. Amid the hilarious scenarios and quiet revelations are luminous descriptions of Botswana, land of wide-open spaces and endless blue skies. The prolific McCall Smith dispenses tales from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency at a rate of one per year (he's also author of a second detective series featuring Scottish-American moral philosopher Isabel Dalhousie). That's good news for loyal fans, who eagerly await new adventures with Precious Ramotswe.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–This sixth entry in the series does not disappoint. But this time, Mma Ramotswe, proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Gaborone, Botswana, and now married to Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, is filled with worry over personal problems. At the same time, her assistant, Mma Makutsi, is preoccupied with finding a husband, and it appears that Charlie, the apprentice at the auto shop, has run off with an older woman. Large cups of bush tea remain the main source of relief for thirst and for solving mysteries. Among the new characters is Mr. Polopetsi, hired to work at Tlokweng Road after Mma Ramotswe knocks him off his bicycle with her tiny white van. Although the agency takes on some criminal cases, most of the plot revolves around the everyday dilemmas of life. For Mma Ramotswe, the right course of action is always the moral one, usually reached with much reflection and humor. Good reading, sound reasoning, cheerful and faithful friends, and descriptions of the much-loved landscape of Botswana make this an appealing novel.–Sheila Janega, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Pantheon; First edition. edition (April 19, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375422714
ISBN-13: 978-0375422713
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (92 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #203,000 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

This is item 6 in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series.

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Alexander McCall Smith Page

Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
detective agency, tiny white van, new tea pot, orphan farm, typing school, bush tea, younger apprentice, ordinary tea

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, Mma Potokwane, Phuti Radiphuti, Botswana Secretarial College, Mercedes Benz, Seretse Khama, Note Mokoti, Zebra Drive, Mma Mokoti, Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Obed Ramotswe, Trevor Mwamba, Grace Makutsi, Fano Fanope, Clovis Andersen, President Hotel

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

1 book cites this book:

Dream Angus: The Celtic God of Dreams (Myths, The) by Alexander McCall Smith in Front Matter

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	75% buy the item featured on this page: In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 6) 4.6 out of 5 stars (92) $13.57
	7% buy The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1) 4.2 out of 5 stars (451) $10.04
	6% buy Morality for Beautiful Girls (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 3) 4.2 out of 5 stars (102) $10.08
	6% buy Tears of the Giraffe (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 2) 4.5 out of 5 stars (114) $10.04

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

alexander mccall smith(13)

precious ramotswe(6)

botswana(5)

woman sleuth(4)

africa(3)

mystery(3)

women sleuths(2)

african fiction(1)

audio book(1)

cd(1)

Agree with these tags?

See all 20 tags...

Customer Reviews

92 Reviews

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (92 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A life without stories would be no life at all.", April 25, 2005

By	Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Mma Precious Ramotswe, warm-hearted proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Gaborone, Botswana, is drinking tea at an outdoor caf� when she witnesses the theft of a bracelet. In her haste to apprehend the female thief and return the bracelet to the poor vendor, she leaves her table without paying her bill. The waitress hurries after her, accuses her of intentionally neglecting her bill, and then offers to "forget" about it if Mma pays her an extortionate fee.

Distressed by what she sees as the loss of Botswana's traditional values, Mma Ramotswe believes fervently in setting a good example, respecting others and promoting friendships in her own life. Recently married to Mr. J. L. B. Matekone, proprietor of the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Mma Ramotswe runs her detective agency (where she doles out homespun advice and often serves as a "mother confessor"), takes care of two orphaned children, mentors Mma Grace Makutsi, her assistant, and endeavors to get the two apprentices at her husband's garage to become responsible citizens. A special pleasure in this novel is the introduction of a wonderful, new character, Mr. Polopetsi, a man with a sad story who will undoubtedly be further developed in later novels.

Throughout the series, plots and subplots serve primarily as vehicles for character development and the exploration of cultural values. In this novel Mma Ramotswe has a deep secret, not shared even with her husband, and she is desperate to have it remain a secret. Her house is broken into, her car is stolen, and Note Makoti, her first husband, returns to Gabarone. Mysterious goings-on occur in Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni's former house, now rented; the detective agency looks for a missing man from Zambia; and Mma Makuti finds herself receiving the attentions of a clumsy suitor. While these events may not be very exciting when regarded on a large scale, they are significant in the lives of these ordinary people trying to live their lives with dignity.

Reading this series is like returning to a familiar neighborhood to meet old friends. In simple, direct prose and a leisurely pace, the author recreates the colorful lives of a repeating set of characters who treasure relationships, treat each other with respect, and possess inherent good sense. Full of gentle humor and much wisdom, the novel emphasizes the richness of a traditional life without including the violence, sex, or horror which fill other "detective" novels. Warm, witty, and nostalgic, this series is happy reading, and this novel is a fine addition to the series. Mary Whipple

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than 97%, June 23, 2005

By	Amanda Richards "Modest to the extreme" (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Business is booming for both the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, but the daily routine is about to be shattered by a series of strange and puzzling events, starting with an unpleasant encounter at Mma Ramotswe's favorite caf�, an unfortunate intruder at Zebra Drive, and a mysterious pumpkin.

The story does not focus entirely on the traditionally built Mma Ramotswe, but weaves in the experiences of the other characters in one of the most entertaining books of the series.

Mma Makutsi becomes much more self-confident, and in addition to running the Kalahari Typing School for Men, she puts on her best shoes and signs up for dance lessons, where she ends up being more teacher than pupil to her eager but clumsy dancing partner.

Charlie quits his job at the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors after a spat with Mma Makutsi, but is seen driving around with an older woman in a Mercedes Benz, and the plot thickens when the car turns into the driveway of Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni's former residence.

While following the Mercedes, Mma Ramotswe causes an accident, and this encounter leads to the introduction of an intriguing new character, Mr. Polopetsi, a man with some very useful talents and a troubled past.

But do not think for a minute that Mma Ramotswe gets off without more than her fair share of trouble. She is totally devastated when her ex-husband Note shows up demanding money, and she has to make the hardest decisions of her life while Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni watches and waits.

This one has more action, more intrigue and more humor than the others, and would be enjoyable reading for traditionally built women, people with 97% passing grades, and all the rest of us.

Amanda Richards, June 23, 2005

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I think this is the best yet, April 19, 2005

By	C. Catherwood "writer" (Cambridge UK and Richmond VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I think this is the best yet - what a shame American readers have had to wait until April to get this wonderful book. (Why can't US publishers bring it out the same time as those in the UK?)

Mme Ramotswe is married! (Or IS she - you will have to read to the middle of the novel to find out.... ) Not only that but Grace Makutsi finds love as well - and to find out THAT happy ending you really will have to read until the last chapter.

Many yuppies (do we still use that term?) love this book, and those in the series, because not much really happens - and that is the whole point! It is both hilariously funny as always, with very sharp observations of human life, and yet profoundly gentle throughout. Life is SLOW, and for many people in the fast lane, that is perfect reading. (And for people who live in the middle lane like me as well...) You can be wonderfully calm reading this book - the whole series is the perfect antidote to the manic life we live in the West, in the 21st century. Five cheers for Alexander McCall Smith!

In one scene, Grace Makutsi meets an odious young woman called Violet, who got only 50% the typing school (Grace, as we will recall, got 97%). But unlike Grace, Violet has all the best jobs and all the men after her - she has one fifteenth of Grace's character and ability, yet gets far because she is glamorous. Haven't we all been there - seeing far less talented people get ahead for reasons that are profoundly unfair? This is what is so good about the Ramotswe novels - they are superb morality tales, showing true values without in any way being preachy.

In short, give this book to all your friends - 10 copies at least! Let's see it go to No.1, which it richly deserves to do, and a good sight more than some so-called fiction out there these days.

Enjoy!

Christopher Catherwood (author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ: Carroll and Graf, 2004)

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 92 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars #1 ladies detective agency
The book came in excellent comdition. i just love this whole series by the author.
I plan on purchasing the rest very soon.

Published 2 days ago by J. Lamar

5.0 out of 5 stars No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
I love all of the books in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series and this book is great!!! You must read it!!!

Published 2 months ago by M. Patterson

5.0 out of 5 stars Life in the Bush and Life in the World
The OutsiderIs anyone else astounded at the ability of Alexander McCall Smith, a white male author, to write stories about a Black Female Character? Read more

Published 2 months ago by Red Rose

4.0 out of 5 stars One tiny problem
I love this series, but why is he repeating the tea drama? They settled that way back, then he seems to have forgotten it was settled and they went back to having only "bush" tea... Read more

Published 4 months ago by HopewellMom

5.0 out of 5 stars ladie's detective agency series
These books are delightful in so many ways. Comedic, intrigue, everyday happenings in a different country but it goes to show you people are people. Read more

Published 5 months ago by J. Caruana

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding everyday African people
I am now reading Book Six of these delightful books on everyday African people by Alexander McCall. They are stories of life as it may be anywhere, and show how these events... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Linda Cook

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great book
Another great book in the series; I continue to enjoy the wonderful world of Mma Ramotswe, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni and Mma Makutsi.

Published 8 months ago by I. Holder

5.0 out of 5 stars friendship in book form--- a joy
A gentle, character-driven book, just as much comedy as mystery. This series reminds me of the James Herriot "All Creatures Great and Small" series, since the plot is truly... Read more

Published 10 months ago by N. Ferguson

5.0 out of 5 stars new fan
I started reading the No.1 Ladies Detective series by accident. My daughter had the first one in her bookcase, and while babysitting I started it, and couldn't put it down. Read more

Published 11 months ago by C. Horsman

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This was a good book. I like the series, they're good reads and I have lived in Africa, so it's a tast of home for me.

Published 11 months ago by student

› See all 92 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
mystery Nordic/British/Irish/Euro mysteries	4318	27 minutes ago
mystery I posted a wrong topic- I do need more titles & authors	0	38 minutes ago
mystery Mystery Readers' Caf�: Come On In and Join the Conversation	232	39 minutes ago
mystery Need more titles of mystery /time travel	0	43 minutes ago
mystery Have You Written a Mystery - Come Tell Us About It	592	1 hour ago
mystery Comedic Mystery Series?	1904	6 hours ago
women sleuths Self-promotion thread for female sleuths	24	2 days ago

Search Customer Discussions

The Mystery community

Latest activity 1 hour ago

23,620 customers have contributed 22,972 products, 512 discussions and more...

› Explore the community

The Africa community

Latest activity 1 hour ago

4,187 customers have contributed 4,289 products, 289 lists & guides and more...

› Explore the community

The Women Sleuths community

Latest activity 4 hours ago

2,976 customers have contributed 3,112 products, 91 lists & guides and more...

› Explore the community

Explore more

› See all Customer Communities

› Your communities

Listmania!

Up all night reading a great mystery: A list by Mikey Phillips
Books that Will Keep You Up Past Midnight: A list by Judy Smith
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series by McCall Smith: A list by Bill Jordin

Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...

Wile Away a Day with Some Perfect Fiction: A guide by Katie Osborne
buy a book to treasure: A guide by Lady Whirl
Take a Vacation with Some Very Good Books: A guide by Stephanie Sane

Create a guide

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

Mma Precious Ramotswe or the Ladies' Number One Detection Agency series Alexander McCall Smith (author note) Mysteries with African-American or Black detectives or African settings

(Report this)

Created on Aug 24, 2006, last edited on Aug 24, 2006.

› Explore and Edit at Amapedia.com

Look for Similar Items by Category

Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Women Sleuths

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.

Your Recent History

(What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

› View and edit your browsing history

Get to Know Us

Make Money with Us

Let Us Help You

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice � 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

In the Company of Cheerful Ladies (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 6) (Hardcover)

Formats

Best Value

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From School Library Journal

Product Details

More About the Author

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

So You'd Like to...

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Feedback

Your Recent History