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

by Alexander McCall Smith (Author)
Key Phrases: detective agency, tiny white van, orphan farm, Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, Aunty Emang (more...)

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (106 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The seventh entry in the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series (after 2005's In the Company of Cheerful Ladies) reaffirms Smith's considerable gifts as a writer. His familiar characters offer further facets of their personalities, and their gentle, tolerant approach to life remains a refreshing contrast to most fictional figures, let alone those populating most mysteries. The author's love for his creations and for his Botswana setting are evident on every page. While the plot will be of secondary importance to fans of Precious Ramotswe, the "traditionally-built," self-taught private detective, and her assistant, Grace Makutsi, Smith presents them with several mysteries, including the search for the identity of a blackmailer and the source of malaise at a nearby game reserve. Ramotswe's intuition and understanding enable her to find the truth, while dispensing justice according to her own personal dictates. Even newcomers will be charmed by this wonderful novel, with its skillful blend of humor and pathos, and will doubtless rush to catch up with the earlier books.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine
Scotsman author Alexander McCall Smith's series has enchanted readers all over the world with its warmth, simple truths, dry humor, and depictions of life in Botswana. This newest addition doesn't disappoint. Penelope Lively, a neophyte to the series, praised the book for an "Africa made accessible" and for "beguiling" characters. If the plot moves a little slowly and the mysteries seem somewhat odd, it's because the novel focuses on human relations (this time we come to know Mma Makutsi intimately) and daily life at the agency. A few critics noted that Smith embarked into uncharted territory by exploring modern themes and gender relations. They concluded, however, that this slant did nothing to harm the novel.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

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Product Details

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Pantheon; 1st Printing edition (April 18, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375422722
ISBN-13: 978-0375422720
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (106 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,057 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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This is item 7 in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series.

Front Cover | First Pages | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
detective agency, tiny white van, orphan farm, private detection, assistant detective, bush tea

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, Aunty Emang, Mma Tsau, Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Potokwane, Clovis Andersen, Zebra Drive, Botswana Secretarial College, Obed Ramotswe, Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Seretse Khama, President Hotel, Mercedes Benz, Did Phuti, Grace Makutsi, The Principles of Private Detection

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?

	78% buy the item featured on this page: Blue Shoes and Happiness (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 7) 4.5 out of 5 stars (106) $14.93
	6% buy The Full Cupboard of Life (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Book 5) 4.3 out of 5 stars (86) $10.94
	6% buy The Kalahari Typing School for Men (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 4) 4.4 out of 5 stars (93) $10.94
	5% buy The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) 4.6 out of 5 stars (138) $10.94

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Customer Reviews

106 Reviews

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (106 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tight fitting blue shoes and a blackmail plot extraordinaire..., April 17, 2006

By	Kali "bengaligirl" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Blue Shoes and Happiness" is yet another superb book from the much understated Alexander Mccall Smith who has given millions of readers a real taste of life in Botswana, a little African country with an amazing history.

In this new instalment Precious Ramotswe and her shrewd assistant Mma Makutsi, have a frightening encounter with a cobra in their office, an ill omen in the guise of a wounded bird, good intentions by one of Mma Ramotswe's employees, a new chair, and a diet that gets out hand, along with a nasty blackmail plot that involves Mma Ramotswe doing some delicate sleuthing in a private school's kitchen to find out who the culprit is and bring them to task.

Add to this a pair of tight fitting but gorgeous blue shoes that gently thread their way through the story line, lashings of bush tea and the wisdom of a Botswana lady detective who understands the frailties of human nature and what makes people tick, she is a kinder version of Agatha Christies's Jane Marple, and with Mma Ramotswe we don't get too many red herrings but we do get the odd twist in the tale in a comfortable read that is both intelligent and enjoyable.

I have to add to this review that I just love the titles of Mccall Smith's books in this particular series; they are so delicious you almost want to put them between two slices of bread and have them for supper with a cup of bush tea! Superlative is all I can say for both book and title!

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61 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best yet, April 18, 2006

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

This is the best yet.

What is fun about this book is that it deals with weighty matters - such as blackmail, medical corruption and things of that nature - in a way that make it accessible to ordinary readers, without the "in your face" moralizing of a book such as John Le Carre's The Constant Gardener. Some people complain that these wonderful Botswana novels are lightweight - far from it, since they deal with many major issues, but do so in a way that brings enormous pleasure to the reader at the same time.

It also deals with matters closer to the heart - the romantic story of Mma Makutsi, and the ups and downs of her relationship with her fiance could be straight out of Jane Austen, just set in another culture and time. The personalities are as delightful as ever and as utterly enjoyable.

As I write this the novel ranks somewhere in the 30s - what a shame, since it ought to be in the top ten and stay there. Buy a copy for yourself and ten copies for all your friends, as this is a wonderful addition to the series that you will want to read again and again.

Christopher Catherwood, author of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ (paperback edition 2005)

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Precious Rights Wrongs and Helps Build Happiness, May 11, 2006

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

Readers who have not yet discovered this distinguished series are kindly advised to begin with The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and work their way through the series in order of publication.

For those who have read the earlier books, Blue Shoes and Happiness will strike most as the best balanced and most rewarding book in this delightful series. The story has animal tales (one involving a cobra), several mysteries to resolve, challenges in Mma Makutsi's engagement, a detection training opportunity for Mr Polopetsi, more challenges with Mr J.L.B. Matekoni's apprentices, decisive purchases by Mr J.L.B. Matekoni and Mma Makutsi, and many reflections on the true nature of happiness by Precious Ramotswe. In particular, the story does a fine job of contrasting the older ways in Botswana with the newer, selfish ways.

I had the pleasure to hear Alexander McCall Smith speak during his recent book tour for the book, and I came away with the false impression that this story was mostly about Mma Makutsi and her new shoes. That episode is simply one of many that investigate the nature of a person's inability to resist certain temptations. Although this book comes close to being just a series of short stories, Alexander McCall Smith ties them together so masterfully that you rarely think of the book as anything other than a lovely flowing novel.

To me, the best part of this book was that it developed the characters more than most books in the series have done. Dr. Smith uses both dialogue and action well to help us appreciate who these characters are.

I thought that the mysteries were nicely rewarding. The solutions were not obvious (except in retrospect) and helped tie the overall themes of the book together. I have to believe that this book was influenced, in part, by readers' love of seeing Precious detect in the context of the truly unique setting of Botswana.

You have a great treat ahead of you. Order this book today!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ SERIES
Start with the 1st book of 'THE No. 1 Ladies' DETECTIVE AGENCY'. To become acquainted with each of the characters that you'll love. Read more

Published 2 months ago by L. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful
Smith's stories are simple while dealing with often complex moral issues. His books are a delight to read.

Published 3 months ago by catmom

5.0 out of 5 stars Blue Shoes and Happiness
I love all the books in this series. They make me laugh and now HBO is making them into a series in March. Can't wait.

Published 5 months ago by Avid Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous series-- this book does not disappoint
Another wonderful book, time spent with old friends in a fascinating land. Once again, I felt absolutely convinced that these characters were real people, and real people I would... Read more

Published 6 months ago by N. Ferguson

4.0 out of 5 stars "To feel happiness and then to remember it"

Title notwithstanding, this series from Alexander McCall Smith doesn't make its living in the detective genre. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Linda Bulger

5.0 out of 5 stars Why hasn't Alexander Mccall Smith won awards for these books?
A reader, who is unfamiliar with the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, to his own detriment, may pick up one of these books and dismiss it based on its marketing or cover... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Houman Tamaddon

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, witty, and wise
The seventh book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

The main mystery is a potentially dangerous blackmail plot, but the real meat of the book, once again,... Read more

Published 12 months ago by D. Williams

5.0 out of 5 stars No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
This entire set of books was a delight to read. They showed that people are the same, regardless of ethnicity or culture. Read more

Published 16 months ago by Audrey Battiste

1.0 out of 5 stars great series - lousy book
i absolutely love the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series, up to this dreadful book. launch yourself without pause or hesitation into the series with The No. Read more

Published 16 months ago by jeanette

5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle, loving stories
The No. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY is a very special series. Alexander McCall Smith clearly has a deep affection and understanding of the people of that part of the world, and he... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Jennette F. Whitehurst

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Blue Shoes and Happiness: The New Novel in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series (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

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Created on Aug 23, 2006, last edited on Aug 24, 2006.

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