No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

from goodreads

3 stars

Well, it is official! Only one more week and then it is SUUUMMMERRR! No more lunches to make! No more making sure I have nut free options available! No more having to convince my daughter that pyjamas are not the best thing to wear to school. No more having to wake up because of said lunches to make! This is going to be awesome.

Now that summer is super approaching I am trying to figure out what my reading list should be. A few months ago I felt like I would be going through books like a kid with a cold goes through kleenex. But now, after the week I have had, I will be lucky if I get through my book club books. My 15 month old has decided that she is going to be the craziest, sneakiest, most dare-devilest baby ever! Seriously, you stop looking at her for a second and she has run 20 ft. and is climbing something or trying to get to the sharp knives or has climbed onto the table and is eating leftovers. Like seriously! What is up with her. She looks so angelic, and when she smiles it seems she can do no wrong. Then Wham!!! she shows you her true colours, and believe me they are not angelic white.

Oh well. That is the fun thing about being a busy mom. Never a dull moment. Now, if only I could find more time to read. What are your summer selections for either yourself or your family?

Synopsis

Mme Ramotswe has decided to open a detective agency using her inheritance from her father. As her clients slowly trickle in she has to use her wits and gut to solve the mystery. The backdrop of Botswana is a supporting character throughout. This is the first of a series of books.

My Thoughts

Well, I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. It was rather a quaint, cutesy story. To me it was a mystery for people who can't handle too much intensity. I like a gripping, rough around the edges mystery that keeps me guessing until the end. This was not that. I figured out what the answers were very quickly. All the stories in the book seemed to all get wrapped up in a nice cute little package with a bow on it.

While I was reading it I was also feeling unsettled about the fact that the author was a white, male, Scotsman. Now I understand he spent a lot of time in Botswana as a teacher, and that is great. But does he really know the culture inside and out. Is this really what a woman from Botswana would be thinking? I know that I am probably reading into this too much but, it was just weird for me. It made it hard for me to settle into the story and just try to enjoy it.

I found the book to be choppy as well. It is written more as a series of short stories rather than an over arching story. There was  a little continuation sprinkled throughout but not enough to make a really good story arch.

I did like the picturesque backdrop of Botswana. If it wasn't for the snakes I would probably be there. It made me want to watch the movie The Gods Must be Crazy, which can be seen on youTube! I love that movie, it makes me laugh every time, especially with the doctor has to go pick up the new teacher! Classic.

This is not a series that I am going to continue with anytime soon. Now that the characters are a bit developed perhaps the next books might be better, but I am in no rush. I have other books on my never ending to-read list that I would much rather get to.