In this 20th book in the 'No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series, Mma Ramotswe - who owns the agency - gets involved in various disparate situations.
The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is a plus.
*****
Mma Ramotswe is at a wedding celebration when she spots an old friend, Calviniah Ramoroka, whom she hasn't seen in years. Later, when the women are lunching together, Calviniah confides that her daughter Nametso has become distant, and Calviniah doesn't know why.
Mma Ramotswe intuits that Calviniah wants her help, and the detectives at the 'No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' proceed to follow and investigate Nametso. One scene where Mma Ramotswe, her detective partner Mma Makutsi, and assistant detective Charlie are all stuffed into the front seat of Mma Ramotswe's tiny white van is hilarious.
Mma Ramotswe also learns that another old friend named Poppy, who had accumulated a substantial nest egg, is now almost broke. It seems Poppy has given her new preacher a VERY expensive Mercedes Benz.
Mma Ramotswe is distressed by Poppy's plight and would like to help.
Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe has been hired by a woman called Mma Mogorosi, who wants to know if her husband is cheating on her. Mma Ramotswe finds that the hubby isn't unfaithful but is secretly taking math lessons. This isn't the end of the story though.....
On a day off, Mma Ramotswe visits her friend, orphanage director Mma Potokwane, who always serves bush tea and delicious fruit cake.
At the orphanage, Mma Ramotswe meets one of the house mothers, and a surprise follows.
Lastly, assistant detective Charlie, a young man who works as an assistant to Mma Ramotswe and a part-time mechanic for Mma Ramotswe's husband - Mr. JLB Matekoni at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors - says he wants to marry his girlfriend Queenie Queenie.
There's a big problem though. Charlie is very poor, Queenie Queenie's family is very rich, and Botswana customs require a substantial bride price. A possible solution presents itself, but Charlie is ambivalent about jumping in.
In the end, a series of (unlikely) coinidences help resolve many of the above situations.
The books in this series are never really about solving mysteries, but rather about Mma Ramotswe's kind heart, desire to think the best of people, and philosophy of life. As always, Mma Ramotswe has entertaining conversations with her husband and staff, and Mma Makutsi's shoes - which like to chime in with opnions - make some fun comments as well.
The novel is just the ticket for an afternoon's light reading.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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