In this 25th book in the 'No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series - set in Gaborone, Botswana - the sleuths look into mischief at a popular hotel and a man having a midlife crisis. The book can be read as a standalone but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
*****
Mma Precious Ramotswe is the founder of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and Mma Grace Makutski is the self-appointed joint managing director. The ladies acquired their sleuthing skills from a book called 'The Principles of Private Detection' by Clovis Anderson, whose wise counsel is sprinkled throughout the story.
One day, Mma Ramotswe is approached by a man called Quick Babusi, manager of the Great Hippopotamus Hotel.
Babusi explains that the establishment was doing well until things started to go wrong. Misfortunes include food poisoning in the dining room; guests' laundry going missing from the drying line; a carpet ruined by a bathroom flood; a lodger being stung by a scorpion in his room; and more. Babusi confides, "There were bad reviews, and once that starts it's very difficult to stop it."
Babusi goes on to say that the hotel had been owned by Mr. Goodman Tsholofelo, who ran it successfully for many years. Now elderly, Mr. Tsholofelo has given the hostelry to his three relatives: two nephews - businessmen named H.J. Morapedi and Pardon Morapedi;
and a niece called Diphimotswe - who owns a dress shop.
Babusi manages the hotel for this trio, and fears the demise of the hotel will threaten his position and the jobs of his staff.
As it happens Mma Ramotswe falls ill, and the hotel case is taken over by Mma Makutsi, who's happy to be temporary head of the detective agency.
When Mma Makutsi learns that Mr. H.J. Morapedi, who's married, has 'become friendly' with beautiful husband-stealing Violet Sephotho, the detective is appalled.
Mma Makutsi detests Violet, and believes Violet and H.J. are sabotaging the Great Hippopotamus Hotel for their own nefarious purposes. Mma Makutsi sets out to prove it, and as sometimes happens, Mma Makutsi's shoes talk to her about the matter. And this time, a little boy hears the shoes as well!
Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe helps her husband, mechanic J.L.B. Matekoni - owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors - with a tricky problem.
A Speedy Motors client, 60-year-old Mo Mo Molala, has asked J.L.B. to find him a red Italian sports car.
Mr. Molala plans to purchase the car in secret, and not tell his wife. J.L.B feels he has to help Molala because Speedy Motors gets a big chunk of business from Molala's brother, who runs the biggest car rental firm in the country.
Mma Ramotswe STRONGLY disapproves of the car purchase and the spouse deception. She recalls Clovis Andersen's principle: "Men do things to attract the attention of women. Once you understand that, you will begin to understand men." Thus Mma Ramtoswe feels she must set things right.
Things aren't always as they seem, and by the end of the book, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are satisfied with their work.
Much of this series' charm revolves around the insight and kindness of Mma Ramotswe, who loves Botswana and Botswanans, but acknowledges that people can go astray. In those cases, Mma Ramotswe feels wrongdoers should be guided back with a feather rather than a cudgel.
It's always a pleasure to visit with the series' recurring characters, including the mechanic Charlie, whose irreverent remarks (purposely) irritate Mma Makutsi; Mma Makutsi's husband, furniture store owner Phuti Radiphuti, who has good business sense; and Mma Potokwane, director of the Orphan Farm and baker of delicious fruit cakes.
As always, I enjoyed the book. My major grumble is that, with Mma Ramotswe sick and stuck at home, she and Mma Makutsi don't have their usual cups of tea and fun conversations.
Thanks to Netgalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Pantheon for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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