It was 15 novels ago that we first met Mma. Precious Ramotswe, proprietress of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Botswana, and the series has lost none of its warmth and charm. Mma Ramotswe's agency has often helped people to find things that they have lost, but has never before had to help a client find herself. A kindhearted brother and sister have taken in a woman known only as "Mrs."—a woman with no memory of her name or of how she came to Botswana. Meanwhile, motherhood proves to be no obstacle to Mma Grace Makutsi's professional success, though the same cannot be said for her new enterprise, the Handsome Man's De Luxe Café, a restaurant for Gaborone's most fashionable diners. And next door to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is finally forced to make a tough choice, one that will bring major changes to both Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency—and that will require all of Mma. Ramotswe's finesse and patience to sort out.
"Alexander McCall Smith is a prolific, popular, and wonderfully peculiar writer. His capacity to deliver quality new installments ... is unrivalled by any other modern writer."—Independent (London)
"McCall Smith's depictions of the sights and sounds of Botswana and his overarching theme of compassion make this novel radiant.... Humor runs rampant, as always, except in the darkest situations.... Calling Precious Ramotswe, owner and chief investigator of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in Botswana, a detective doesn't do her justice. 'Problem solver extraordinaire' would be much better. Mma Ramotswe takes on one or two true mysteries per novel, it's true, but she also treats a whole range of human difficulties as they come her way, finding good solutions through her wisdom, kindness, and tact."—Booklist (starred review)