What is it that makes Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels so appealing? I was thinking about this as I was enjoying the latest addition to this series, The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (#573).
First of all, I think it's because McCall Smith tells a good story. You want to find out what will happen next to Mma Ramotswe, her husband Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, and her now partner, Mma Makutsi in far-off Gabarone, Botswana. The exotic locale can often pose problems for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, but the human problems they are called upon to investigate are the same the world over. That by itself makes for interesting reading.
But what I think really sets this series apart is the warmth generated by the central characters whose quirky behavior and humorous traits are leavened with a kindness and moral rectitude which are so often missing from the novels published today. Love of God, of family, of country are paramount to these people, and it's refreshing to imagine that somewhere in the world people like this really do exist.
In The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine, Mma Ramotswe finds herself on holiday, not quite sure that it actually was her idea. Not that she is idle; far from it! She encounters a street urchin named Samuel, becomes embroiled in a famous late person's scandal, and misreads a situation with nearly disastrous consequences. Things have a way of working themselves out for the best, with a little help from the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency!
If you haven't read any of this series yet, I can't imagine a more pleasurable way of spending your summer than binge reading these books. Enjoy!
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