To the Land of Long Lost Friends: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (20) (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series) Paperback – September 1, 2020

This wonderfully entertaining book came promptly and in immaculate condition!!!

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency mysteries are my antidote to violent thrillers and all other murder puzzles. They’re charming, unique, full of everyday wisdom--whether interior ruminations or chats over cups of bush tea. Emphasis is put on being nice to other people, whether they deserve it or not. And the mysteries are still tricky to solve. I never anticipate how Mma. Ramotswe does it. I recommend saving this series for when you especially need a break from reality.

In this newest installment of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency (book 20), private detective Precious Ramotswe deals with an assortment of events. To The Land of Long Lost Friends first brings the intrepid detective face to face with an old friend who she had heard was deceased. Imagine her amazement to find the lady in question a guest at the same wedding that Precious is attending. To further complicate the situation, this old friend confides in Precious that her daughter has ceased communications because of her prestigious job in a diamond sorting house. Add to that a new case of a cheating husband and Precious and her sidekick, Grace Makutsi, have their hands full.Assistant detective Charlie has been dating a girl named Queenie-Queenie who comes from a well-off family. He is very dejected because he wishes to marry Queenie-Queenie but he has no money when it comes to the bride price. How can he solve his problem when he has no money?True to form, Precious involves herself in the case of the diamond-sorting daughter who, it seems, is driving a new Mercedes-Benz and is the cause for much speculative gossip; Grace and Charlie handle the case of the cheating husband. And in a well-written chapter Charlie goes to Queenie-Queenie’s house to ask her father for her hand in marriage. Readers will chuckle in delight at how this plays out.Throughout the book, Precious Ramotswe offers reminds us of her love of life in general and her love of Botswana in particular. There is much commentary, from the characters, on changing times and attitudes.Although I enjoyed this book, there are several trends in Mr. McCall-Smith’s writing that have become obvious; some of this is due to the growth of the characters. Mma Ramotswe has become more of a philosophizer while Mma Makutsi’s views have become even more jaded than when we originally met her. While she has always thought highly of herself and her accomplishments, her tendency to look down at others is becoming overt. Charlie, former assistant to Mma Ramotswe’s husband, is coming into his own as an assistant detective and is learning more respect for women. My favorite moments were when the young orphan Daisy is introduced and Mma Ramotswe opens her heart and her home to foster the girl.I look forward to the next book and hopefully we’ll be treated to Charlie’s wedding and learn more about young Daisy.

I always enjoy the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency books and this was no exception. I will continue to read each in order. I have read them from the beginning. I could get them from the library, but there is always a long wait so I pay and have it handy immediately. These books are relaxing, enjoyable, but still hard to put down at night. I highly recommend McCall Smith's books. I wish I had more time to read them.

MacCall Smith is so gentle and metered in writing about Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and of course Charlie. This ending is suspiciously like the last book (never pin a Scotsman down however). The #1 Ladies Detective Agency does pro bono work trying to make Botswana right and in the interim makes for a story filled with characters you felt you have gotten to know and wayward souls whose redemption are sought by the upstanding detectives and wisdom of mechanic Rra Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Wonderful reading, good feelings, what we need in the USA this season!

For years, I've been a huge fan of most of the works of Alexander McCall Smith. Besides the 'No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency' series, I also enjoy the gentle psychological sleuthing in the Isabel Dalhousie series, the sweet and earnest goings of Bertie and Co, at '44 Scotland Street', The 'Portuguese Irregular Verbs' advent;ures and misadventures, plus some other short stories and series. I love the language and literary devices that Mr. McCall Smith so skillfully uses.However, this most recent novel was a bit of a disappointment, since it was mostly musings and offered barely any action that could balanced out the supporting thoughts and conversations of the characters.. Doesn't a detective have to have a decent amount of interesting action to conjure up likely misdemeanors, scattered clues, attendant suspects, and finally, the resolution of a tricky situation? There was a bit too much thinking and little real action in this tale.However, the reader does get to again visit with all the usual and noteworthy characters that have kept this series going for almost 20 stories, notwithstanding some new characters that trigger Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi to take action to right the wrongs in their beloved Botswana.Still, I did love revisiting the life and times of Gabaronne and its environs. Having lived for many years in E. Africa, all these people, settings, and cultural behaviors are so welcoming. It's like coming home for me. The tales make me homesick for Africa!However, I do look forward to more of Mma Ramotswe, her antics, and sleuthing pals. It's not easy to produce an annual, fresh new tale that supercedes previous stories. However in today's world, McCall Smith's portrayals of Africa and Africans are almost the only positive comment on modern Africa, and I thank him for that. You're the best, Mr. McCall Smith!

Arrived quickly and looking lovely - there’s nothing like a set of new books!

Mma Ramotswe and all the other familiar characters in another beautiful story. The world needs more love and goodness and these wonderfully written, humorous and gentle stories deliver them but without being sentimental or sickly sweet. They are intelligent, with excellent plots that explore the good and bad in life. I cannot praise these stories highly enough.

If you have been looking forward to knowing the other characters in this series more deeply, you won't be disappointed. This book, and a couple few preceding ones, have given a lot of coverage to Charlie. You will find yourself growing fond of him, like Mma Makutsi has. Yes!I am looking forward to knowing Motholeli, Fanwell, Puso and Itumelang more intimately!

I love the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books and could not wait to get my hands on this one. It did not disappoint. Reading about Mma Ramotswe always makes me want to be a better person.Very entertaining and uplifting story!

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