I didn't know there was a "latest" book and will look forward to reading it. Have you enjoyed his other "lady detective" series which takes place in Scotland?

I'm halfway through - these books are my 'guilty pleasures' that I allow myself from time to time when I need to get away from life's pressures. I am enjoying it very much and don't feel McCall Smith has gone to the well too many times. I haven't read his other series; I will have to check it out.

I love the Ladies Detective Series as I spent some time in Africa and can well imagine the situations and pacing of events in the stories. I've listened to one or two of the series on tape, read by Lisette Lecat. I recommend anyone reading the series to listen to one or two on tape. Lecat does a fantastic job with a wonderful cultured voice, and it helps with the pronunciation of some of the names also. Later when reading, you can almost hear Lecat's voice in your head, if that makes any sense at all!!

Thanks, Bookmom, the recommendation. I'll see if I can find that series on Amazon. Sounds like good summer reading.

Yikes--don't buy the Scotland series on my say-so because I read the first two and did not like them. I just wondered if anyone else felt the same way.

***Spoiler Alert***
I was disappointed with this latest book too. Very lack-lustre and why did Precious take so tragically long in doing something about the Game Warden's problem?
I saw an interview with the author on TV some time ago and he said that he was needing to find some more stories for a new book as he was being asked for another in the series. This must be it.
I think that there was a TV series in the pipeline. That should be interesting.

BookMom: I didn't like the other detective series, either, although I love The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency series and also greatly enjoyed The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs and Irregular Portuguese Verbs. I just got Blue Shoes and Happiness and hope I will end up not agreeing with Annpan!

I have read all the #1 Detective Agency books as well as the Scotland one and two of the Portuguese Irregular Verb series. I have to say by far my favorite series is the Mma Ramotswe series. I've also listened to them on audio and I agree, Lisette Lecat does a wonderful job narrating them. She really enhances my enjoyment of the series. I didn't care much for the professor of irregular verbs and only a little more for the Sunday Philosophy Club series. The main characters just don't spring to life for me. Or if they do, I don't like them. But that may be just me, don't let me spoil your enjoyment of these books either.

Just finished Blue Shoes and really enjoyed it. It's another wonderful trip to Botswana to visit with our old friends. I would agree that some of the mystery threads are not as tightly written as in some of the previous books, but that didn't really bother me.

I've read the first of the Sunday Philosophy Club, and I liked it but not nearly as much as the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. For one thing, the case to be solved is disturbing, unlike most of the cases of Mma Ramotswe, and the philosophical discussion is less intriguing. And, the surrounding characters are not as interesting, though I did like the housekeeper.

Tried one of the other series and couldn't get into it at all, but it may have been a timing issue on my part. You know, wrong book at the wrong time.

Just finished Blue Shoes and Happiness and loved it as much as the others in the series. For me the various little problems Precious deals with are secondary to the development of the main characters and their relationships, but I love the whole thing. I wish we would hear more about the two adopted children though.
Tried Philosophy Club, Scotland Street and Sausage Dogs...didn't like any of them.

What's this about a TV series?

Apparently Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are either filming or making a TV series. I cannot find out more, like a possible cast list. I have checked out a few sites but have eye problems at present so am restricted to the amount of time I can spend on the net!
Perhaps someone else can help?

annpan, I will keep my nose to the ground to try to find out more about this tv series. Sorry about your eyes, hope the problem clears up soon.

I looked and it seems to be a movie they are serious about making. But the BBC has done a number of related stories--don't know if they are shown here. Not this series but about it and Botswana and real female detectives in Africa. I would dearly love to see a movie based on these books--love them!

I love these books and when I want a break from the heavier things and just want to smile,I'll read one. I've read the first 3 in the series but have them all,except for the latest. Time to read one I think. The "real feel" out there was 113 today with no let up expected tomorrow.

Just finished Blue Shoes and Happiness and enjoyed it very much. These books are way too short for me and go by too fast. This one is a series of smaller episodes and all of the major characters, whose number seems to increase with each book, appear. Some get a lot of attention; others have cameo roles.

I think Alexander McCall Smith should give up his other books, at least for the time being, and concentrate on Mma Ramotswe, her friends and family, and Botswana. He has created a character and a world with universal truths and gentle humor. Don't want to give any spoilers but will be glad to discuss this when enough people have read it.

Ginny, I too hope that there will be many more books about Precious and the gang, esp. Mma.Makutsi. But even though I haven't liked his other series I think there are many who do so I think he should just do nothing but write and keep us all happy. He would have to give up his spot in the RTO, and possibly his marriage but, really, a small price to pay for our reading pleasure.

I've just finished reading all of Smith's novels. I think I liked them all about equally, but the von Igelfeld entertainments made me laugh out loud in a few places which I very rarely do. I read the Botswana series last, and although I enjoyed them I hope Smith continues his other series. Maybe he gets bored or at a loss for ideas if he concentrates on one set of characters too much.

I have enjoyed his series that appeared in a newspaper as a daily serial- 44 Scotland ST. and Espresso Stories and the first of the German liguist series Portugese Irregular Verbs but could never get into the Ladies' Detective Series. I think his style lends itself to vignettes-in all of the books I enjoyed, each chapter is its own little scene.

I've read two - The #1 Ladies Detective Agency which I enjoyed (but not enough to want to read a sequel) and The Sunday Philosophy Club which I thought was unmitigated tosh from beginning to end.

But don't let me put anyone off....

I have a question about this book. When Mma Ramotswe is talking with Aunty Emang and asks about the doctor, how does Mma know by her response that she knew the doctor?