The Number One Ladies Detective Agency is a wonderful “savor-worthy” series. The 9^th book in the series is out in hardcover, and fans of the books will not be disappointed. “The Miracle at Speedy Motors” continues the series with the same magic ingredients that has made the series such a success.

The books in this series should definitely be read in order. The stories follow the life of Precious Ramotswe, who lives in Botswana and has always wanted to be a detective. This fictionalized Botswana has never had a “lady detective.” But, when Mma (translated as Mrs. or Ms.) Ramotswe inherits some money at the passing of her dear father, she decides to follow her dream. Her patience, old world traditions and wisdom win out every time.

There is something almost magical about the writing in this series. There is a cadence to the dialogue, an old-world tradition to the behavior of the characters; they are moral and will always (eventually) do what is right on an ethical level. Family and friendships are treasured. The love they have of their county is real. And you want them to be real, and, more importantly you want to be their friend. One thing I find particularly endearing is that, although Mma Ramotswe’s father has passed away years earlier, she still deeply treasures his memory. When she sees something that reminds her of him she will always take a moment to think about him and something specific that made him the special father he was.

There is always a mystery or two in each installment, and it’s solved by the end. Such is the case with “The Miracle at Speedy Motors.” There are cases the detective agency is hired for, and a couple of more personal mysteries that are worked out. All the main characters are back for this ninth installment. Mma Ramotswe, the head detective with a huge heart and “traditional build” leads the cast of characters through stories and subplots that involve her vain but good hearted assistant Mma Makutsi, her kind but naïve husband J.L.B. Matekoni, and their two foster children.

There are several laughs in the book, such as the time when Mma Ramotswe is pondering her weight and the fact that women in her country are becoming more and more skinny, and having less respect for those women, like herself, who are “traditionally built.” The author writes:

“Mma Ramotswe had never been able to understand that, and considered it one of the very worst features of modern society that people should be ashamed to be of traditional build, cultivating instead a look that was bony and positively uncomfortable. Everybody knows, she thought, that we have a skeleton underneath our skin; there’s no reason to show it.”

The traditions and culture of Botswana are touched on during the day-to-day lives of the characters. After a heavy rain Mma Ramotswe and a young apprentice spot a huge swarm of flying ants. She urges him to go out into the rain and catch them. To eat. Apparently they have a “peanut-butter taste” and are crunchy.

Surprisingly, the author of the book is a man. He really knows and understands the inner-workings of women. Perhaps that is due to his physician wife and two daughters. Whatever the reason, Alexander McCall Smith is talented and gets his thoughts and the thoughts and feelings of his characters onto the page.

McCall Smith was born in (what is now) Zimbabwe and went to school there and in Scotland. He worked as a law professor in Botswana, and helped set up a new law school there. He also taught Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. His varied career includes being the vice-chairman of the human Genetics Commission of the United Kingdom, chairman of the British Medical Journal Ethics Committee and a member of the International Bioethics Commission of UNESCO. Currently he plays in an amateur orchestra called “The Really Terrible Orchestra.” He plays the bassoon.

McCall Smith writes three other book series, “44 Scotland Street,” “Isabel Dalhousie Novels” and Portuguese Irregular Verbs, all of which are interesting and entertaining reads.

In my lifetime I have joined three fan clubs. The Osmond Brothers Fan Club, the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Fan Club, and The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency Fan Club. The books are fun, interesting, a bit suspenseful, and well worth reading.

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