Sonderbooks Book Review of Morality for Beautiful Girls

Reviewed June 30, 2003.
Anchor Books (Random House), New York, 2002. Originally published in Scotland in 2001. 227 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (F MCC).
A Sonderbooks’ Stand-out of 2003: #1, Mystery and Adventure

This is the third book in the series about The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency of Botswana. I find these books absolutely delightful! In fact, I saved this one to read on my birthday, since I knew that it would put me in a good mood.

Morality for Beautiful Girls gives Mma Makutsi, Precious Ramotswe’s assistant, a chance to shine. She gets a promotion and whips Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors into line. Then, while Mma Ramotswe is away solving a case for a Government Man, she solves a case on her own involving Morality for Beautiful Girls.

These books are light and pleasant and never predictable. The cross-cultural setting makes you feel that you are learning something. I guarantee you you’ll find good company in these good and clever people of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

I only have one complaint—I wish that I knew how to pronounce Mma and Rra, the modes of address for women and men in Botswana. If any of you readers know the answer to this mystery, let me know!

Reviews of other books by Alexander McCall Smith:
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Book 1)
Tears of the Giraffe (Book 2)
The Kalahari Typing School for Men (Book 4)
The Full Cupboard of Life (Book 5)
In the Presence of Cheerful Ladies (Book 6)
Blue Shoes and Happiness (Book 7)
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (Book 8)
The Miracle at Speedy Motors (Book 9)
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (Book 10)
The Double Comfort Safari Club (Book 11)
The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (Book 12)
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection (Book 13)
The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon (Book 14)
The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café (Book 15)
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (Book 16)
Precious and Grace (Book 17)
The House of Unexpected Sisters (Book 18)
The Colors of All the Cattle (Book 19)

Reviews of other books by Alexander McCall Smith:
The Great Cake Mystery
The Mystery of Meerkat Hill
The Cowgirl Aunt of Harriet Bean
The Sunday Philosophy Club
Friends, Lovers, Chocolate
The Right Attitude to Rain
The Careful Use of Compliments
The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday
La's Orchestra Saves the World
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs
Emma
My Italian Bulldozer

Copyright © 2005 Sondra Eklund. All rights reserved.

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

******Morality for Beautiful Girls*

by Alexander McCall Smith