The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

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 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

• Alexander McCall Smith, The Full Cupboard of Life (2004)
  In this series Detective Ramotswe continues to find out the wrongdoings of the guilty. Her latest case is figuring out who is most suitable of four gentlemen to marry the prosperous Mma Holonga. In the meantime, Ramotswe wonders about her relationship to her fiancée and if they will end up married. Since it is a winding storyline it allows for Ramotswe’s assistant detective and others to appear throughout the novel. The charm of Smith’s novel is the way he writes traditional and modern village dwellers into the plot. This gives the readers a chance to experience Ramotswe as a humane and endearing character, much like Jane Austen’s character, Emma. It is very likely that the series will soon have a television program.
• Alexander McCall Smith, The Kalahari Typing School for Men (2003)
  Detective Ramotswe has moved her operation to Gaborone Street. This has caused her to have more work solving problems for patrons. Mr. Molofelo, a civil engineer, confesses to have done wrong with two women whom he had known years ago. One is a nurse whom he made to have an abortion and the other is a landlord who he stole from. Mma Grace Makutsi, Ramotswe’s assistant, is on the lookout for her life partner and also for students to enroll in her new typing establishment which is intended for men only. Ramotswe’s rival, Bumptious Cephas Buthelezi, who opened his detective agency, is no match for these clever ladies. They are good listeners and actually care about their customers whereas the rival is a typical detective.
• Aimee Thurlo, Plant Them Deep (2003)
  Mysteries surround the Navajo culture and Ella Clah is the central investigator surrounding them. Ella and her mother Rose have a difficult relationship and soon Ella has to deal with her mother looking into the investigations herself. Rose is asked to do a survey for the plant life in the area, and Rose finds herself at odds with both the people inside and off the reservation.
• M.C. Beaton, The Deadly Dance: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (2004)
  Agatha Raisin begins a detective agency in Carsely village in the Costwolds. Raisin hires her sixty seven year old neighbor, Emma Lomfrey, as secretary who quickly becomes a detective. Raisin hires others on her staff as well who also help solve cases. Soon however there is a death threat against an acquaintances daughter and Raisin must ask for Sir Charles’ assistance.
• Ayelet Waldman, The Cradle Robbers (2005)
  Juliet Applebaum takes the case of a female prisoner, Sandra Lorgeree, who lost her baby to kidnappers. Applebaum single handedly takes this case while caring for her four-month-old daughter. Sandra is murdered in prison and Juliet believes that there is more to the case. Juliet treks to L.A. and north California to find the kidnapped baby. The author, a public defender in her previous career, writes a realistic portrayal of life behind prison bars and on the streets.

Major Character List

 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

• J.L.B. Matekoni – proprietor of Tlokwend Road Speed Motors, good friend and in love with Ramotswe
• Mma Makutsi – secretary at The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
• Mma Ramotswe (Precious) – started a detective agency; relies on instinct.
• Nandira Patel – Paliwar Patel’s youngest daughter.
• Note Mokoti – Precious first husband, he was a musician who wooed Precious into marrying him, physically and emotionally abusive toward Precious.
• Obed Ramotswe – Precious’ father – proud to be an African, worked in the mines, lived up to the age of 60.
• Obed’s Cousin – helped raise Precious, she was not able to bear her own children and therefore her first husband left her, remarried.
• Paliwalar Patel – one of the wealthiest men in the country - the owner of eight stores, and the father of four children.
• Grace Gakatlsa – Ramotswe’s friend, she owns a dress shop and always knows how to cheer her up.
• Dr. Maketsi – a friend of Precious since childhood, and who also arranged for her father to be taken care of in a private hospital with no fee.
• Hector Lepodise – owned a factory that produced bolts for holding roofs in place.
• Dr. Gulubane – neighbour of Ramotswe and doctor of pathology.

Discussion Questions

 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

1. With what funds did Mma Ramotswe set up her detective agency and what were the funds initially intended for?
2. Who was Obed Ramotswe and what did he think of his daughter?
3. Who was the mother figure for Precious as a child? What did she teach Precious?
4. Precious was awarded first place in an art competition as a young girl, but she felt that she did not deserve this, why is that? What kind of character do you think this shows she will become?
5. Who was Note Mokoti to Precious? What happened to him?
6. Why did Mma Ramotswe hire Mma Makutsi?
7. What was Mma Ramotswe first case?
8. Mma Ramotswe gets a letter in the mail about a missing boy – why does Mma Ramotswe feel that there is nothing she can do about this case? How does she feel about this?
9. Why does Mma Ramotswe turn down Matekoni’s marriage proposal?
10. Why is Alice Busang not satisfied with Mma Ramotswe’s discovery of her husband? Do you think Busang’s reaction is over the top or do you think she should be upset?
11. What did Matekoni discover and why does he show his discovery to Mma Ramtoswe?
12. What does Hector Lepodise want Ramtoswe to prove about Moretsi?
13. What does Mma Ramotswe find out about Matekoni’s discovery when she takes the discovery to her doctor friend?
14. What does Mma Ramotswe think of Mr. Charlie Gotso when she first meets him?
15. How does Mma Ramotswe trick Gotso into thinking that she needs witchcraft too?
16. What was the case that Mma Ramotswe found mundane? And why did she take this case?
17. Dr. Maketsi wants to talk to Ramotswe about another doctor – what is his concern?
18. What do people usually say to Ramotswe when they find out that she is a detective? What is her answer to them?
19. What does Mma Ramotswe find out when she follows Dr. Komoti into Mafikeng?
20. Why does Ramotswe not want Africa to change?
21. What lie does Ramotswe tell the witch doctor’s wife about herself?
22. Where has the boy been all this time?
23. What does Mma Ramotswe say to Matekoni’s second proposal? Why do you think she had a different answer this time?