In the Time of Five Pumpkins

In the Time of Five Pumpkins is the 26th book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. Over the years I have enjoyed reading many titles in this series. My mother also enjoyed reading about the activities of Precious Ramotswe and her friends as they investigated activities that occurred in their neighbourhood.

A husband asks the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to prove that his wife is cheating on him. Life then becomes complicated for the agency when the wife employs Precious to prove that her husband has been cheating on her. Precious' husband has an unwanted adventure when he goes fishing in a boat on a local dam. The locals are concerned as to when the rains will finally come and hopefully Mma Potokwani's pumpkins will grow. 

These are some of the concerns that feature in the latest installment in the series. Another pleasant, relaxing read about a small community in Botswana. 

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith set in Botswana and featuring as the main character Mma Precious Ramotswe. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is also the title of the first book in the series published in 1998. By 2025, twenty-six titles in this series had been published. The books were also adapted as a television series.

I have read a selection of these books over the years and enjoyed spending time with the main characters as they examine and reflect on aspects of life as well as solve a crime or two on the way. Many years ago I gave my mother a copy of this title which she enjoyed and lent to her friends. Consequently I included new titles as birthday and Christmas presents for a number of years.

A summary of a number of the titles I have read can be found under the link for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

The Great Hippopotamus Hotel

Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi once again have mysteries to solve in the 26th installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. The manager of the Great Hippopotamus Hotel approaches Precious when a number of incidents occur at the hotel which are ruining the hotel's reputation. Meanwhile Precious' husband, Mr JLB Matekoni, is approached by a client to purchase a fancy sports car for him. The problem is that the client does not want his wife to know about the purchase.

The Great Hippopotamus Hotel by Alexander McCall Smith is another thoughtful and amusing account of the dilemmas faced by the two women as they attempt to resolve the challenges presented to them. The Great Hippopotamus Hotel provides another gentle, entertaining account of the thoughts and lives of Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi and their family and friends in Botswana.

From a Far and Lovely Country

It has been a while since I read any of the books in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series so, for old times sake, I decided to read the latest book in the series, From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith. Once again I was transported to the world inhabited by Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi and their family and friends in Botswana.

My mother enjoyed reading the stories in this series and would lend the copies that I gave her to friends to also enjoy.

In this book they investigate the Cool Singles Evening Club which is suspected of deceiving single women by pairing them with married men. They also attempt to reunite a lady from America with family members in Botswana. Another moral dilemma is how to react when presented with a birthday present which is the wrong size. 

Precious Ramotswe always manages to find a positive solution to the problems encountered even when the solution may take a different path from the expected outcome. As the character looking for family members explains at the end of the book - 'I came looking for people ... and I found a country'.

This book is number 24 in the series.

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

Although the actual wedding between Grace Makutsi and Phuti Radiphuti does not occur until the final chapter much planning for the wedding is required before the event can take place. While this is occurring the services of the detectives at the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency continue to be in demand. Who has been causing injury to the cattle of Mr Moeti? Is Charlie really the father of twins? And has Mma Ramotswe's little white van come back to life? This is the twelfth book is the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith and continues the tradition of the previous titles taking the reader into the life of Mma Ramotswe and her family and friends living in Botswana.

In September 2011 ABC television showed an episode of Compass consisting of a Geraldine Doogue  interview with Alexander McCall Smith. The episode can be viewed or downloaded plus a transcript of the interview can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s3314488.htm.

 In October 2011 Alexander McCall Smith was guest of the program, Jennifer Byrne presents - http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/s3337304.htm.

The Double Comfort Safari Club

The 10th addition to the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith returns us to Botswana to spend time with Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi as they search for a Safari Camp guide to give him a legacy from an American tourist, a former visitor to the camp. They also investigate claims by a husband and wife that each partner is having a relationship outside the marriage. Mma Makutsi's has additional concerns as her husband-to-be has had an accident and she has to contend with his senior aunt who wants Mma Makutsi out of her nephew's life. An enjoyable few hours is spent revisiting the world of Mma Precious Ramotswe and her friends.

Tea time for the traditionally built

At the conclusion of the book Mma Precious Ramotswe and Mma Grace Makutsi enjoy tea time at the President Hotel where they reflected on their recent cases and experiences - the invstigation into why the local football team kept losing, the woman who had problems with two 'husbands' and Violet Sephotho's attempt to win the affections of Phuti Radiphuti (Grace's finance). This is a continuation of a series of books set in Botswana recording events in the life of Precious Ramotswe, her family, colleagues and friends. At book talks, the author, Alexander McCall Smith, states that not a lot of action occurs in the books but the description of the characters and their surroundings as they face the daily challenges of living has a loyal following of readers.

The other books in the series are The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for Beautiful Girls, The Kalahari Typing School for Men, The Full Cupboard of Life, In the Comapny of Cheerful Ladies, Blue Shoes and Happiness, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive and The Miracle at Speedy Motors.

The BBC has recently made a television series based on stories from the books which is yet to be viewed in Australia.