Alexander McCall-Smith
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2003)
Author: Alexander McCall-Smith
Genre: Mystery (Cozy)
Plot Summary:
Precious Ramotswe becomes the first woman detective to set up shop in her beloved country of Botswana. Cases involving a cheating husband, a phantom boyfriend, and an inconsistent doctor, among others, find their way into the adept detective's newly established office. But a case dealing with a missing boy, a powerful businessman, and witchcraft, take Romotswe into much darker territories than her usual cases.
Appeal Characteristics:
A pretty unconventional mystery, if you want to even call it that. And while it's usually found in the mystery section of a library or bookstore, it's really a work of fiction about a detective (if that makes any sense). Traits typical to the mystery/detective/thriller genre are not really found here -- mainly mysteries that keep the reader guessing and suspense. Even the potentially dark storyline involving the witch doctor resolves itself with very little suspense or danger. But I think the book remains appealing and has found such a following because it is unconventional. The detective is African (which to my knowledge doesn't happen very often) and female, and she doesn't have an heir about her that many of the more traditional detectives have (Holmes and Poirot come to mind). She's very intuitive but obviously makes mistakes (I loved how she trapped that cheating husband). And the book lets the reader experience some of the everyday traditions of African life. I think Ramotswe's pride in herself, her abilities, and her country is really a refreshing viewpoint to have. And something that we don't really seem to have in English literature. Africa either seems to be represented as "the dark continent" full of either despair or danger or both. This book offers a fresh perspective of a country and culture (still with its share of flaws) that breaks many of our held stereotypes . I might not recommend this book to someone who is looking for "a good mystery" (the cases are pretty mundane) but I would recommend it to someone interested in a leisurely paced, charming, slice-of-life story set in Africa that just happens to involve a female detective.
Red Flags: None
The Sunday Philosophy Club (2004)
Author: Alexander McCall-Smith
Genre (and subgenre): Mystery (Amateur Detective/Cozy)
Plot Summary:
Isabel Dalhousie, editor of a scholarly journal in philosophy and middle-aged lady of leisure, witnesses the death of a young man who falls from a balcony after a symphony concert. Thinking she is the last person he saw before death, she feels a connection to the man and begins to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fall. While considering philosophical questions posed in article submissions to the journal, meddling in her beloved niece’s personal life, and thinking about her own attraction to a younger man, Isabel wanders the streets, neighborhoods, and art galleries of Edinburgh in search of answers to questions about what might be murder.
Geographical Setting: Edinburgh, Scotland
Time Period: Present day
Series: First in a new series (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries)
Appeal Characteristics:
The mystery is very slow-paced and character-driven; characters and setting are primary, the mystery and puzzle are inferior. Secondary characters abound—the cleaning lady, a young niece and her lovers, the various friends Isabel calls on for help. The focus is on Isabel’s personal thoughts, couching everyday happenings and problems in “philosophical” terms. The author is familiar with Edinburgh’s neighborhoods and people and he drops casual references to both in the novel. Good for anyone looking for a gentle read set in Scotland and wants to know about a middle-aged single woman of independent means.
Similar Authors: Gerald Hammond, Agatha Christies (Miss Marple mysteries)
Red Flags: None
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