The House of Unexpected Sisters: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (18) (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series)

Alexander McCall Smith had a perfectly good career as a respected expert on medical law and bioethics. He gave up his professor of medical law post at Edinburgh University in 2005 to write full time. According to Wikipedia--and we all know everything printed there is true--Mr. McCall Smith writes every day--even when traveling he writes 2,000 to 3,000 words a day. At home as many as 5,000 words. Amazing!When I was in Edinburgh a few years ago my dearest hope was to glimpse Mr. McCall Smith walking down the street, in a store, or in a restaurant. I would have never approached him, but would have probably stared with a silly smile on my face wishing I had more nerve than I have. Edinburgh is an interesting city, but not as interesting as this writer.I especially like that he purchased a chain of islands and put them in trust to ensure that they would stay forever wild.In this book, Precious has a disillusionment so great that it rocks her entire belief system and sends her spinning into grief. This happened when she discovered a sister that she didn't know she had. There are still a couple of problems to solve especially the one that might drive Mma Makutsi's husband Phuti Radiphuti out of business.And then we have all of our favorite characters at their best and one of our least favorites causing trouble again. Doesn't everyone have a Violet somewhere in their lives?This book is probably one of the best in the series. Thanks for all of your wonderful writing Mr. McCall Smith. You make the world a better place in a lot of ways!

Mma Ramotswe loves her late father, Obed, her country of Botswana and believes in the goodness of almost all the people of Botswana. When she thinks about these things her thoughts are lyrical, and reading them brings me happiness. Her father and her country are so great to her, even Botswana has a personality of honoring goodness. Mma grew up in a village and loves the old, polite customs. Some problems occur, Mma investigates a case of possible wrongful dismissal of an employee in an office furniture store, she worries that her late father might be flawed, and when another Mma Ramotswe appears, her worries triple. Who is the surprising lady? I won’t give away the answers and will tell you that I am reading this series in order, this is number 18, and this is my favorite thus far. This is what I call a perfect novel.

This is the latest installment of the irresistibly charming, No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. In every book I am forced to slow down as I enter the world of Mma Ramotswe and her feisty, but loveable assistant, Mma Makutsi. “The House of Unexpected Sisters" moves along at a gentler pace but somehow the peace and slower pace allow you to absorb the wonderful characters and the dilemmas they seem to face in their lives. Now, that we find out that Mma Romatswe has a sibling should open up a lot of new avenues for the series to continue. I've never been to Botswana but after reading one of his books, I feel transported for a few days to this warm and sunny country.

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I loved the unexpected emotions in these stories. This is a fast read, one I wanted to go on and on. Alexander McCall Smith is such a gifted writer, weaving plots and personalities together to create stories that might seem separate, but when you think about them, are actually interconnected, not necessarily in the story details but in the overall feelings expressed by the characters. Their journeys through confusion,frustration, despair and then ultimately happiness and joy as mysteries are solved and friendships are established and strengthened is as important to the plot as the individual mysteries brought to MMA Ramotswe. A beautifully written book.

I love this series, have read every one plus bought the videos from the series, and pre-order whenever a new book is coming out. Precious is just as she always is: wise, compassionate, trustworthy. I am glad the problem of Note is finally put to rest, and Precious has much to be thankful for by the end of this novel. I was hoping Violet would get more of a comeuppance, but her time will come. At least I HOPE there will be more of Precious in the future. I love the way the book always ends with "africa, africa, africa. . . " I always wonder why Alexander McCall Smith no longer lives there since he so obviously loves Botswana.

As always, this Alexander McCall Smith book told an uplifting story surrounded by fascinating details about life and the topography of the setting. Precious is delightful as usual in her thoughtful way of ferreting out information and coming to a helpful conclusion, whether for her client or herself. And her "supporting cast" are also clearly defined believable people.

Reading a No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book is like an extended trip to Botswana. The discussions between characters and ruminations of Mma Romatswe are rooted in concern for ethics and tradition, with love of country, with dilemmas and problem-solving that is always concerned with the best outcome for all. Some discomfort for wrongdoers is acceptable, but the preference is that everyone be left with dignity intact and harmonious relationships continue. The phrase, "It is well known..." amuses me as my Japanese husband often used that phrase as well. This is the kind of book that builds hope for humanity.Gentle humor often subtly appears as when her husband comments that cars of "traditionally built women" often sag, realizes she is traditionally built and changes the subject. The foibles of characters are fun and gentle amusement as well as inspiration is like icing on the fruitcake.

Read this on my commute to and from work on the Elizabeth line from Woolwich to Whitechapel and from Whitechapel to Clapham junction. Made me look forward to going to work. Beautiful book

I love all of the books from this series!

As hard as it might be to believe, I do think this latest in the series is one of the best—warm, complex, full of such true human feelings and emotions—how does McCall continue to write books of such humanity? I loved it.

Comme dans toute la série de Mma Ramatswe, on a l'impression d'ouvrir une fenêtre et respirer un immense bol d'air frais! Pourquoi se compliquer la vie quand on devrait se focaliser sur les choses simples: la familles, les amis, les bonheurs simples d'un repas fait maison à partir de produits frais. La vie est belle finalement!!

Alexander McColl Smith writes about people, their lives, their world…and intertwines such wisdom. In a crazy world without boundaries he gives us this structure, in his words, a benchmark by which our lives too can have a good & decent structure. If only we release ourselves to it! Bravo Alexander🙏🏻