Miracle at Speedy Motors

I'm always pleased to see a new book in McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and this one is no disappointment. The attraction of these books is the strong sense of place. It is obvious, at least to this tour guide-browsing writer, that the series has caused a wave of interest in travel to Botswana in recent years, and has put rooibos tea on the shelf of every American grocery store. Also an attraction is the small town feel and the friendly, courteous Botswanan discourse, which combines with the exotic locale and unusual speech cadences in a most charming way. As always, detective Precious Ramotswe solves her gentle mysteries with candidness and common sense. And, in this installment, leaves us wondering about the fate her tiny white van and the motives of the orphanage matron--to be discovered in the next book, no doubt. I'll be waiting with my cup of red bush tea.