The Miracle at Speedy Motors (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series #9)

A TREAT FOR THE HEART!

I have become a huge fan of McCall Smith's work. This is an amusing, touching, and gentle look at ordinary people who search out a meaningful connection with others and a purpose to their existence.
Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are back, solving new problems for their clients, but the investigations don't go quite as well as planned. There are small glitches along the way that add philosophical light to what the right thing to do could possibly be.
The simple and charming events that happen in this book make it a true pleasure to read. Smith's gentle, realistic mystery books are a relaxant to the busy, worrisome world we live in and are full of values that encourage "good" in people. This is one of the best "pick-me-up" books, or any of Smith's books, that you can read. GENTLE. HEARTFELT. HUMOROUS. COZY. WARM. A TREAT FOR THE HEART!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What do you do when you're feeling low?

What do you do when you're feeling low? Read one of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books! Learn a little about Botswana. Enjoy the company of a woman of traditional build who treats others with respect and gentility. No foul language. No sex. No graphic description of gruesome crime scenes. Just pleasant reading that always helps me feel better about the world.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Meaningful Miracles

This book like the previous 8 books in this series places Mr. Smith's characters in situations in which miracles are the experiences in life that can often be taken for granted. These miracles are not preached to the reader but enjoyed with the main character as she copes, appreciates and values her life in an African village and country which are her roots. Whether enjoying the peacefulness of an early morning cup of tea, the bonding of a friendship, her love of family or confronting worrisome problems, mysterious cases to be solved, she shows an awareness of these quiet often unspoken miracles. She is a true heroine with a sensitivity to her world which reflects our world. There's much to relate to in these very charming books which above all are very very entertaining.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A series that continues to provide wisdom and insight

Reading book 9 of Alexander McCall Smith's Number one Ladies' Detective Agency is every bit as enjoyable as you'd expect after reading 1 to 8. I know I'm behind. I know real addicts are already on book 11, but I'm catching up. Botswana continues to enthrall the reader with its beauty, the gentle pace of its culture, the quiet way it reflects a different version of ourselves in might-have-beens. Precious Ramotswe continues to seek and learn, from quiet mountain-side splendor that calms, to flustered concerns of secrets only half-uncovered. Mma Makutsi continues to grow into her role, slowly learning that secrets are better when set free and shared. And the promised miracle that threads throughout the tale? Well, you'll have to read to find out, but the author assuredly doesn't cheat to pull it out of the bag. Even the obdurate apprentices are growing older in this series, where everything changes with time but stays just as sane, just as wise and real and interesting as it was in the beginning.

Alexander McCall Smith for President

In his classic witty, thoughtful, caring, creative, heartwarming style, A. M. Smith has created another delightful read. It's just too easy to become one with Mma. Ramotzwe as she tactfully ponders how best to handle the mysteries that come her way from clients as well as her husband, their adopted children and their employees. Ranging from hilarious to serious, clear-thinking to confused, the people she meets in her daily life are all given careful consideration and handled with genteel thoughtfulness. It was good to see more of the children's characters developed in this book and great to know there's a wedding in the future. Wonder if the bride will wear blue shoes? Ha! Happy endings abound in this series and no one should want it any other way.

The Miracle at Speedy Motors

I have read the entire series: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and found the books to be an easy read and could picture the characters nicely in my mind.

Fan of #1 Ladies Detective Agency

I've loved every book I've read in this series-looking forward to diving into book #10.

Another Great Book in the series

Alexander McCall Smith has written another book that captures the reader. Although the story takes place in Botswana, it could be a story that takes place any where. The characters, the situations, the descriptions captivate the reader. I hope the Great Mma Lady Detective appears again and again.

Fun as always

This is not great literature, but so heart warming and pleasant!

Another McCall Smith Hit

Once again the author scores a hit with the continuing story of the goings on at the Speedy Motors location. Mma Ramotswe has another puzzle to solve and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni gets involved with helping their daughter become cured of her medical problems.

great

I love all his books!

As good as I expected it to be!

I love the entire series and this held up to the standards of the previous books in the No. 1 Ladies Dectective series. An easy read, not complicated. Precious makes life seem easy to figure out. And she makes it seem very easy to do the right thing. I always anticipate the next book in the series.

Always Good Reads.

I always look forward to the release of the next book in this series and the continued "unfolding" of these characters. Precious' appreciation for the simple honesty of life and her wisdom give pause for thought.

You really should not miss this book or any of the others in the series.

This book was another of the series that I find to be relaxing and enjoyable. Great series to read when you are wanting to read just for the joy of reading. This book (The Miracle at Speedy Motors) is imaginative and full of humor. I am so glad the author continues to be able to find these quality stories to write about very simple people.

a bit missleading

Another sincere accounting of what life was like in Gabarone and how is is constantly changing but slower than the rest of the world. It's about people and the simple life but not overlooking some sordid characters who insist on making others take note.

Like putting on a pair of cozy slippers.

The entire series is wonderful, and this is a great addition. I did nottry this searies for years and when I picked it up and began reading, I could have kicked myself.

An original plot which does not rely on blood, murder, intrigue, or suspense to hold the reader's attention.

The series is written about a central character, Precious Ramotswe, who comes from simple, honorable beginnings and chooses an unusual profession for a lady, especially one who is a native of Botswana.

From a basic "How To" book, she feels she can be a detective and by combining book knowledge with her own common sense and honorable ideas of what makes a good society, she succeeds in resolving the cases which come to her. It's a very simple, yet very enjoyable plot. It's one I will probably read again for the sheer joy of finishing a book without the usual themes intended to grab my attention and my spare cash. This is an unusual series and the author appears to have a serious place in his heart for the Botswana people.

Mystery book like no other

To be honest, I don't like mysteries, and I loved this book. Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors is the locale for this odd tale of intrigue and miracles. There's good doses of humor, especially needed because Mma Ramotswe's husband has come under the spell of a sleazy doctor who has promised to cure his daughter's medical problems. This is one of those books that not will you enjoy, but it will make you look at your life and take stock. As with the other detective series, Mma Ramotswe is busy doing what she does--solve crimes. There's plenty here to love, regardless of the cultural differences you might expect, and if you're not familiar with Alexand McCall Smith, this is a good place to start

Warm Your Heart

Mr. Smith once again transports us to the world of Mma Ramotswe, where we can feel the hot land underfoot and wait for rain. He so aptly lets us know the people in that world and allows us to take them into our hearts. He shows us the majesty of the land and the people. The series gets better with each book. (I have listened to a few of the books on audio--the reader is excellent, which is not always the case!)

visiting with my friends in garbarone

all of the nr1 ladies det.agency are wonderful looking forward to the next one