The Colors of All the Cattle

by Alexander McCall Smith

Part of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, book 19

First published 2018

Precious Ramotswe never wanted to enter politics. When Mma Potokwane urges her to seek a seat on the Gaborone City Council, she resists. Then she discovers that developers want to construct the gaudy Big Fun Hotel beside a graveyard. This news changes her mind. Her electoral rival turns out to be Violet Sephotho, the longtime adversary of Mma Makutsi. Violet takes money from the hotel developers and employs dirty campaign tactics. Ramotswe chooses a different path, adopting the modest campaign promise that she will simply do her best. At the same time, she takes on a new case for one of her deceased father's friends, a victim of a hit and run accident. Charlie steps forward to handle the investigation, hoping to prove his detective skills and impress his girlfriend. His amateur efforts create complications. As election day nears and Charlie's investigation grows more dangerous, Ramotswe must rely on her natural kindness and wisdom to guide her community through these challenges.

Genres: african-literature, mystery, contemporary, political-thriller

Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family

Setting: Gaborone, Botswana

Period: Contemporary

228 pages · Hardcover · Pantheon

More by Alexander McCall Smith

Readers who liked The Colors of All the Cattle also liked

View on Siftivo