Part of No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, book 9
First published 2009
Precious Ramotswe sits in her office at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency when a client arrives with an unusual request. The woman needs help locating her family, but she faces a daunting obstacle: she doesn't know her real name or whether any relatives remain alive. Ramotswe takes on this challenging case with her characteristic wisdom and compassion, assisted by her dependable partner Grace Makutsi. While investigating, Ramotswe discovers that Makutsi has acquired a beautiful new bed that paradoxically keeps her awake at night. Meanwhile, at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, her husband J.L.B. Matekoni encounters a doctor who claims to offer a miracle treatment for his daughter's medical condition. Ramotswe struggles to accept this supposed cure, creating tension in their relationship. Throughout these interconnected challenges, Ramotswe relies on her gentle approach and steady nature, always making time for red bush tea as she works to help those around her.
Genres: african-literature, mystery, contemporary, detective, relationships
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, gentle-protagonist
Setting: Botswana, Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors
Period: 21st-century
240 pages · Paperback · Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group