It's always a treat to read another book in this wonderful series. Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are wonderful characters and the stories are so entertaining. Looking forward to many more.

There is no real crime to solve in this book, but the detective ladies take on a project and a pro bono case, because that is one of the reasons they began the agency. To help people. And although the two fine detectives (and Charlie, the detective in training), would prefer paying clients, when a friend is in need, you help them, and quite a lot depends on their success!

Case 1: The happiness and security of a young mother is threatened by the antics and tantrums of her 14 year old son. (They can’t afford to wait for his terrible teens to end!)
Case 2: Mma Grace Makutsi’s husband is in despair about his furniture company. A new store is set on putting him out of business!

Woven through these stories are hidden truths, matters of traditional and modern manners, methods for being a good detective, personal and national pride (in a good way), and many other weighty and frivolous subjects—often debated using a questionable mix of logic and literalism that are either amusing or deeply philosophical (sometimes just random, like you hear from your own friends). For example, “Can anyone eat just one salted peanut? Yes, of course they can, but do they?”

One thing you can be sure of, Mma (Precious) Ramotswe may not have the answers in the beginning, but she gets to the heart and soul of each case, and everyone is changed by her influence in some way.

The characters and the way their speech is written, gives me a wonderful view into their thoughts and lives; and a sense of friendship!

A wish; that there were more descriptions of the settings/surroundings aside from the temperature, to give me more of a feel for the place (level of humidity, green or stark, soil color, distance from a body of water, etc.).

5/5 Stars

Many thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Pantheon, and NetGalley for the temporary ecopy of this uncorrected proof; any review is voluntary, and completely my own opinion.


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I read the first book in No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series during the early months of 2020 and immensely liked it and resolved to read more from the series. Of course, I didn't read any other books from the series after that, because as with all other books that I "intend" to read, it got buried under the tome of newer books in my TBR. So, when the 23rd book in this well-loved series came up in NetGalley, I didn't hesitate to put in request. So here I am, having read the first and last book in the series and "intending" to definitely read the other books in the middle!

The feeling that this book gave me was that it belonged to a bygone era. It has an old world charm to it and the two main ladies of the Detective Agency, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi stand firm in their belief of traditional values and etiquettes. I don't know if they can be called as detectives because they definitely don't solve any mysteries at least in this book, but they are experts in solving problems that arise in life and solving it in a way that is beneficial to all those involved. So in this book, Mma Makutsi's friend from Bobonong finds herself in trouble and her much deserved chance at happiness is in jeopardy because of her moody teenaged son. Mma Makutsi's husband, Phuti's furniture business is also facing some tough and unfair competition and is in danger of going bankrupt. Can Mma Ramotswe solve the problems of her friends in her quite and effective way?

All through the book, I felt I had stepped into a world where people are busy but they do stop to smell the roses on their way(and have a cup of tea while they are at it 😀), a world where people appreciate the smaller pleasures life has to offer. It has kind of calming effect, like Mma Ramotswe can solve any problem in your life :) The humorous situations in the book are also sure to leave you smiling in the end. I loved reading this book and will "definitely" pick up more books from the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon Books for an early copy of this book.

Alexander McCall Smith writes beautiful, lyrical prose! Characters are round and three dimensional- and so very endearing! This series is in the tea cozy mystery genre. The author, thru the protagonist, paints lovey imagery of Botswana and its people. To receive full enjoyment, read the first few installments -at least!
Delightful read!

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Is there anything as comforting as Alexander McCall Smith's No 1 Ladies Detective Agency? In a Song of Comfortable Chairs, we once again join Mmas Ramotswe and Makutsi as they solve the larger mysteries of life in urban Botswana. McCall Smith is masterful with his pacing and pontifications. It's as much of a mystery novel ad it is a philosophical meandering. I love this series and look forward to every new addition!

I'm a big fan of this series as well as the Isabel Dalhousie books. This installment did not disappoint. Food, friends, love.....all the good things in life. What's not to like? Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

This is the twenty third in the simple but charming No. 1 Ladies Detective series. All the familiar characters are here. Instead of being hired by a client to investigate a case, Mma Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi set out to solve two problems close to home. Grace’s old friend’s son is sabotaging her relationship with a good man. Grace’s husband is worried about losing his furniture business because there is a new player in town undercutting his prices.

The two ladies put their heads together and come up with clever and successful solutions to both issues. All the familiar characters are here lending audience and support to the good hearted ladies. And, yes, the talking shoes do make a cameo appearance!

A fast read, this is another feel good addition to the series. Nothing too sinister or evil.
Just a nice afternoon or evening read while curled up with a pot of tea. Fans of McCall Smith’s gentle prose and perceptive musings will welcome this latest endeavor.

A new addition to the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is always most welcome, & catching up with these old friends is indeed like relaxing in a comfortable chair.
There is always a lot of good advice included, which may not sound appealing (if it was merely a book of lists) but as it is often a character’s inner quandary over a moral dilemma, it is presented as the deliberations going on in their mind. (And haven’t we all been through that?)
I love the slow, leisurely pace of these books – they remind me of how life used to be, many years ago before we filled it with such busyness. And are we any happier for all the rush? We need to take the time to relax, to re-engage with people, & spend our time wisely on the little things that really matter. This is well known, I think...
The story has a perfect ending, & leaves me feeling wonderfully at peace. Highly recommended : )

This book, A Song of Comfortable Chairs is the twenty third book in No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency written by Alexander McCall Smith.

This series has been one of my favourite ones since I read book one many many years ago. I have recently started rereading them from the beginning as I have read them sometimes out of order and the level of enjoyment is the same, if not even greater as new things are learnt and perceived.
I have always looked at these books much less as cozy mysteries and more like little pearls of wisdom.
There is no murder, there are no gory details but so many of live mysteries are solved in each book.

One thing that always comes back is the simplicity of life, how easy and uncomplicated everything would be if we just stopped for a minute and allowed ourselves a moment to think, to absorbe, to ponder about things and not to act momentarily.
Another thing that is constantly prevalent is how much I would like to have someone like Mma Ramotswe in my life. Her wisdom and pure goodness of the heart are unparalleled. Reading these books is like meeting together with old friends.
Pure enjoyment.

The story here is following the script of the other No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency stories. It is full of fun along with a heavy touch of friendship and doing for others.

Mma. Ramotswe and Mma.Makutsi are embroiled as always in their shenanigans. This time they are trying to save a business from unfair competition. But as is often the situation, other "cases" come up. This time a major one is friend from Grace Makutsi's hometown who has a troublesome son and a difficult relationship with a man..

A fantastic read and really fast one as the ladies of the agency bounce back and forth to make sure all are helped. This is all done out of a genuine love and affection for each other, their neighbors, and their country. As usual their general sensibility along with their innate generosity, comes through and all the problems which huge become manageable.

I certainly enjoyed this as I am sure anyone who has read any of the other No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency stories by McCall Smith. A quick read with good characters.

Love, love, love! Another new favorite in this bestselling series. I enjoyed this book immensely. Getting back in touch with familiar, favorite characters in their hometown was such a lovely reading experience. The writing was top notch, the mysteries were a treat to figure out, and Botswana was beautiful as always. A definitely must-read for Alexander McCall Smith fans.

“A Song of Comfortable Chairs” (No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series #23) by Alexander McCall Smith ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Cozy Mystery. Location: Gabarone, Botswana. Time: Present.

THE SERIES:
Mma Precious Ramotswe owns the Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency in Gabarone. Her husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, owns Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. They are foster parents for 2 children from the Orphan Farm. Mma Ramotswe and colleague Mma Grace Makutsi solve cases with gentle care and clever thinking. Each book has a mystery, but the series is about love, friendship, honor, respect, family, and community. The books can be read as stand-alones, but each one builds on the previous so to understand the relationships, read the series in order.

THIS BOOK:
Mma Makutsi orders a big desk, a special nameplate, and calls herself managing director. Owner Mma Ramotswe wonders what strong emotion these actions represent. She discovers Mma Makutsi’s husband Phuti Radiphuti, Double Comfort Furniture Store owner, is being undercut by a rival. Meanwhile, an old friend from Mma Makutsi’s childhood needs help, and they must implement an unusual plan to help her.

Part of the series’ charm is how McCall Smith incorporates philosophical thinking as Mma Ramotswe ponders and discusses questions of morality and culture: “That, in her view, was one of the worst and most wicked things you could do: to belittle or insult a person for what they happened to be.” While I often enjoy the musings, I notice they take up more and more text in recent books.

It is truly a feel-good series, and this book is no exception. McCall Smith gently makes points about changing societal rules, keeping social peace, and avoiding needless conflict. I realize he must view Botswana through rose-colored glasses (at least a little bit), but his books still make me want to move to Botswana if Mma Ramotswe could be my best friend, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni could be my mechanic, and I could volunteer at the Orphan Farm. Book #23 is 5⭐️s from me. 🌵📚👩🏼‍🦳 Thank you to NetGalley, Alexander McCall Smith, and Pantheon Books for this copy.

I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to everyone! A huge thanks to Double Day for the complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The book follows the beloved Grace Makutsi and Mma Ramotswe once again. The book is best enjoyed after reading the blurb as it has two different stories happening in the book. At one end Mma Ramotswe is assisting Phuti come up with a marketing campaign . On the other end they are helping Grace's old friend troubled son. I recommend this book as it is a comfort read set in Gaborone . It's a good mystery with a twinge of humor. Love it.

Grab a cup of tea and your own comfortable chair and snuggle up with the latest in The #1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

This time Precious and the usual suspects don’t have a mystery to solve, or even a typical case about cheating husbands or stolen cattle. Instead they put their heads together to help an old friend of Mma Grace Makutsi.

Filled with the usual wry observations about life in Botswana along with advice on handling difficult people, being kind, being brave, bearing misfortune and loving each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

The latest in the well established No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency didn’t disappoint. Alexander McCall Smith knows what fans want and delivers every time.

Another great story about Precious and Grace! Long-time nemesis Violet tries to ruin Phuti's furniture business. Grace's childhood friend moves into Gabarone but has a big problem. Mma Potokwani plays a big part in helping both problems.

What's interesting about this book is that neither of these issues are paying cases, just Mma Makutsi and Mma Ramotswe using their detective skills, and that of Clovis Anderson, naturally, to bring on resolution. So nice to dive into the personal lives of these ladies again.

Charlie even gets a compliment from Grace!

‘… to calm Mma Makutsi down with a few reassuring words and a cup of tea. Tea had remarkable calming properties when administered mid-crisis, and that, perhaps, was what was needed now.’
I cannot tell you the complete and utter joy I get in opening up a fresh new tale from the ‘No.1 Ladies Detective Agency’ series. It is hard to believe this is the 23rd installment! Yes! You read correctly, twenty three .... and still going strong. Precious Ramotswe and her life in Botswana is a place I am always eager to curl up on the couch for. It is a pleasure to step out of the rat race and spend some time with old friends, intriguing mysteries and a journey to a satisfying conclusion.

‘It was important, she felt, to keep your working life separate from your home life; she knew far too many people who allowed the cares of the job to intrude upon their home life, and these were the people who tended to become depressed or suffer from something that she had recently read about in a magazine - something referred to as burn-out.’
Followers of this series are in it for the long haul as it’s like catching up with old friends. More often than not, it’s not the gentle story/investigation unfurling that draws you in, but rather the keen observations that make you smile, the pearls of wisdom that cause you to pause and ponder.

‘Most people longed for the day when they might tune into a news broadcast and hear the announcer say, 'I'm sorry, everybody, but nothing has happened. There is no news today none at all.' That day had never come to pass, as far as she knew, but you could still hope. That was what you could always do - no matter how bad things seemed to be - you could hope.’
Alexander McCall Smith has managed once again to write another wonderful tale where our leading lady, Precious, encourages us to slow down and express gratitude. To many it might seem simplistic, yet truly speaking, it is the superb craftsmanship of Alexander that provides devoted readers with a gentle reminder to be more open minded and extend warmth to those around us.

‘That was the problem, she reflected; that was the source of so much unhappiness - there were people who made it their business to stop other people from being themselves; who tried to make people be something they did not want to be. That led to swathes of unhappiness as wide as the Kalahari itself.’
Exuding gentleness and a philosophy many of us could learn from, Precious Ramotswe and friends remind us of the more important things in life. A Song of Comfortable Chairs is just that: time out in a comfy chair where the rhythms of Africa sweep over you. We could all do with a little more Botswana wisdom in our lives. I can’t wait for the next instalment - these books being an absolute treasure that I shall continue to read as long as Alexander writes them (please … keep writing them!)

‘The real art in going through life with dignity and with a modicum of happiness was to accept what you were, and, at the same time, to accept others and to love them all equally. That was hard, and for some people it was impossible, but you had to try.’

In the beginning of the book, there is a slight difference of opinion between Mma Grace Makutsi and Mma Ramotswi, as Mma Makutsi changes the stationery order to put her own name first with the addition of Dip Sec (BSC) after her name, making it appear that she has a Bachelor of Science degree. However, this difference is soon forgotten when they realize someone is trying to put Mma Makutsi's husband Phuti out of business (and that someone is Grace's longtime enemy, Violet)!

When Mma Makutsi and Mma Ramotswi go the the orphanage to see Mma Potokwane, they find she has just hired an old friend of Mma Makutsi, Patience, from Grace's former village of Bobonong. They all have lunch together. Patience was raped at 16, and has a son. She was then married to a bad man. Now, she and her son have moved to Gaborone to be with a new male friend. However, the son has started acting up, and not behaving making the man who has taken them in angry with him. Mme Ramotswi arranges for Patience and her son to temporarily move to the Radiphuti house and asked the school theater teacher to pretend to be a new boyfriend of the mother while they were there to convince the boy that he was better off with the first man. She also manages to get Mma Potokwane to do a video for an advertisement about Phuti's very comfortable chairs, which helps his company make money again.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency wins again with clever thoughtfulness and kindness to all.

Reading a book in the # 1 Ladies Detective Agency series restores my faith in humanity. I am always so grateful to be able to sink comfortably back into the world of Precious Ramotswe. A Song of Comfortable Chairs is the 23rd book in a series that I hope never ends.

I love the gentle tone of this series. The characters are not perfect; they are constantly striving to be better. A Song of Comfortable Chairs was perfectly paced with two pro-bono, personal cases. I loved seeing more of Charlie in this one and seeing his vulnerability and growth.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you've read any books in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, you know that it is unlike any other detective series. It's what you grab when the real world is overwhelming and you just want to sit down and have a cup of red bush tea with two ladies in Botswana who love to philosophize about anything and everything: the importance of courtesy, loving one's neighbor, and brushing one's teeth regularly; the price of ambition; longtime nemesis Violet Sephotho; and intelligent chairs vs. comfortable chairs (hence the title).

Occasionally the women also quietly and creatively solve clients' problems. In this book they help an old friend of Mma Makutsi's with a difficult past when the woman's teenaged son's actions alienate her beau and threaten to leave them both homeless. Mma Ramotswe also tries to come up with a way to save Mma Makutsi's husband's furniture store in the face of some new competition.

If all of this sounds not exactly exciting, it's not meant to be. But it is utterly charming.

My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Pantheon for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.