This series of books by Alexander McCall Smith is truly special and enjoyable, embodying human kindness and wisdom as well as local Botswana culture and atmosphere. The books are gentle and relaxing reads, perfect for emotional decompression after a busy workday. The cases taken on by the Detective Agency are basically cases of human disagreements, one here of marital suspicions. No grisly detection here, more a matter of solving human misunderstandings and failings.

The plot centers around the work of the owner of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Mma Precious Ramotswe; her assistant (self-declared “Executive President for Development”) Mma Makutsi, and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Mma Ramotswe’s husband and owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Mma Potokwane, Mma Romotswe’s good friend, fellow tea-drinker and cake eater, who runs the Orphan Farm, also makes appearances and wise observations. The first case in this installment begins when a Mr. Modise, owner of Special Pest Services, appears unannounced at the Detective Agency, requesting help because, he says, his wife “does not like me.” Later, his wife arrives and also asks for help because she says her husband, Mr. Modise, has started an affair.. This presents a bit of an ethical dilemma for Mma. Ramotswe but she decides to help both clients.

There is a secondary plot centering around a developing friendship developing between Mr. J.L.B. And a Mr. Mogorosi, who has a large franchise garage and is a member of the Motor Trades Association. Mma Makutsi, a somewhat acerbic personality, distrusts the man immediately.

While the cases here are mildly entertaining, so also are the glimpses of local life in this part of Botswana—the joys felt by locals watching cattle grazing; a lady Mma Ramotswe recognizes shelling beans under a massive tree outside a hotel; the beautiful sunsets viewed by Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B., sharing their day’s events. And frequently, Mma Ramotswe reminiscing about her late father’s philosophy of treating all creatures kindly, and other matters.

In summary, I love this series and highly recommend this well-written installment. All are worth re-reading.

This was an engaging and fun book to read. I read the other books in the series, so I was very excited to read this latest book in the series. I liked the plot and how the story moved along. I was hooked until the very end. There was one part towards the end that could have been expanded on because you wonder what the result was, but otherwise it was a great read.

In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith is the latest of the Precious Ramotswe. This one is nice because there is more of her family and friends getting involved in helping her get the cases solved. As usual, the pace is slow, the characters are involving and the help Mma Ramotswe gives is sound and just.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader's Copy!

Out September 2025.

There's little to say about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency that I haven't said before. I met Mma Ramotswe when I was in high school and ever since then I've looked forward to each new addition to the series. In the Time of Five Pumpkins takes us back to Gabarone just before the chill of winter, where stormy weather indicates some changes. I loved seeing Charlie and Mr J.B. Maketoni get more of their own storyline! With cattle, crocodiles, and heaps of tea, this is another beautiful addition to the collection.

In Africa, the Ladies Detective Agency works on a case of possible adultry. She has a husband as a client and the wife as a client. As Mrs R solves the case she reminds you of forgiveness, looking for the good in people, complimenting others, etc. She reminds her staff to enjoy a simple lifestyle of tea and observing the landscape. Don’t be unkind in this life. It’s a simple story thats refreshing, just like the other books by this author.

Another beautiful novel about the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency in which Mma Ramotske and Mma Makutsi get to the bottom of a domestic inquiry and a personal concern about a new friend of Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. Smith's calm descriptive prose makes it easy to imagine having a lovely cup of tea with his characters.

Alexander McCall Smith’s Ladies Detective Agency books never fail to enlighten me about my life and my world. They are like a gentle sermon enveloped in fable.

Mma Precious Ramotswe solves mildly interesting mysteries, including one involving her husband Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. The mysteries are secondary in importance to philosophy imparted and lessons learned - lessons in tolerance, patience, and forgiveness. It's always a pleasure to spend time in Botswana with these much-loved characters, and the gentleness of the story is a great part of its appeal. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Pantheon for the eARC.

I think this is book #26 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. By now, the books follow a pattern: a lot of philosophizing and analyzing people coupled with a cozy mystery. The mysteries in this title were pleasantly intriguing. And, as always, the country of Botswana and its culture play a central role. A good summer escape book.

I’ve read every book in The #1 Ladies Detective series.

In any long-standing series, some books stand out more than others. This one was a bit slow-going for me in terms of plot and the “sameness” of the characters. There are suspicious/cheating couples, big slices of fruitcake, mechanics needing interventions, orphans with sad beginnings.

Nonetheless, even when the story is a bit the same, Alexander McCall Smith is gifted in his inimitable ability to create pleasant, hopeful books that affirm the importance of goodness and kindness and tolerance.

What touched me deeply in this book, was a short paragraph where Precious takes a moment to acknowledge and appreciate her employee and friend Grace, with simple but powerful words.

Workplaces, bosses, colleagues can be so toxic, and what a beautiful reminder to appreciate those who we spend our days with - those people we toil with day in and day out often for decades. Sometimes we may even find these people annoying and probably they find us the same at times! Grace surely can be. But, her history is a sad one, yet she is so resilient. Sometimes her resilience presents as pedantic, ambitious, insecure. She wants so much to succeed and to be recognized for all her efforts. I love that AMS reminds us of the power of kind and supportive words to heal those around us. I’m inspired to be a more appreciative human to those in my daily life. Recently, I’ve had a number of colleagues who have been especially kind to me - so perhaps that’s why this was so poignant for me. Thank you, Sandy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will never tire of the time I bet to spend with Mma Ramotswe
Mma Makutsi and their men. This is a very curious story that
had me thinking ahead to hope that J L B Matekoni will be
OK, and thanks to Charlie, everyone and everything might
indeed come to a good conclusion.
I very much enjoyed, and smiled, when Charlie and Mma
Makutsi had a really nice interaction where they both were
sharing concerns and thinking about how they could help.
Mma Ramotswe had much to be worried about but by
the conclusion she also knew that the shift in the feuding
style between Charlie and Mma Makutsi might be shifting
to one of mutual respect and trust.
This is part of the long running series but the book is just
fine if you don’t have time to catch up! It’s a wonderful
book full of hope and second chances.
My thanks to Knopf Publishing for the download copy
of this book for review purposes.

This latest installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is exactly what fans of the series love: a cozy, slightly meandering trip through the pages, with plenty of tea-drinking moments and reflective conversations, alongside a couple of lightly plotted cases for the ladies to exercise their insight on. There is definitely a need for quiet and gentle fiction like this in today's world, and I'm happy that Alexander McCall Smith is around to provide it.

I first discovered Alexander McCall Smith when I read the delightful book, My Italian Bulldozer. I discovered the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency via the series on HBO, so I came about things in a rather backward way. Nevertheless, I absolutely love this series and I’m thrilled to pieces to have a new installation. This wonderfully written, laugh-out-loud story is a fine addition (as are all the books and I highly recommend them).

In the Time of Five Pumpkins, the twenty-sixth installment in the beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, delivers another delightful blend of humor, heart, and gentle wisdom. Set in Botswana, this cozy mystery follows Mma Precious Ramotswe and her associate, Mma Grace Makutsi (sporting yet another self-awarded title — I LOVE HER!!), as they tackle two intriguing cases. The first involves a couple’s mutual accusations of infidelity, with one claim raising more suspicion than the other. The second hits closer to home when Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, Precious’s husband, befriends a seemingly untrustworthy garage owner. With the help of Charlie, the agency’s young apprentice, Precious unravels the truth behind both mysteries, navigating dangerous situations with her characteristic optimism and clever problem-solving.

Smith’s signature charm shines through in the colorful cast of characters, including the iconic talking shoes, and the laugh-out-loud moments that balance heartfelt life lessons. Mma Ramotswe’s gentle demeanor and profound simplicity offer readers a comforting escape, making this book a perfect cozy read for a quiet afternoon with a pot of tea. The Botswana setting, vivid and warmly portrayed, adds depth to the narrative, while the dual plotlines keep the story engaging without overwhelming the reader.

Fans of the series will find this book a worthy addition, maintaining the series’ hallmark warmth and wit. Newcomers, would be better served to start earlier — much earlier — in the series, however it still works as a delightful standalone. My only tiny bit of criticism is that the pacing occasionally drags, but this is easily forgiven amidst Smith’s masterful storytelling.

Rating: 4.5 stars

I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mma Precious Ramotswe and associates strike again! Alexander McCall Smith is one of my favorite authors to date. I love all his books generally, and the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series specifically. I always return to this series when in need of a feel-good book.

In this 26th book in the series—set in Gaborone, Botswana—Mma Precious Ramotswe and her associates return to us in a new case that challenges the gray cells. Precious Ramotswe and her colleague, Mma Grace Makutsi, must tackle an infidelity case that is more complex than it seems. Meanwhile, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, Precious Ramotswe's husband, befriends a man in the auto business who has questionable motives.

I enjoyed the book immensely. While there is a mystery, it isn’t the main focus. The story centers on atmosphere, characters, and emotional dynamics. Rather than a thriller, this is a loving and tender portrait of one country in Africa, where small anecdotes come together to form an entertaining and heartwarming story.

The latest entry is a breath of fresh air from the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. And Mma Ramotswe teaches us what self-acceptance is. Our detective walks proudly with her generous body measurements—or, in her own words, she is a very traditionally built lady. I love her optimism and kindness and her ability to see the good in everyone, even those who don’t deserve it. She solves mysteries using simple logic and intuition without sophisticated equipment.

She is joined by clever but highly temperamental Mma Grace Makutsi, and part-time assistant Charlie. And there is her friend, Mma Potokwani, the matron of the orphanage, whom one can’t help but admire. We all need friends like her! I love Charlie’s new maturity, Grace’s new inventive titles and talking shoes, Mma Potokwani’s famous fruitcake, and Precious’s Redbush tea.

Speaking of characters, Botswana is another character—with its old ways and traditions, a place where everyone has some relatives in common. The Africa described here is changing; young people are adopting new values, but it remains tolerant and bound by a brotherhood that makes people happy with what they have. There is a feeling that everyone cares about others and that they can ask for help anywhere—and even receive it. It is glorified Africa in all its glory and humanity.

It is a book full of the wisdom of life and love of man, alongside personal stories. This whole book is like a kind of bow to Africa from a sympathetic human perspective, with a longing for a world of “old values” that the West has abandoned and forgotten. A wonderful story to convey the people, the simple and obvious human insights that are always good to remember—the good, the bad, family time, and more.

It is a slower, slice-of-life type story. There are lessons to be learned, reflections to contemplate, friendships to be made. I could imagine myself drinking a steaming cup of Redbush tea with Ramotswe, eating the famous fruitcake while enjoying smelling the roses, and discussing life choices with Grace’s shoes.

The book can be read on its own; the author recaps the characters’ backgrounds and history. You would better appreciate the vibes, though, if you read it in order. And this is a series you wouldn’t want to miss. As you’ve figured out, I loved the book and highly recommend it. This is a great addition to the series, and I can hardly wait for the next one.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Another charming entry in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

There's a timeless quality of Mma Ramotswe's Botswana as if it exists frozen in time, untouched (mostly) by 21 Century technology; a place where tradition is considered sacred, and common sense and empathy are ever present. Where the problems of their world can be solved by listening to one another whilst drinking tea (and fruit cakes).

I am a big fan of this series and have read each book several times. This book lived up to its expectations. It is a light-hearted mystery with gentle philosophical reflections that give a sense of calmness and peace to the reader. It is also very engaging as the story unravels and the mystery is solved with Mma Ramotswe's usual wisdom. I wish we had seen more of Violet's shenanigans this time, maybe with the next book in this series to look forward to.

Alexander McCall Smith’s newest installment in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series is another beautifully written, laugh-out-loud story about our favorite team of female sleuths.

In the Time of Five Pumpkins has Precious and Grace investigating two interesting new cases. The first involves a husband and wife who accuse one another of infidelity but one claim seems more suspicious than the other. The second hits closer to home when Rra Matekoni is befriended by a fellow garage owner whose intentions seem anything but trustworthy. As dangerous situations arise, the women enlist Charlie’s help to uncover the truth before anyone gets hurt.

Smith’s lovable characters, hilarious disasters, and heartwarming life lessons keep me coming back every time a new book is released. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book!

This is the twenty sixth in the captivating No.1 Ladies Detective series. The beloved characters, including the talking shoes, are all back.

Precious Ramotse and her associate, who has yet again given herself a new title, are approached by a man who seeks their help in investigating his wife. As they delve into the case, there are some unexpected twists. Meanwhile, her husband, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, has a new friend, a prosperous man in the auto business. The women and Charlie harbor suspicions about this new friend’s ulterior motives.

Mma Ramotswe, as always, demonstrates her remarkable ability to devise clever and successful solutions to problems. Her gentle demeanor and unwavering optimism in finding the positive in even the most challenging situations offer a sense of comfort and solace. Her wisdom is profound in its simplicity.

With its intriguing plotlines and colorful characters, this is another delightful addition to the series. It’s an ideal choice for a cozy afternoon or evening read, accompanied by a warm pot of tea. Fans of McCall Smith’s gentle prose and insightful musings will undoubtedly find this latest endeavor to be a welcome addition to their reading list.