Customer Review(s)
Customer Rating: 
Summary: One of the better of the series
Comment: Some of these books feel as if the author has turned the crank on his machine and produced the requisite 200 pages. Here we find the humor and the good hearted relationships established in the first of the series. Many of the small characters are given bigger roles here and actually a significant part of the story: Mr. Polopetsi has an important role and even Charlie's obsession with women turns to good stead.
Even though each of the children has an important event, the main family is still stiff and formal -- addressing each by formal names, while Mma Makutsi and her fiancé use their first names. Even though Mma Ramotswe finally refers to herself as "Mommy" in trying to comfort her adopted son, that never recurs. And you never forget they're adopted.
The main relationship is between the two women of the agency and that's particularly close here.
Apart from my complaints, the book is delightful. There are problems to be solved here and bizarre characters and great humor to be found in the solution. Don't miss the satire on Hollywood chase scenes -- played out in the most absurd of situations. Picture the scene as you read!
There is wisdom and kindness in Mma Ramotswe's discussions and Mma Makutsi even rises to acknowledge that she, herself, has not this wisdom -- although she recognizes it. This book has the humor and richness of the better books of the series with enough plot to keep it going.
In this series, there is little character or relationship development. Each book is an escapist entertainment using detective cases for much of the plot and family problems for the rest. The great value is the warmth of the relationships, the humor, and the particular -- or particular -- accent of the African style.
