Tears of the Giraffe

September 1, 2001
Alexander McCall Smith (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) offers the second and third installments of his dignified, humorous Botswanan series. In Tears of the Giraffe, PI Precious Ramotswe tracks a missing American man whose widowed mother appeals to Ramotswe; meanwhile, the imperturbable detective is endangered at home by her fianc 's resentful maid.

The remarkable career of Mma Ramotswe, the proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, continues in this second of McCall Smith's delightful series. For those who don't yet know, the books combine the social sensibility of Jane Austen novels with the sights, scents, sounds, and mores of Botswana, "Africa's most stable democracy." In this book, Mma Ramotswe deals with a love triangle and the case of an American youth who has been missing for 10 years. Lisette Lecat is simply perfect. A native of South Africa, she is master of the speech pattern of English-speaking southern Africans. She excels at creating vocal characterizations and reading dialogue. Listening to her warm, well-modulated voice, one is transported to this dusty, sunny country and longs only for a comfortable chair under Mma Ramotswe's acacia tree. An outstanding performance. R.E.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

March 1, 2004
Tears of the Giraffe and Morality for Beautiful Girls continue Mma Ramotswe's business of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the only female-operated detective agency in Botswana. The agency deals in human drama and mystery rather than guns and blood. Insight and intuition provide solutions as Precious Ramotswe; her assistant, Mma Makutsi; and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors impart Botswanian pride and worldly wisdom. Reader Lisette Lecat portrays these characters and the village ambiance superbly. Highly recommended for all audiobook collections.-Sandy Glover, West Linn P.L., OR

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