Number 8 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

"In the life of Mma Ramotswe - a woman duly proud of her fine traditional build - there is rarely a dull moment, and in her newest round of adventures, challenges and intrigues, the same certainly holds true. But one thing above all else is keeping her occupied - her estimable husband. He has been hinting for some time now that he intends to do something special for their adopted daughter, and it seems that the time for this good deed has come. Of course, good deed or not, his plan is bound to hit some snags. And that's when he will undoubtedly consider himself doubly - perhaps even triply - lucky to be married to the ever-resourceful, ever-understanding Precious Ramotswe." wwwfantasticfiction.co.uk

The books in this series are always a joy to read - finished in one day. They are not really detective stories in a 'crime novel' sense, but more of an example of using common sense to get to the bottom of a situation. The style of writing is simple in a lovable not patronising way. There is an innocence about the characters, and the simple way of life is very appealing.

I have decided to share these books as a book spiral as I consider it a shame that such a delightful series just sits on my shelf unread by others.

1. The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency
2. Tears of the Giraffe
3. Morality for Beautiful Girls
4. The Kalahari Typing School for Men
5. The Full Cupboard of Life
6. In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
7. Blue Shoes and Happiness
8. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
9. The Miracle at Speedy Motors
10. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
11. The Double Comfort Safari Club
12. The Saturday Big Tent Party
13. The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

They are all paperbacks of the same size: 12.5cm x 19.5cm x 1.5cm, 231g

I list my bookrings at The Bookring Directory!

I am moving from the UK to China - hence why not a lot of time to read recently.

This book will be in a box being picked up tomorrow, and hopefully I will see it again in about 3 months time on the other side of the world.

This book has survived its ocean voyage in a container ship from the UK and has successfully met up with me here in China - much sooner than expected. Now it will be sitting in its new home waiting to travel again.

I list my bookrings at The Bookring Directory!

This book spiral is in the process of being organised and is open to new members.

1. When you receive the book please make a journal entry to let everyone know that it has arrived safely.

2. Read the book as quick as you can (within 4 weeks if possible). Please put it ahead of any other books, except other bookrings/rays that arrived first. If you need more time that is ok so long as you keep me informed, though a person who holds up a book without explanation may be left out for the remaining books.

3. Please make a journal entry to let everyone know what you thought of the book.

4. When you are nearing the end of the book, pm the next person on the list for their address. Try to avoid sending the book unless he/she has passed on the previous book. Ideally, no one person should be in possession of more than one book at a time as that is ow the previous ring became stalled.

5. Make a journal entry when you have posted the book to show that it is travelling.

Participants so far: The order may change as new members join.

So far it is looking like this:

Ring open to new members who can fit the mailing order
NMReader US (US only) - withdrawn
sunfi US (Itnl) - withdrawn from spiral
Jonniboi - UK (UK)
wal-89 UK (UK/EUR)
Appelsiini Finland (Itnl)
lunatum Finland (Itnl)
greenbadger UK (Itnl)
back to me in China

Eventually posted to Jonniboi. Sorry for the delay. Enjoy.

Got this through today can't wait to read it, however my uni work is quite a lot to deal with + there are a couple of books in front of this. On the other hand I have found time to read and so I'm sure it won't take too long to get around to it :)

Well this proved just how much I have missed this series. I started it on Saturday and it's now Monday. A quick read that put me back in to Botswana :D

I liked how things changed in this one, but it soon went back to normal. I also liked that there were more detective cases in this one, that made me eager about what the ending was going to be like.

I don't know when I can next send this out. I recently dislocated my knee, and I'm recovering from it. The hospital put it in a splint/brace for a week or two, and I may hold off sending until Christmas is over, as that is the holiday of the year that books gets lost occasionally, but more than usual. Will send out when I can :)

Sent this book off, it's now in the post!

Sorry this took me ages to send off, life got too much to handle, but on top of things once again. The book has been sent to Wal-89

This arrived sometime whilst I was on holiday. Thanks for sending the next book in the series, hopefully I will read this book soon, although I am in the middle of quite a big book. Top of the TBR pile =)

As with the others, this book has only taken me a few days to finish. I do enjoy these easy reading books. Thanks very much for doing this spiral bookowl1000. I think this one has managed to mix together the detective story and the personal story of the characters really well. The others seemed to be too much of one and not enough of the other =)

Off to the next in line =)

And it's here! Thanks for sending! :)

I have few other bookrings to read before I can start this one, but I'll try to be quick!

Oops, it did take some time before I was ready for this. Sorry about that!

Again, this was perfect holiday reading, I just loved the relaxed Botswanian way of life and how things sort out "just by theirselves". In any other book a chapter named "a short chapter about tea" would be irrelevant, but in this book it truly was something worth writing and reading and very important, too. I only wish I could be so easy-going boss as Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni.

I'll send this book to lunatum next week.

The book arrived before my holiday and I forgot to journal it. So the book is here with me.

Also I had missed these books. I really enjoyed the time with Mma Ramotswe!

I sent the book to next reader.

Hooray! The book has arrived, just when I was beginning to think it was lost. :)

Book 8 of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. McCall Smith's gentle humour restores faith in human nature and his love of traditional Botswana shines through this series. In this one, Mma Ramotswe investigates some mysterious deaths in a hospital, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni takes on some detective work himself, Mma Makutsi makes some decisions about her future and Charlie the Apprentice sets off on his own.

On its way back to bookowl1000 in China. Thank you very much for this! :)

Edit 7/8/14: Since this appears to have been lost in the post, replaced with this copy:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/12694974