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From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's foremost solver of problems, is used to handling mostly straightforward domestic cases, which makes a series of anonymous letters threatening her and her prickly assistant, Grace Makutsi, all the more disturbing in Smith's triumphant ninth No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novel (after The Good Husband of Zebra Drive). The search for whoever penned the letters coincides with a new commission: Manka Sebina, whose birth parents gave her up as a child, hires the agency to track down any living relatives. Both problems afford Mma Ramotswe ample opportunity to display her winning blend of insight into others' motivations and an endearingly naïve belief in the best in human nature. Significant, if incremental, developments in the lives of the community Smith has lovingly created over the course of the series will intrigue old fans. Immediately accessible to newcomers, this entry will prompt them to seek out the earlier books. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
“Utterly charming and compulsively readable.” –Newsweek
“Before this touching case is solved–with the twist of folk humor that makes the whole series irresistible – there will indeed be miracles.” –The New York Times
“Whether you’re making your first visit to McCall Smith’s fictional Botswana or your ninth, it’s an irresistible destination.” –The Scotsman
“Gentle and engaging, the Mma Ramotswe stories have captivated millions.” – The Western Morning News (UK)
“Fluent and gracious . . . charmingly conveys the practical wisdom of much of African life.” –The Daily Telegraph
“The Miracle at Speedy Motors [has] a deepening gravity and sweetness you won’t find anywhere else in the genre.” –Kirkus Reviews
“The ninth installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, The Miracle at Speedy Motors, featuring ‘traditionally built’ Botswana sleuth Mma Precious Ramotswe is as quietly enjoyable as the first. . . . the pleasure of these sweet books lies in the clarity and gravity with which the characters reason through everyday dilemmas.” –Entertainment Weekly
From the Hardcover edition.
“Before this touching case is solved–with the twist of folk humor that makes the whole series irresistible – there will indeed be miracles.” –The New York Times
“Whether you’re making your first visit to McCall Smith’s fictional Botswana or your ninth, it’s an irresistible destination.” –The Scotsman
“Gentle and engaging, the Mma Ramotswe stories have captivated millions.” – The Western Morning News (UK)
“Fluent and gracious . . . charmingly conveys the practical wisdom of much of African life.” –The Daily Telegraph
“The Miracle at Speedy Motors [has] a deepening gravity and sweetness you won’t find anywhere else in the genre.” –Kirkus Reviews
“The ninth installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, The Miracle at Speedy Motors, featuring ‘traditionally built’ Botswana sleuth Mma Precious Ramotswe is as quietly enjoyable as the first. . . . the pleasure of these sweet books lies in the clarity and gravity with which the characters reason through everyday dilemmas.” –Entertainment Weekly
From the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prizes little-noticed,
By Stephen A. Haines (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Miracle at Speedy Motors: BOOK #9 (Hardcover)
We're all familiar with the big miracles: the little child as sole survivor of an airplane crash or the earthquake victim pulled alive from rubble a week after the event. Precious Ramotswe, however, is sensitive to the other kind, the little miracles with long-term meaning for family affairs. Founder of The Number One Ladies Detective Agency of Gabarone, Botswana, Precious has been rather miraculous in her own right. She solves others' problems, counsels her colleague, Grace Makutsi. Precious has also has an ongoing miracle with her husband, Mr JLB Matekoni, owner of Speedy Motors on the Tlokweng Road. But all that good fortune, and the notoriety gained thereby, seems to have produced an enemy, who is sending her threatening letters.McCall Smith's many volumes in this series has allowed him to fill and strengthen his regular characters, while introducing drop-ins who never fail to leave an impact. Charlie, Mr JLB Matekoni's shop apprentice is a fine example. Appearing regularly in a minor role, Charlie seems readily predictable: brash, self-centred and arrogant, he seems destined never to mature. Is he a candidate for things miraculous? McCall Smith's portrayals are the foundations around which these fine stories are constructed. This may well be the peak effort, a finely written and gripping tale of mystery and resolution. Precious' skills as a detective are on full display here, as is her humanity. She faces a serious challenge from the letters. Tracking down their originator will be a daunting task. Is she up to facing a serious enemy? Woven into this story is a shift in Mr JLB Matekoni's relations with Precious. A sudden act of independence might lead to tragedy for the family and his workshop. Yet, because the act is one of deep humanity, Precious is unable to resist his desire to see if their crippled adopted daughter, Motholeli can be successfully treated. Grace Makutsi becomes caught up in a web of deceit and fabrications. Is the web so tight it may choke her engagement to Phuti Radiphuti, owner of the Double Comfort Furniture Shop? One thing you may count on with McCall Smith is a reasonably happy ending. At least, there are no serious tragedies to cope with. This one is no different, except in the sense that "miracles" must be openly defined. That is, after all, how real life works. The author brings you to his conclusions with his usual grace and wit. Applying many depths to his stories and their protagonists, a McCall Smith can be taken up again with no regrets. This one is unquestionably one of those. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
4.0 out of 5 stars
another comfort read,
This review is from: The Miracle at Speedy Motors: Book #9 (Paperback)
This is another enjoyable comfort read from Alexander McCall Smith.Mma Ramotswe finds herself trying to find the family for a woman who does not know anything about them. Mma Rakutsi and her fiance buy a heart shaped bed. Meanwhile Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni listens to a doctor who promises a miracle cure for his adopted daughter. Mma Ramotswe does not believe the doctor but lets her husband find his own way and deals with the outcomes. Although I felt the mystery part of this book weaker then others in the series, the stories were better. Mma Ramotswe is so compassionate and knows exactly how to deal with her family members. As for the heart-shaped bed, it provided some wonderful comic relief. Love this series!!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heart-Warming Vignettes About Caring for One Another,
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 112,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (#1 HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: The Miracle at Speedy Motors: BOOK #9 (Hardcover)
My favorite books in this series are filled with authentic stories of Africa and her people. As the series has developed, it's often reading more like people anywhere rather than Africans.The Miracle at Speedy Motors examines the themes of marital love, parental responsibility, honesty, jealousy, commitment, bonding, handling mistakes, and friendship. In keeping with the detective focus of the series, there are cases to be solved. A woman wants to find an unidentified person. Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi receive threatening letters. A landlord wants to get rid of a tenant. The focus of the book, however, is on the relationships among the continuing characters, especially Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni and Mma Ramotswe, Mr. Phuti Radiphuti and Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe and Mr. Polopetsi, and Mma Makutsi and Charlie in the garage. You also get to read more about Mma Potokwane and Motholeli than in most of the other books. What made the book special to me were the heart-felt commitments that some of the characters made towards doing the right thing, no matter what. Alexander McCall Smith loves people and when he expresses that love through his characters it feels great just to be alive. I found Mma Makutsi more annoying than usual in this book, and not nearly as funny in her foolish scenes. Otherwise, I would have graded the book at five stars. I hope that the next book will focus more on Precious and her family.
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