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The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (Audio Cassette)

by Alexander McCall Smith (Author)

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Audio Cassette: 6 pages
Publisher: Recorded Books (April 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402562004
ISBN-13: 978-1428125100
ASIN: 1428125108

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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This is item 8 in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series.

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Smith once again combines a loving depiction of ordinary life in modern Botswana with memorable characters and an engaging mystery in the eighth installment in his beloved No. 1 Ladies Detective series (after Blue Shoes and Happiness). Dr. Cronje, who's half Xhosa and half Afrikaner, consults Smith's sleuth, the gentle and insightful Precious Ramotswe, because patients at his hospital who have occupied a particular bed have been dying mysteriously at the same time of day. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe's recently engaged assistant, Grace Makutsi, threatens to break their longstanding association. Mma Ramotswe must adjust their relationship in order to retain Mma Makutsi's services. The author's subtlety of touch and humane portrayal of figures at all levels of society will continue to win him new readers even as his deepening of the ties binding the main figures will satisfy those who have followed the lady detectives from their first recorded case. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From AudioFile

Lisette Lecat performs her eighth Ladies' Detective Agency novel with her usual precision and vibrancy. Her portrayal of Precious Ramotswe, the wise and unflappable proprietor of Botswana's leading detective business, makes her character even more endearing than she is in print. Facing personal and professional difficulties with aplomb, Precious makes room for her husband, J.L.B. Matekoni, to track a cheating husband, deals with her recently engaged colleague Mma Makutsi's brief resignation, makes time to philosophize about the ills of the world over a few cups of red bush tea, and manages to solve the mystery of why three hospital patients died in the same bed at the same time. S.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Filled with Humorous Situations!, April 27 2007

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (Audio CD)

If you haven't read any other books in the series, don't start with this one! Why? Most of the plot's impact relies on long-standing character and relationship developments developed in the prior seven books. Alexander McCall Smith does a fine job of referencing those histories, but the impact won't be the same without having read about those events in the earlier books. This is particularly important to the extreme sense of fun that the book can bring to you.

The theme of this book could be summarized in the humorous Joel Osteen aphorism, "The grass may look greener on the other side of the fence, but it still has to be mowed." Precious Ramotswe's world is turned upside down when many of those closest to her decide that they want changes in their lives. Her husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, wants to take a turn at being a detective. Mma. Makutsi, her able assistant, is increasingly restive as she looks forward to marriage to the wealthy Phutti Radiphutti and doesn't see herself in the assistant role any more. In fact, she decides she wants a new job! The woman-chasing Charlie decides to drop out of his apprenticeship with Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni and start his own taxi business. Never has Precious faced so many changes in those who are closest to her since her father, Obed Ramotswe, died.

Talk about a great set-up for a book. Wow!

Obviously, life isn't as easy to change as that. You have to know how to work with clients and detect in order to be a detective. The easy-going Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is easily cowed by his client, the very rude Mma. Botumile. In fact, he just follows her direction.

Mma. Makutsi has forgotten that most offices in Botswana want to hire help for their appearance rather than for their skill. She also forgets that much of what she does with Precious is prepare tea and chat.

Charlie would probably be fine as a taxi driver, as long as there aren't any women to look at. Put a woman near him, and all bets are off!

Like the better books in the series, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive has several mysteries in it:

1. Patients on ventilators in the same hospital bed have unexpectedly died on three different Fridays. The ventilators check out and no one can think of any explanation for what has happened.

2. Mma. Botumile feels that her husband has taken up with another woman and wants to know who her rival is.

3. Valuable supplies are being stolen from a printing company. The owner thinks she knows who the thief is, but lacks proof.

Only the first of these mysteries provides satisfaction for the mystery fan. The other two mysteries are mere backdrops for character development.

As the book ended, I found myself a little disappointed by the facile resolutions (albeit humorous) put forward for the three seekers' desires to take a step up. I had hoped for more in those plot developments.

So the ending left me feeling that the promise of the book's premise hadn't really been met as well as I would have liked.

But none of the stories has more funny situations in it. You'll be laughing aloud throughout the book . . . especially if you enjoy Mma. Makutsi's fascination with shoes.

You won't put the book down. I started late and stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish. I was smiling as I did.

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5.0 out of 5 stars ENGAGING, ENTERTAINING, REFRESHING, Mar 19 2008

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Good Husband of Zebra Drive (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 8) (Paperback)

If you have yet to meet Precious Ramotswe - treat yourself. As I said of her in a review of the first novel in Smith's series, she is "Of traditional build and generous heart, she's the indefatigable, irresistible proprietress of Botswana's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency."

For this reader it was love at first page of Smith's initial offering and my enthusiasm for this endearing, surprising character hasn't wavered. Her story is as fresh and new with this, the eighth in the series, as it was in the first. By now many have become familiar with the characters and eagerly look forward to their latest adventures. I count myself among those readers.

With The Good Husband of Zebra Drive several of our favorites find themselves facing momentous decisions just as Precious is presented with a confounding mystery by a doctor who has seen patients die in the same bed at the same time of day at Mochudi's hospital. Mma Makutsi may leave the Agency (Heaven forbid as I'll always remember her undulations of pleasure to say nothing of her perfect typing). And, there is a straying husband.

As always Precious's life is filled with conundrums and challenges which she faces with wit and wisdom. Pages of The Good Husband of Zebra Drive flew by far too rapidly and I eagerly await a return visit to beautiful Botswana.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke

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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forget Miss Marpole, Dec 20 2007