Death in the Former Colonies
During the end of March and through April, I hungrily awaited each new episode on HBO of the TV miniseries, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The series is based on the hugely popular mystery novels by Alexander McCall Smith. Jill Scott plays heroine Precious Ramotswe, Botswana'a only lady detective. Read a review from NPR.
Seeing this excellent mystery series on TV started me off on a sort of mini reading quest on the theme of books set in the former lands of the British Empire. Mystery readers frequently state that they are hooked by books with exotic or intriguing settings, so I am sure these titles will appeal.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is up to book 10 now: just out is Tea Time for the Traditionally Built. The prioprietor of the Gabarone agency is Precious Ramotswe, a totally engaging heroine - independent, opinionated, highly moral, but creative in how she applies her morality. Sometimes she is interfering, but generally things turn out OK. As McCall Smith said to NPR, "Well, she's a woman of great intuitive ability... She's a very intelligent woman, she's kind, she's forgiving — she's just the sort of person you'd like to sit down and have a cup of tea with. She's fairly typical of many people whom you meet in that part of the world." I spent some years in adjacent South Africa and I have to agree. I recognize McCall Smith's depiction of Botswana and particularly of the people, whose homespun wisdom is a great source of charm for me in these books.
If you enjoy the Botswana setting, you will probably also like a new mystery series by Michael Stanley, featuring the food-loving detective of the Gabarone police department, David "Kubu" Bengu. He has been called the African Columbo. The latest, newly acquired is The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu.
Finally, on this theme of mysteries set in the old territories of the British Empire, I recommend The case of the missing servant : a Vish Puri mystery by Tarquin Hall. Punjabi private detective Vish Puri, proprietor of Most Private Investigators, Ltd., deals only with simple investigations for arranged marriages, until a rich industrialist comes calling, accused of "disappearing" an inconvenient young woman. Again, the people and the exotic setting are a big part of my enjoyment of this book (I haven't quite finished my advance reader's copy yet, but it won't take long). Tina Jordan in Entertainment Weekly wrote, "India captured in all its pungent, vivid glory, fascinates almost as much as the crime itself."
I am sure you will enjoy the contrast of the universal humanity of these outwardly simple yet very wise detectives with all their personal quirks and failings, against the exotic settings of countries still with vestiges of their old-fashioned colonial heritage yet with their own very vibrant culture and way of life.
Seeing this excellent mystery series on TV started me off on a sort of mini reading quest on the theme of books set in the former lands of the British Empire. Mystery readers frequently state that they are hooked by books with exotic or intriguing settings, so I am sure these titles will appeal.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series is up to book 10 now: just out is Tea Time for the Traditionally Built. The prioprietor of the Gabarone agency is Precious Ramotswe, a totally engaging heroine - independent, opinionated, highly moral, but creative in how she applies her morality. Sometimes she is interfering, but generally things turn out OK. As McCall Smith said to NPR, "Well, she's a woman of great intuitive ability... She's a very intelligent woman, she's kind, she's forgiving — she's just the sort of person you'd like to sit down and have a cup of tea with. She's fairly typical of many people whom you meet in that part of the world." I spent some years in adjacent South Africa and I have to agree. I recognize McCall Smith's depiction of Botswana and particularly of the people, whose homespun wisdom is a great source of charm for me in these books.
If you enjoy the Botswana setting, you will probably also like a new mystery series by Michael Stanley, featuring the food-loving detective of the Gabarone police department, David "Kubu" Bengu. He has been called the African Columbo. The latest, newly acquired is The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu.
Finally, on this theme of mysteries set in the old territories of the British Empire, I recommend The case of the missing servant : a Vish Puri mystery by Tarquin Hall. Punjabi private detective Vish Puri, proprietor of Most Private Investigators, Ltd., deals only with simple investigations for arranged marriages, until a rich industrialist comes calling, accused of "disappearing" an inconvenient young woman. Again, the people and the exotic setting are a big part of my enjoyment of this book (I haven't quite finished my advance reader's copy yet, but it won't take long). Tina Jordan in Entertainment Weekly wrote, "India captured in all its pungent, vivid glory, fascinates almost as much as the crime itself."
I am sure you will enjoy the contrast of the universal humanity of these outwardly simple yet very wise detectives with all their personal quirks and failings, against the exotic settings of countries still with vestiges of their old-fashioned colonial heritage yet with their own very vibrant culture and way of life.
Labels: Africa-mysteries, India-Mysteries, Most Private Investigators Ltd, No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Precious Ramotswe, Vish Puri
posted by Elizabeth @ 9:07 AM
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