A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith
What a happy occasion! The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series (Pantheon), written by Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith, debuted in 1998 with the novel by the same name, and since the first book’s publication, the series has become a worldwide publishing phenomenon.
Now, the series has gained another novel!
The latest novel, the 23rd in this cheerful, uplifting series, A Song of Comfortable Chairs (Pantheon), stirs a frisson of anticipated reading pleasure as this prolific writer never disappoints.
A CONTINUATION OF SMITH’S DETECTIVE SERIES
These works of fiction are set in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, situated near the Notwane River less than 10 miles from the border of South Africa. This sprawling modern city has grown rapidly since its founding in the mid-1960s with a population approaching 250,000 and many citizens finding themselves in need of a trustworthy, confidential detective.
The only female-owned detective agency in Botswana is the realization of a dream of Mma Precious Ramotswe. She was inspired when she came across a slender volume, the self-published The Principles of Private Detection by a little-known (fictional) American author, Clovis Andersen, of Muncie, Indiana who set the gold standard of investigation for her. The now battered, oft-read copy serves as a guideline and part gospel for the small office.
TWO WOMEN STRIVE TO RESTORE HARMONY
Founder and chief detective, Mma Ramotswe, used part of her inheritance from her beloved daddy, the respected and prosperous cattleman Obed Ramotswe, in order to help people solve the problems plaguing them.
She is assisted by her now partner and friend Mma Grace Makutsi who first began as her secretary. Grace is inordinately proud of her graduation from the Botswana Secretarial College with a score of 97%, the highest in its history. Grace dresses stylishly and is able to indulge her passion for shoes since marrying her husband, Phuti Radhiphuti, who owns the Double Comfort Furniture Store.
Precious Ramotswe is contentedly self-described as traditionally built. Her aging little white van attests to her bulk as it lists markedly on the driver’s side. It rarely achieves a speed over 15 miles per hour and frequently requires interventional maintenance by her mechanic and business owner husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni who is frustrated in his attempts to have her replace the vehicle.
The detective agency has a separate entrance but is housed in the same building as his garage, Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. The two women are training the young mechanic Charlie as a part-time Junior Assistant Detective.
The office case-load is light as they are selective about their clients and making money is not their primary objective. They rather prefer to right wrongs and restore harmony.
ONE RIVAL FURNITURE STORE COULD BRING RUIN
A Song of Comfortable Chairs brings them two new pro-bono cases requiring urgent attention.
Grace’s husband’s business has been under siege by a new furniture company that has been undercutting prices by selling low-quality, uncomfortable chairs made in China and transported from nearby South Africa. The unscrupulous competitor may have insider information giving them the advertising edge.
The Double Comfort Furniture Store has been selling finely crafted furnishings proudly manufactured in Botswana for two generations. Bills are mounting, accounts are in the red and Rra Phuti Radhiphuti is contemplating mounting a close-out sale. The happy couple could lose their home, as well as business and create financial hardships for their employees.
The second case involves Patience, a new friend from Grace’s village of Bobonong, whose angry teenage son’s rude misbehavior is putting cracks into her relationship with her fiancé and she fears losing the man she loves. Patience has started working for Mma Silvia Potokwane, the matron of the area orphanage and dear friend to all. Precious and Grace involve Charlie more than usual as they work to solve these important issues.
Their detective process involves common sense, intuition and wisdom, much tea drinking, quiet observation and surveillance, as well as a little subterfuge to achieve success.
THE PERFECT JUMPING-IN POINT FOR NEW READERS
The main and many secondary characters remain the same while the cases change with each book, making it easy for a casual reader to drop in. Time passes slowly, and only a few years have gone by since the series began.
Each novel reveals more information about the principals, their friendships and relationships and their likes and dislikes. They are secure in their abiding love for their community, satisfaction with Botswana’s achievements since achieving independence in 1966, and they are proud to be African.
Visiting Precious Ramotswe and Grace Makutsi at The No. 1 Ladies’ Detectives Agency is like seeing favorite relatives at an annual family reunion. You will be respectfully greeted and warmly welcomed with freshly brewed tea (Rooibos or red bush tea for Precious and Ceylon black tea for Grace), small cakes or cookies and gracious conversation that brings you up-to-date.
A CHARMING AND CLEAN TAKE ON CRIME FICTION
The books have sold millions of copies and have been translated into more than 45 languages. While they are loosely categorized as “crime fiction,” there are no serial killers on the loose leaving grisly murders to be solved and a dearth of violent crimes, making these more so “cozy mysteries.” They are refreshingly innocent and full of charm with a gentle philosophy of adhering to a high moral standard, ethical behavior and performing good works. The series does deal with vital social issues, such as domestic violence, game poaching and the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana, which has left many orphans, giving the otherwise light and comfortable series a little more depth.
About Alexander McCall Smith:
Alexander McCall Smith, often referred to as ‘Sandy’, is one of the world’s most prolific and best-loved authors. For many years he was a professor of Medical Law and worked in universities in the UK and abroad before turning his hand to writing fiction. He has written and contributed to more than 100 books including specialist academic titles, short story collections, and a number of immensely popular children’s books. His first book, The White Hippo—a children’s book, was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1980.
But it wasn’t until the publication of the highly successful The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series that Alexander became a household name. The series has now sold over twenty million copies in the English language alone, and since the books took off, he has devoted his time to writing.
His various series of books have been translated into forty-six languages and become bestsellers throughout the world. These include the popular 44 Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in the Scotsman newspaper and now the longest-running serial novel in the world; the Isabel Dalhousie novels, and the von Igelfeld series. He is also the author of the Corduroy Mansions series, which started life as an engaging cross-media serial written for the Telegraph online. And most recently, he launched the Ulf Varg series of Scandi blanc novels set in Sweden.
In addition to these series, Alexander has written a number of stand-alone novels, including, The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse, My Italian Bulldozer, The Second Worst Restaurant in France, Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party, Chance Developments and Pianos and Flowers.
Alexander has received numerous awards for his writing and holds twelve honorary doctorates from universities in Europe and North America. In 2007, he received a CBE for services to literature and in 2011 was honored by the President of Botswana for services through literature to the country. In 2015, he received the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction and in 2017, The National Arts Club (of America) Medal of Honor for Achievement in Literature. In 2020, he will receive the honorary fellowship of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival.
