The Kalahari Typing School for Men

Alexander McCall Smith

For a holiday read I picked up The Kalahari Typing School for Men, the fourth and probably the best named (in a strong field) of Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies' Detective agency series. The number one lady in question, and protagonist of the series, is Precious Ramotswe. When an author describes a character as "traditionally built" I think we all know what he means. Precious runs a detective agency stroke car repair shop together with her fiancee and the unresolved marital status of thi s middle-aged pair put me in mind of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel and Ronnie Barker's Arkwright.

Not that we're talking comedy to rank up there with Ronnie Barker. But the story ambles along happily enough and there are a few giggles to enjoy along the way.

If you want a pipe and slippers detective story they don't come much gentler than this. This is a world which considers laziness, boastfulness and bad manners to be crimes of the highest order. But there are also ostrich rustlers, philandering husbands and stolen radios to investigate.

Fans of the series who have enjoyed the Southern African setting may also want to take a look at James McClure's Kramer and Zondi series from the 1970s. But be warned that McClure serves up an altogether meatier crime thriller.