Morality for Beautiful Girls

By Alexander McCall Smith

The third book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series starts with Mma Ramotswe moving her agency to new premises. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is losing money and has to close its office. The agency moves into a small building adjoining Mr J.L.B. Matekoni’s garage and Mma Makutsi, who is eager for a promotion, takes over as acting manager of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, while she continues to work as assistant detective.

Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, the owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, is forced by illness to temporarily leave the garage in the hands of the apprentices and Mma Makutsi. The once hard-working, generous-hearted mechanic and owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, who was once so enthusiastic and full of self-reproach, is depressed and in need of a rest.

While all this is going on a Government Man, convinced his new sister-in-law is out to kill his younger brother, enlists Mma Ramotswe's services. Precious sets off for the Government Man’s farm to investigate leaving the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors in the capable management of Mma Matuksi.

Not long after Mma Ramotswe has left, Mma Matuksi receives a visit from the director of a beauty pageant. He wants to make sure the winner of this year’s contest is worthwhile, and will not bring disgrace to the pageant and to Botswana like last year’s winner, who was arrested for prostitution and thus brought the beauty pageant into disrespect.

Unlike the previous books, there are only two mysteries for Mma Ramotswe to solve. The focus point of the novel is on Mr J.L.B. Matekoni’s depression and Mma Makutsi’s running of his garage while he is away to rest and find new strength. In this book, some of the minor characters also get developed a bit further. It is an extremely enjoyable read and a beautifully written story.