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Book Reviews of The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16)

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16)
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine - No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
ISBN-13: 9780307911568
ISBN-10: 030791156X
Publication Date: 10/27/2015
Pages: 224
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 25

4 stars, based on 25 ratings
Publisher: Pantheon
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

5 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16) on
Another good book in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. This one was a little slower than some of the earlier books, but the ending was very satisfying.
pj-s-bookcorner avatar reviewed The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16) on + 885 more book reviews
I always enjoy returning to Botswana with these characters. No deep mysteries, crime, blood, etc. Just reflections on the changing times in our world, what matters most to people, and the importance of family, honesty and loyalty! Join Precious in her reflections and adventures!!
Tunerlady avatar reviewed The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16) on + 581 more book reviews
This is one of the BEST books yet in this series! Read it in a day.. Such a gentle, yet intriguing story.
kuligowskiandrewt avatar reviewed The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16) on + 569 more book reviews
Alexander McCall Smith has developed a nice little storytelling pattern to his "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series. The first book in the series told a series of short stories which laid the groundwork for the lead character Precious Ramotswe and her business, as well as introducing some potential supporting characters. Later books continued the concept of the connected short stories, but, in following the example of Aaron Spelling's television series "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island", began to intertwine the stories rather than simply telling them sequentially.

The 16th book in this series, "The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine", continues this tradition. Mma Ramotswe's friends, co-workers, and family have decided that the woman needs a break, and convinces her to take a holiday. However, a private detective's version of "holiday" is not quite what one might expect otherwise, this might turn into a dull book. She has encounters with a young boy with a budding career in the protection racket, a late politician who may not have been as wholesome as the Botswana population believed him to be, a new secretarial college with a name bordering on what in the US might be called "trademark infringement" - and trying not to let everyone know that she's as busy on her days off as she is in a typical day of work!

As mentioned, this is a well established series. The author does take pity on any new readers and provide at least a cursory introduction to the characters, so that neophytes aren't totally confused by their actions and backgrounds avoiding a situation that is common with other long-running series in virtually any medium and format. However, it's safe to say that readers who have enjoyed earlier books in this series will find this book to their liking as well; those who were not impressed by the author's storytelling in those books will not find this one any different and should simply not waste their time on it.

(For the record, this reviewer is mixed I seem to read one every 18 months or so. I do not find that I absolutely love the series so much that I want to jump into another one right away; as such, I am falling behind since the author's rate of publishing is faster than mine of reading. On the other hand, I cannot abandon the series. After being away for a time, I begin to wonder what is going on with the coziest mystery characters of southern Africa, and grab another book in the series.)

RATING: 3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

DISCLOSURE: I was awarded a copy of this book in a random draw. A polite request for an honest review was made, but no guarantees of tone, content, or schedule were requested nor given.
reviewed The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Bk 16) on
Business is slow at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, so slow in fact that for the first time in her estimable career Precious Ramotswe has reluctantly agreed to take a holiday. The promise of a week of uninterrupted peace is short-lived, however, when she meets a young boy named Samuel, a troublemaker who is himself in some trouble. Once she learns more about Samuel's sad story, Mma Ramotswe feels compelled to step in and help him find his way out of a bad situation.

Despite this unexpected diversion, Mma Ramotswe still finds herself concerned about how the agency is faring in her absence. Her worries grow when she hears that Mma Makutsi is handling a new and rather complicated case. A well-respected Botswanan politician is up for a major public honor, and his reputation is now being called into question by his rivals.