The Big Cats Dance Party is the most recent installment of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.
Two questions today: Do you love a series, and is there a series that you can’t quit?

A Series I Can’t Quit: No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Installment #27: The Big Cats Dance Party

Genre/Categories/Setting: Fiction, Character-Driven, Cozy Mystery, Diverse Read, Botswana

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I love a series! Jumping back into a world with familiar characters and setting is easy reading for me. Years ago, I started the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith because of my mom and sister. My family lived in Scotland for three years. I was newly married, so I stayed behind (in California), but I did go for a three-week visit! My dad earned his PhD from New College in Edinburgh and one of my sisters graduated from Stirling College during those years. I guess because of loving Scotland, my mom and sister started reading books by Scottish author, Alexander McCall Smith. Since they had all the books, I also read the series. Well….I can’t quit a series, so here we are on installment #27!!!

Thanks @NetGalley @PantheonBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheBigCatsDanceParty at my request. All opinions are my own.

Summary of The Big Cats Dance Party

Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi travel north to assist an elephant sanctuary, and Charlie is left in charge of the detective agency. What could go wrong?! While Mma Makutsi predicts a total disaster, Mma Ramotswe feels she must trust and support Charlie in his desire to become a full detective.

My Thoughts

The Big Cats Dance Party is similar in many ways to every other installment in the series. One interesting element in this new installment is that Charlie has a significant part of the story as he attempts to be in charge of the detective agency while his boss is out of town. Although he manages to solve the current case with some help from Mma Potokwani, he gets himself into a mess when he is enticed to participate in a money-making scheme with a couple of questionable characters. Will this poor decision end up affecting the agency and ruin his chances of becoming a full detective? Is Mma Ramotswe;strust in him misplaced?

Why Can’t I Quit the Series?

Have you read a series you can’t quit? Do you ever wish there was just one more book in a series after you’ve finished? Be careful what you wish for!

After 27 installments, these characters are like family! We don’t quit on family! LOL Honestly, the series has run out of steam and the author needs to retire it. After each of the most recent installments, I feel tempted to quit the series. I’m not a quitter, so I pick up the next and the next and the next. I have no ideas how the author will bring the series to an end, and maybe he doesn’t either. Devoted fans continue to anticipate and enjoy each new release.

Series Overview

This is a quietly written and reflective character-driven series in which the setting is almost a character. Problems/mysteries are resolved quickly with little drama and are often not the main focus of the story. There is no overarching plot that compels you to pick up the next installment. Each book can be read as a standalone and there are no cliff-hangers that leave you desperate to pick up the next. It’s a true uplit, comfort read.

The best way to descibe the series is a Slice-of-Life Cozy Mystery. We follow the daily activities of Mma Precious Ramotswe (founder and owner of the detective agency), Mma Makutsi (her assistant), Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni (owner of Speedy Motors car repair and husband of Mma Ramotswe), Mma Potokwani (owner of an orphanage and dearest friend and confident of Mma Ramotswe) and occasional appearances of Charlie (partime mechanic and detective in training) and Fanwell (mechanic). In The Big Cats Dance Party, the most recent installment, Charlie has a bigger role as part of his training to become a detective.

• What do I most appreciate?
  • I most appreciate the setting of Botswana, the pace of life, the particular geographical location, the customs, and food.
  • I adore the wise, kind, compassionate, and generous Mma Ramotswe.
  • I love the unique and descriptive book titles and chapter headings.
• What do I wish for?
  • I wish for less philosophizing by the author.
  • I would like more focus on a compelling mystery.
  • I wish for more substantial content. The last installment with some substantial content was The House of Unexpected Sisters; however, the family member that was introduced was never mentioned in later installments. Perhaps an intern or assistant is writing the stories at this point.

Recommending The Big Cats Dance Party

Fans of the author and series will want to add this current installment to their TBRs. Readers who enjoy quietly written, character-driven cozy mysteries set in Botswana might consider the entire series. Even though the installments can be read as standalones, I recommend reading in order to appreciate character development. (but 27 is a lot!)

More Information Here

My Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

Meet the Author of The Big Cats Dance Party, Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith was born in what is now Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. He is now Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. He has written more than fifty books, including a number of specialist titles, but is best known for The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which has achieved bestseller status on four continents. In 2004 he was awarded British Book Awards Author of the Year and Booksellers Association Author of the Year. He lives in Scotland, where in his spare time he is a bassoonist in the RTO (Really Terrible Orchestra). More information at http://www.alexandermccallsmith.com/

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QOTD:

Do you have a series you can’t quit? How many installments are in the longest running series you’ve read?

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 I’m linking up with Deb @ Deb’s World and friends for the September installment of #WhatsOnYourBookShelf Challenge.

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