The Big Cats Dance Party

In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi volunteer for an important case up north involving an elephant sanctuary, leaving their assistant detective, Charlie, to manage a complicated and potentially risky new one back home.

Botswana sometimes feels like a small town, so when a client wanders into the detective agency, it comes as little surprise that Mma Ramotswe has met him once before. But Mr. B has not made the trip to Gaborone for pleasure. The animal rescue center he runs, Elephant Havens, is in peril. Someone in the surrounding villages is tarnishing its reputation, and Mr. B cannot fathom why. Determined as ever to aid a noble cause, Mma Ramotswe; her trusted associate, Mma Makutsi; and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni travel to Maun to restore the community’s trust in the sanctuary.

While Mma Ramotswe is looking forward to their brief sojourn north, Mma Makutsi is apprehensive at the idea of leaving Charlie in charge of the business, especially with a new high-profile case in hand. Mr. Moepi, the owner of the car wash down the road and a great many others around the country, is facing a rather unusual problem—his car washes are making money, too much money, and Mr. Moepi suspects something is not quite right. Determined to prove his mettle, Charlie delves head first into the case. Meanwhile, he imperils the agency by agreeing to sponsor a concert by a couple of smooth-talking musicians who go by the names Lion and Leopard.

In navigating these precarious situations, Mma Ramotswe and her associates must once again rely on their compassion, gentle humor, and good sense to win the day. Heartfelt and moving, The Big Cats Dance Party is a joyous celebration of life and the ones around us who make it worth living.