Book Review - Alexander McCall Smith's The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe

The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe is the fifteenth installment in Alexander McCall Smith's popular No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I've read them all and each new book is like spending an afternoon with an old friend. 

PLOT- The title of the book, The Handsome Man's De Luxe Cafe, is in reference to Grace Makutsi's latest business venture as a restauranteur. She is still working as a recently promoted co-owner of the detective agency, but her marriage has made her a wealthy woman with new ambitions. On the opposite end of the financial spectrum, is Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. His garage is seeing less business and he must make the tough decision to let-go of his apprentice, Charlie. Mma Ramotswe comes up with a plan to help Charlie out, by selling off her cattle to pay for him to work as an assistant detective. The agency is struggling to solve their latest case involving the identity of an Indian woman with amnesia. 

LIKE - This series gets better with every book and I think that is owed to the rich and wonderful characters that Smith has created. There is a sweetness and moral to every story, but it is never preachy. Last month, while I was on jury duty, I was discussing the series with a fellow juror and Smith fan. The conclusion that we drew as to why we found the stories so endearing, is that they always left us with the warm fuzzies. The world needs more books that leave you with the warm fuzzies.

DISLIKE- Nothing to dislike, but I did miss the "Africa" repetition at the end. Where was it? I'm so used to it closing all of the stories and it was missed.

RECOMMEND- Yes. If you're a fan of the series, it's a must. If you haven't read the series...what's wrong with you? Get to a bookstore immediately!

Book Review- Alexander McCall Smith's The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon

Alexander McCall Smith is a prolific author. Even with all of the various series that Smith writes, I can always count on an annual installment of his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series, one of my all-time favorite book series. 

The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon marks the fourteenth book in the series. So far, the series has not grown stale and with every book, the character development has grown richer. As the series continues, there has been a subtle shift away from the mystery solving element and a bigger emphasis on the characters personal lives. 

In this book, Mma Makutsi has given birth to her first child and is on maternity leave from the detective agency. Mma Ramotswe quickly learns the value of Mma Makutsi, not only as an employee, but also as a dear friend. This book is a sweet ode to their friendship.

There is also a great side story involving Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni's efforts to become a more modern husband. It made me laugh-out-loud, which is a rarity in Smith's books, which are always funny, but not enough to elicit such a big reaction from me. They most often leave me with a smile.

If you've never had the pleasure of reading a book from this series, then go get one now! I highly recommend starting with the first, however each book stands on its own and you would easily be able to understand the characters and their relationships. What you would miss if you read them out of sequence is the evolution of the characters, which is an aspect of the series that I've really loved.

These books will make you feel good. I liken them to an episode of Little House on the Prairie, sweet stories with a moral lesson and endearing characters. They are my happy spot!