Number 3 in the series, in which Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni suffers a setback and Precious Ramotswe solves more mysteries, and some money problems of her own.

I know there are more important things when I broaden my point of view, but I often let small things occupy my mind. But, it is the life, Mma Ramotswe and Mma.Makutsi remind of that. I got to think of my life more positively. ( )

2008

While I loved the first two books in this series, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed in the third. There didn't seem to be an overall story to tie the book together. I liked it enough to continue reading the series, so I hope book 4 picks back up again. ( )

In the third installment in this series, the mysteries involve the contestants in a beauty pageant, a feral child, and a government man who suspects his sister-in-law of trying to poison his brother.

Along the way Mma Ramotswe and her sidekick Mma Makutsi ponder whether one can justifiably remain friends with a bad person, conflicting impulses towards actions we know are good for us and those we know aren't, why men maltreat women, and whether phrenology is reliable. Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni suffers from clinical depression.

The charm of the deceptively simple language grows on you in these books, and it is easy to glide past the difficult situations they describe and moral questions they raise and invite you to consider. ( )