Ladies Detective Agency

Mma Precious Ramotswe had a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of Kgale Hill. She was the only lady private detective in

Botswana, and her agency was the best. So she called it the No. 1

Ladies' Detective Agency.

Mma Ramotswe was a good detective and a good woman. She loved her country, Botswana, and she loved Africa too. The people of

Africa were her people, her brothers and sisters. She wanted to help them solve the mysteries in their lives, so she became a private detective.

The detective agency was in a small building in the town of

Gaborone. Outside the building was a sign:

THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY.

FOR ALL PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The agency had a tiny white van, two desks, two chairs and an old typewriter. There was also a teapot, and three large cups - one for

Mma Ramotswe, one for her secretary and one for the client.

In front of the agency was a tree. When Mma Ramotswe was not busy, she loved to sit under this tree. It was a very good place to think.

She could look across the dusty road to the town and, far away, she could see the blue hills. Hills in Botswana always looked blue in the heat.

Mma Ramotswe thought about many things while she was sitting under the tree. She thought about her father, and the beginning of the

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Mma Raniotswe's father worked in the mines in South Africa for fifteen years. The mines were very dangerous. Rocks fell and killed men. The dust destroyed their health.