1. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective
Agency
by Alexander McCall Smith
Raquel Hernandez, Casey Suh, Kristen Castellanos
2. MAJOR CHARACTERS
Mma Precious Ramotswe: The protagonist of
the novel. She is a wise and patient woman
who has a kind heart. She is inspired by her
father's unfortunate death to open the only
detective agency in Gabarone, Botswana.
Mma Ramotswe believed that she was called
to help others solve the mysteries in their
lives. She felt inclined to help them because
she couldn't help her father.
3. MORE MAJOR CHARACTERS
Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni: The mechanic and
proprietor of a garage in Gaborone named
“Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors.” He is Mma
Ramotswe’s suitor at the beginning of the
novel, and later on becomes her husband.
Mma Grace Makutsi: The Agency’s somewhat
awkward, but extremely efficient secretary.
She is Mma Ramotswe’s well organized, loyal
assistant.
4. MINOR CHARACTERS
Obed Ramotswe: Mma Ramotswe's father.
He worked all of his life so that she could
open her own shop, and have a good life.
He passed away in the beginning of the
novel, due to an illness he contracted from
working in the mines.
Note Mokoti: A well known trumpet player
in Botswana. Unfortunately, he is vain,
selfish, and a violent drunk. He is Mma
Ramotswe's ex-husband who used to abuse
her.
5. MAJOR CONFLICTS
A man is looking for his missing child, and asks for
Mma Ramotswe’s help to know if she has heard of
him.
Mma Ramotswe finds out that Mr. Gosto, a
powerful, wealthy man, is dealing with witchcraft, a
witch doctor, and the missing boy.
6. MINOR CONFLICTS
Obed Romatswe, Mma Precious Ramotswe’s
father, dies.
Problems with money, since the agency is
running slow.
Mma Ramotswe doesn’t want to get married,
even though many offers had been made to
her, because of her terrible experience with
her first husband, Note.
7. MORE MINOR CONFLICTS
Mma Romatswe’s minor cases:
A woman suspects that the man, who
claims to be her father, is an imposter.
A husband that disappears during a river
baptism.
A woman claiming that she thinks her
husband stole a car.
A woman suspects that her husband is
cheating on her.
8. EVEN MORE MINOR
CONFLICTS
More minor cases:
Mr. Patel, a wealthy man, is worried that his
daughter is dating, so he wants to spy on her.
A doctor is confused because the new
doctor that he hired seems to be two
different people.
A factory owner is told to pay for a man’s
injury, but refuses because he thinks that he’s
being framed and that the story is not true.
9. CLIMAX
Mma Ramotswe goes to the witch doctor
to look for the missing boy. She finds that
the boy is alive and a victim of witchcraft.
10. THEMES
Men can’t be trusted:
The author reveals that men are not faithful and or
mistreat women. In some cases, the people were
worried that men were either deceiving or cheating
others. Mma. Ramotswe had a terrible husband in
the past that led to not trust any man to marry
her, until she finds Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni.
11. MORE THEMES
Human nature exists in everyone:
Mma Ramotswe has experienced grand
love, loss, and pain in her life. She learns
that people can be generous and good, but
also cruel and selfish.
Justice will be done:
Mma Ramotswe tries to bring justice back
to the people by solving the cases and
revealing the truth about the people or
things that are causing trouble.
12. EVEN MORE THEMES
Pride can be good:
The people in Botswana show a lot of pride for
their country by looking at its goodness and
never being ashamed of it. The key reason why
Mma Ramotswe becomes a detective is because
she loves her people and wants to help them.The
author reveals the wonderful things of Botswana,
and the great love that poeple have for it.
13. SYMBOLS
Snakes and crocodiles: These wild animals that
are seen in Africa, represent how some people
there can be sneaky and dangerous.They also
exemplify the dangers of some of Mma Precious
Ramotswe’s cases.
Cattle: They represent power, respect,
prosperity, and wealth. The more cattle you
own, the more power you have.
Multi (Medicine): Illegal witchcraft that
illustrates evil and dangerous people.
14. AUTHOR’S WRITING STYLE
Narrative point of view - third person
Tense - past tense
Perspective - limited (experiences & perspectives only
from Precious Ramotswe).
Diction - Formal
Tone - Uplifting and inspiring.
15. MORE OF THE AUTHOR’S
WRITING STYLE
Literary devices:
Onomatopoeia: “Look at the head! OW! And
those evil eyes!" (McCall 112).
Personification: “The tiny white van had
been uncomplaining on the trip out to the
cattle post, but now, back in town, it was
beginning to stutter" (McCall Smith 231).
