i am interested, is the series any good? any thoughts?

Oh yes, it's very good!

It's good!  Everything about it is unique: the setting, the writing style, the storylines.  Each book is a series of small 'mysteries', with a lot of emphasis on the characters.  I enjoyed them very much! 

P.S.

Looking at your sigs, I had to laugh!  I, too, am owned by a dog, love chocolate, coffee and my hubby, AND I love bears!  (I just get nervous, a bit, when I know they've been close to the house!)  We should start a club! ;)

I have book #1 in my TBR pile. Glad to hear its good.  (fellow bear lover)

The entire series is great! If you're an avid mystery fan, you might find them a little odd at first, since they're not mysteries in the traditional sense. The stories are really about the characters, and describing a completely different culture and pace of life. They are easy to read.

I find them most refreshing!

Graham.

The series is heart-warmingly wonderful.  My suggestion, however, is that you get the audiobooks, especially early in the process.  Hearing the Botswana rhythm of language and pronunciation is great fun.  Plus, you won't have to wonder about how to say the courtesy titles.  Women are "Mma" and men are "Rra" (sometimes).  The main character is Mma Ramotswe...

I love being able to hear the words pronounced. 

The stories are just wonderful.  Don't hesitate for a moment.

Rich

I love the #1 Ladies Detective Agency! The books are very simple and very short, but they are very lyrical and interesting. It's also a look into a culture I know near nothing about, which is always a good thing.

sounds like i might have to add more books to my wl... if there was only more room!

Guess I'm in the minority, but I thought it was just so-so.

The first one or two I read, I was not caught up in them.  Then I heard one in an audio book, and fell in love.  The more I read of them, the better I like them.

I have read a couple of McCall Smith's other series, but did not like them as well.

I've only read the first one, but I loved it.  The mysteries are a bit unusual and you gotta love the main character.  It's a fun series.

Linda, initially I thought they were so-so too, but they grew on me.

Although I'm more visual than auditory, I also agree with Richard.  The tapes are most wonderful to listen to!

Linda  your not  the only one in the minority,   I tried a couple of  different times to read the first one and just could not get into  it. so I gave up on the series.

I agree with Richard M. I listened to this series on tapes from the library and think that I enjoyed them much more than if I had read them in print. Some books are just better in audio version, and IMHO, this series is a good example of that. And it works both ways. If I have started a series in print, then listen to one in audio, sometimes I hate it because the voice of the protaganist does not even come close to the "voice" I have ascribed to her in my head! It's funny that way....

I've listened to the complete series on audio and I agree that its the best way to go.  Very enjoyable!

I am excited. A member PMd me and it is coming to me. I am going to give it a chance. MY SIL has #2 and #5 so she might read it too!

I love the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.  I'm reading the most recent book The Good Husband of Zebra Drive right now.  Just read that they're working on a movie!  It will be filmed in Botswana and Jill Scott will play Mma Ramotzwa.

I love the books!  They're a little more slow paced and contemplative than most, but very charming.

Definitely not the books for explosion and car chase fans though! 

i heard these books read like the stephanie plum series is that true?? are they that a light and easy read??

They are both very light easy reads with interesting characters, but I'm not sure Stephanie Plum is a good comparison. 

Stephanie is mad-cap crazy, running around all the time almost getting killed and blowing up her cars.  She's a fast New Jersey kind of crazy.  Precious Ramotswe is a bit of a quirky character too, but in a slower, less dangerous kind of way, and the books are saturated by the culture in Botswana.   I'd call the Ladies #1 series more of a cozy series, expect that technically cozies aren't supposed to have professional detectives as main characters and Mma Ramotswe has announced that she is one!

Mma is a professional, but then the mysteries are very bland.  I LOVE this series.  I hope to get it all in hardcover at some point.  Surprisingly, I don't like either of the other series this author writes. 

ok i was comparing them to the plum series in the easieness to read. ill check them out i think

these are my favorite books. i am waiting on the last one right now and can hardly contain my excitement.