Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith (2002, Paperback, Reprint)

SPOILER WARNING: Do not read this review if you have not already read the first two books in the series, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and Tears of the Giraffe.
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Morality for Beautiful Girls is the third in a series of books about Precious Ramotswe, the very first lady detective in the African nation of Botswana.

This third book opens with both the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors facing financial concerns. It's expensive running a detective agency, even a successful one, and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has been acting oddly, taking much less interest in his business of fixing cars and in the training of his apprentices. Motholeli and Puso, the two foster children, are having problems themselves in adjusting to family life. Meanwhile, an important Government Man has a serious problem for the lady detectives, Mma Motokwane has a puzzle regarding a feral boy to sort out at the orphan farm, and the four finalists for the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest must be investigated.

In this book we see how the family is coming to depend on Mma Ramotswe. She is changing from being a single woman with heartache in her past, to a mother and a woman in love, fighting to strengthen and defend her family. Botswana itself is, as always, a vital character in the book, molding its people and shaping events under the timeless African sky.

Alexander McCall Smith is a Scotsman who lived for many years in Africa, has written an extensive list of legal texts, and has now successfully turned his hand to fiction writing. His main characters are frequently strong, interesting, formidable females. His novels are addictive and leave one anxiously awaiting the next release in the series. If you enjoy detective stories, stories based on cultures other than your own, or just quality fiction with strong characters and values, then I recommend this entire series. Buy them all to keep, as you will wish to read and reread them many times. Buy an extra set to loan to friends.