Review: The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith

Here is a summary of The Good Husband of Zebra Drive from Alexander McCall Smith's website:

In the eighth installment of Alexander McCall Smith's endlessly enjoyable, bestselling series, the judicious Precious Ramotswe comes to discover what is true, stable, and genuine in an ever-shifting world. There is rarely a dull moment in the life of Precious Ramotswe, and on Zebra Drive and Tlokweng Road many changes are afoot. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni wants be put in charge of a case involving an errant husband, and Mma Makutsi is considering leaving the agency, taking her near perfect score on the Botswana Secretarial College typing exam with her. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe has been asked to investigate a series of unexpected deaths at the hospital in Mochudi. Along the way, she encounters other tricky mysteries, and once again displays her undying love for Botswana, a country of which she is justly proud.

My Review:
This was another heart-warming installment of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series delivered by Alexander McCall Smith.  As all of our favorite characters are settling into their lives with the changes that have taken place in the previous books, many seem to feeling a bit of stagnation from the daily tasks that are becoming monotonous.

The mysteries within these series are usually so minimal, but they really help us to get to know the characters in a personal way.  How they go about solving these capers is really a glimpse into each one's personal being.  Mma Ramotswe is one who just sits back and pays attention while events unfold without making judgements beforehand.  While Mma Makutsi is very judgemental up front and really hasn't figured out how to work with her instincts yet.

The characters are restless in this novel as J.L.B. decides that he has more to offer to the business than being a mechanic and should have a shot at the detective work as well.  Mma Makutsi believes there is much more out in the world to offer her since she did score 97 percent at the secretarial college.  Even one of the apprentices is longing for more out of life and decides to take a chance in the business world.

I've been reading this series with my book club and we've enjoyed every one so far.  These are usually very simple stories with strong moral messages laced within the pages and I do not hesitate to recommend this series to other book clubs.  With themes of pride, obligations, Africa, and just a bit of mystery you may enjoy this book also.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This book is from my personal collection and I read it as a book club selection for my own entertainment.