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No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: BBC Radio Casebook
- BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations
- Narrated by: Claire Benedict, full cast
- Series: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, BBC Dramatisations, Book 1
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Radio/TV Programme
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency: BBC Radio Casebook, Vol.2
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A second collection of eight BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations based on the popular books by Alexander McCall Smith. 'How to Handle Men Through the Application of Psychology': Precious Ramotswe sets out to release her fiancé from a terrifying obligation, and a new case sparks a love quest. 'House of Hope': Precious and her assistant visit some bad girls as part of their mission to find a husband for their client, but Precious has some marriage problems of her own....
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Summary
Alexander McCall Smith's hugely popular novels featuring Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana's only female private detective agency, have become international best-sellers. These acclaimed productions, complete with vibrant music, bring the exotic world of the books to life.
In these eight episodes, Mma Ramotswe takes on her first case - and a new secretary; tries to solve a bone mystery; tackles a domestic drama and a doctor's erratic behaviour; and investigates the case of a missing American. In addition, she is hired by a beauty contest judge to check the integrity of the finalists; looks for two women wronged by her client, Mr Molefelo; learns of a rival detective agency; and is commissioned by a physiotherapist to find out what her errant husband is up to. The stories included are: The Daddy; The Bone; The Maid; Tears of the Giraffe; The Chief Justice of Beauty; The Confession; The Kalahari Typing School for Men and The Admirer.
Claire Benedict stars as Mma Ramotswe, with Nadine Marshall as Mma Makutsi and Joseph Marcell as Mr JLB Matekoni.
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What listeners say about No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: BBC Radio Casebook
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Lina
- 23-07-17
Love the simplicity of the stories.
Love the philosophy of simple life, very clever wise characters and loads of kindness. Excellent.
5 people found this helpful
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- Mr. P. A. Tory
- 29-02-20
Much is missing from the original book
I like the dramatisation, but it's difficult to match this with the book. On the cover, it appears to be from the first book, but it dots about and misses much of the original book's story. It makes me wonder if the BBC has taken little stories from many books and put them into one narrative? A pity...
4 people found this helpful
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- Nigel
- 15-08-17
Great performances by the actors, scripts so-so
Previously these stories were available in four separate releases, volumes 1-4:
1. The Daddy
2. The Bone
3. The Maid
4. Tears of the Giraffe
5. The Chief Justice of Beauty
6. The Confession
7. The Kalahari Typing School for Men
8. The Admirer
Whilst the script is basic and slow, a la Janet and John, and many phrases are routinely reused: Bush tea, 97%, traditionally shaped, it is actors that make this audio-drama enjoyable. Told with such warmth, this a friendly, comfortable and easy listen.
And a quick look at Wikipedia states there are 33 No.1 Ladies Detective agency stories, so hopefully we’ll see some more No.1 Ladies casebooks added to Audible in the near future.
7 people found this helpful
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- J M BATE
- 12-03-18
No 1 ladies detective agency
I enjoyed this book so very much. There’s something so special about Alexander McCall Smith’s humour and wisdom. He has a gentle twinkle in his eye when telling the story through Clare Benedict. If you are feeling a little low, overworked or just on holiday needing a good book, I could not recommend this series highly enough. I love the traditional music and the ambiance. All the characters ring true and one can tell that the author has lived in Botswana, knows the country, it’s people, and regards them with deep affection. I cannot wait to read the next series.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kate.
- 04-04-20
A humorous, uplifting read
Brilliant characterisation and excellent story telling full of gentle humour. Beautifully read by a full cast. The perfect book to listen to.
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- Gordon I.
- 12-03-20
Wonderful entertainment for the car
My wife and I loved listening to this slow paced detective in the car. All the characters you meet are entertaining and the story keeps you interested throughout the audio book.
The actual audio is perfect and there is no difficulty understanding what is being said over the road noses experienced on most British roads.
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- M.Clark
- 04-12-19
Gripping detective stories
I've listened to a few of these short detective stories before..they're cleverly written and scripted by A McCall Smith..unusual setting for mysteries in Botswana near the Calahari desert..some plots are routine while others are quite gripping..if you like the first..you wont want to miss the next 3..worth every penny of my monthly subscription..specs
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- Steph H
- 29-09-19
Such a wonderful listen
This was just delightful to listen to. And I'm so pleased that the author also wrote the dramatisation as then it was as close to the original story as could be possible.
The characters are wonderfully written and the actors do a brilliant job of bringing them to life. Can't wait to listen to more.
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- Scruffy1
- 14-02-19
Feel good at it’s best.
Great relaxing listen. Excellent atmospheric dramatization. Enjoyed it enormously. The music added a n uplift to the narrative.
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- A twisted crown of thorns!
- 28-12-18
I am Botswanized!
Good witty detective work with a good dose of Botswana and red bush tea. Nothing can beat that combination on a weekend.
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- Katie
- 01-09-19
Calming
I am an avid Audible listener with a very, very busy mind. This series is one that helps bring a kind of peace to my head 😁. Beautifully performed with loving and heartfelt story lines. All the characters are charming and the music is uplifting. I watched this show and this dramatization is equally good, if not better! I thoroughly recommend this series.
10 people found this helpful
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- L. Headley
- 22-07-17
Not The Best Interpretation
Having read (and loved) all the books in this series, heard them all (and loved Lisette Lecat's reading), and watched every episode of the (all too brief) television series based on the books, I am probably too big a fan for this dramatization. It is a truncated, watered-down version of several of the stories I already know and love.
Also, while I am far from being an expert in African accents, I found the variety of accents in the production distracting. They didn't sound like the Botswana accents I've heard before--they seemed more like generic African accents.
If this is your first introduction to the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency stories, or if it's all you have time for, then get it. It's certainly better than no Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency stories! But I think that any one of the original books is a richer, more rewarding listening (or reading) experience.
17 people found this helpful
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- Lillybet
- 19-05-19
Irresistibly Good Yarn!
For those people who like good ambiance, likable characters, comfort and intrigue, this story is for you! The story unfolds like a weekly serial and one you can count on for comfort, like a favorite sweater or a cup of hot cocoa. Well dramatised. Great theme song!
3 people found this helpful
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- Diana
- 28-11-17
Vignettes of the stories in the books
I read an unhappy review of this series of BBC radio shows based on the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, but bought the audio book anyway. Letting the negative tone of the review affect my listening, the first show was terrible! awful! how could anyone destroy the perfection of this series?
Fortunately, I listened next to the second, then third, then fourth, etc. and eased into the entirely different angle these little stories played out. Yes, there is less of the inner talk and inner examinations of people, events, and ethics than in the books. But look at how many hours just one book has to allow for detail.
The actors do a great job - although I love the way the women actors allow for kindness to come through, while a couple of the male actors seemed to be overly harsh - which isn't in the books.
As I came around to this new portrayal of the series, I began to enjoy the experience. And after I finished I went back to the first in the series, with a completely different attitude and understanding of what this program is . . . . and I loved it.
I looked up this BBC program and it appears there are more in the series - I hope Audible will include them soon.
9 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 23-05-21
Surprisingly sexist
Men's spheres and women's spheres are repeatedly separated, men are all bad at some things, no woman could possibly be involved in a murder. Since this is a radio adaption, these are coming through in what the characters are explicitly saying to each other.
The little mysteries are fine, but most of the story actually focuses on the relationships. Maybe it's because this is a radio adaption, but the relationships are clumsy and unrealistic.
Beautiful performance though -- kudos to the actors!
1 person found this helpful
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- MJ
- 15-05-21
Great recap of the book series!
I loved reading each individual book of the series, but this audio version is a great way to revisit the highlights.
1 person found this helpful
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- NICOLE
- 04-08-22
Must hear***
If you love to listening to case solving mystery… it’s a must tune in… it’s not a complex mystery meaning you can kinda speculate who behind the crime, but I love it… plus I love the culture including Content…
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- Aircarrot
- 07-05-22
excellent acting of a boring story
this story is just deadly dull and boring. it's very well acted with fun sound effects. but that is not enough to salvage the boring storyline.
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- John
- 26-10-20
Read Unabridged Novels First
The cast and sound quality are excellent but the story is missing a lot here from editing. To get the best of both, read or listen to the full novels first and then is dramatisation. Well worth it!
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- Anonymous User
- 12-08-20
Wonderful book
We watched the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency television show & loved it. I was so happy to find these radio recordings of the books as I do not care for the reader of the regular audiobooks. This version is wonderful & sounds so much more authentic.