The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 27 books · 1998 to 2026 · Set in Gaborone

Alexander McCall Smith

Crime and mysteryPrivate eyeCosy and comic

Precious Ramotswe, “traditionally built”, opens Botswana’s first female-run detective agency in Gaborone, solving small mysteries with kindness and bush tea alongside her assistant, later co-director, Grace Makutsi.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. McCall Smith’s other series are left out.

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Alexander McCall Smith books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

27 books · Set in GaboroneCosy and comicPrivate eye
  1. 1The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency1998With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Tears of the Giraffe2000With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Morality for Beautiful Girls2001With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  4. 4The Kalahari Typing School for Men2002With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  5. 5The Full Cupboard of Life2003With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  6. 6In the Company of Cheerful Ladies2004With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  7. 7Blue Shoes and Happiness2006With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  8. 8The Good Husband of Zebra Drive2007With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  9. 9The Miracle at Speedy Motors2008With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  10. 10Tea Time for the Traditionally Built2009With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  11. 11The Double Comfort Safari Club2010With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  12. 12The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party2010With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  13. 13The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection2012With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  14. 14The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon2013With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  15. 15The Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café2014With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  16. 16The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine2015With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  17. 17Precious and Grace2016With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  18. 18The House of Unexpected Sisters2017With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  19. 19The Colours of All the Cattle2018With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  20. 20To the Land of Long Lost Friends2019With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  21. 21How to Raise an Elephant2020With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  22. 22The Joy and Light Bus Company2021With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  23. 23A Song of Comfortable Chairs2022With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  24. 24From a Far and Lovely Country2023With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  25. 25The Great Hippopotamus Hotel2024With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  26. 26In the Time of Five Pumpkins2025With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon
  27. 27The Big Cats Dance Party2026With Precious RamotsweBuy on Amazon

Characters

9 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Gaborone

Grace Makutsi

Ramotswe’s assistant, later co-director, proud of her 97% exam score

27 books · 1998 to 2026First appears in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Buy the first book

J.L.B. Matekoni

Mechanic, owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Ramotswe’s husband

27 books · 1998 to 2026First appears in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Buy the first book