Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

Written by Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by Lisette Lecat

The 10th entry in the internationally best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series finds Precious Ramotswe investigating a mystery that hits close to home. In this latest installment in the endlessly entertaining series, Precious Ramotswe faces problems both personal and professional. The first is the potential demise of an old friend, her tiny white van. Recently, it has developed a rather troubling knock, but she dare not consult the estimable Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni for fear he may condemn the vehicle. Meanwhile, her talented assistant Mma Makutsi is plagued by the reappearance of her nemesis, Violet Sephotho, who has taken a job at the Double Comfort Furniture store whose proprietor is none other than Phuti Radiphuti, Mma Makutsi's fiancE. Finally, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency has been hired to explain the unexpected losing streak of a local football club, the Kalahari Swoopers. But with Mma Ramotswe on the case, it seems certain that everything will be resolved satisfactorily.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 24, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440718090

Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the award-winning series The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and he now devotes his time to the writing of fiction, including the 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie series. He is the author of over eighty books on a wide array of subjects, and his work has been translated into forty-six languages. Before becoming a full-time writer he was for many years Professor of Medical Law at Edinburgh.

Reviews for Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

[gmathis_7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Change is a troubling thing, especially when it involves the demise of a little white van that has lovingly carried you all over Botswana---Mma Ramotswe is dealing with the loss of her well-loved little vehicle. At the same time, Mma Makutsi discovers her archenemy, Violet, has snagged a job at the Double Comfort furniture store...in the proximity of her fiancee! Oh, yes, and there's a mystery too--what's happening to cause the local football team to lose matches? As always, the mystery is secondary to the quirky happenings at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and and always, it doesn't matter...a wonderful, cozy read!

[Francois Pretorius · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read when one needs to escape today’s stressful environment, yet still has the need of mysteries to be solved by a compassionate detective.

[bohemima · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Precious Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi continue to work through the problems of others—and a few of their own.There’s not much action in this series; the plot certainly isn’t the thing here. These books are all about the several main characters trying their best to live good lives and do their jobs. It sounds deadly dull in this age of chilling thrillers, but it’s no such thing. The series is a gentle reflection on a life well-lived, with humor and consideration for the needs of others.This was like an oasis in the present desert of anger and hate. I loved the book and am grateful to McCall Smith for giving this reader a welcome relief.

[newsieq · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Precious Ramotswe and her associate Grace Makutsi are in over their heads when they take on a client who owns a football (soccer) team. The team has talent, but they are losing more games than the owner thinks they should. He believes there's a traitor on the team and he wants the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency to find out just who it is. Precious is convinced (not entirely) by her husband that her old and infirm white van is history. He finds her a replacement but it's not the same ... and she's trying to find a way to get her old van back, despite the fact that's it's been sold.Mma Makutsi has problems of her own. Her nemesis from secretarial school -- the vacuous and conniving Violet Sephotho -- tries to steal her fiance. This tenth book in a lovely and super-cozy series is just what fans want: a sweet, gentle story that highlights the best in people; a resolution that ties everything up nicely; a vacation from the real world.01/19/2010

[kblinn_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ahhh!!! Few things rate higher with me than the latest installment of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. While the mysteries may be few and inconsequential in these books, the words of wisdom and way of life are always profound. And then, there's the ever-looming presence of Botswana. All of our favorite characters return in this book, and there are new things to be learned about each. Brew a cup of tea, relax and enjoy this wonderful book. It was worth the wait!

[drfuriosa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mma Ramotswe solves a case related to football, Violet Sepotho resurfaces, and we find out that the younger apprentice is named Fanwell! All is well in Gaborone.

[matke-261098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Precious Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi continue to work through the problems of others—and a few of their own.There’s not much action in this series; the plot certainly isn’t the thing here. These books are all about the several main characters trying their best to live good lives and do their jobs. It sounds deadly dull in this age of chilling thrillers, but it’s no such thing. The series is a gentle reflection on a life well-lived, with humor and consideration for the needs of others.This was like an oasis in the present desert of anger and hate. I loved the book and am grateful to McCall Smith for giving this reader a welcome relief.

[lkernagh · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An okay read but not as entertaining as some of the previous books in the series have been. I do enjoy the reoccurring characters - in particular, Violet Sephotho - as providing some intrigue to these stories. While Mma Ramotswe's musings are usually enjoyable, I am starting to find her decisions to not adapt with the times to be a bit tiring, like clinging to a vehicle for sentimental reasons when it is obviously on its last legs is not the best decision to make. I did enjoy the excitement young Puso displays at going to see the Kalahari Swoopers game with Mma Ramotswe and the use Mma Ramotswe makes of the observant nature of children as she works on the case. Overall, an okay read but not one of the better stories in the series.

[bragan_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ten books into the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and I'm still finding it as warm and lovely as ever. This time, we finally get to know something about the life of the character formerly known as The Apprentice Who Is Not Charlie, mourn with Precious Ramotswe as she faces what looks like the end of her beloved little white van, and watch Grace Makutsi seething over the fact that her fiancé has hired her man-stealing nemesis to work in his furniture store. Oh, and there's also some investigation, of course, as the owner of a soccer team hires the ladies to find who is sabotaging his team so they keep losing. But, as always, the plot, such as it is, is far less the focus than the characters, the ups and downs of their lives, their endearing human foibles, their heart-warming basic decency, and their gentle musings on the human condition.Interestingly, many of said musings, even more in this book than in previous ones, involve the nature and roles and differing interests of men and women, a subject I usually find unbearably annoying. But Mma Ramotswe's thoughts on the matter, somehow, offend me not at all, perhaps because they're less about lazy stereotypes and more about very real-feeling observations, and because she is always careful not to present those generalizations as absolutes. That, I suppose, and because the women always come out of it well.Anyway. This series remains marvelous comfort reading for me.

[raizel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Once again, a very formal, delicate style of writing with lots of internal dialogue of Precious Ramotswe and her assistant, Grace Makutsi, as they think deeply and seriously about many mundane things. Reminiscent of Smith's Isabel Dalhousie series.

[inorris-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just love this series.

[kaitanya64 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was a little disappointed by this book. I've loved the rest of this series, but it may be that I'm just growing a little tired of the characters' lack of growth. The "mysteries" in this particular installment seemed trite and overly simple, no element of surprise and no red herrings. But it is a cheerful, light read. Maybe I'm just asking too much.

[andrew1theqm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very entertaining book in the cozy and comfortable series. These books are so easy going that you can't help enjoying them, it is like being back with long lost friends. The main mystery in this one is very light revolving around why a football team is always losing and whether there is a traitor in amongst the team. The mysteries in these books are almost secondary to life in Botswana as told by Mma Ramotswe. This book is worth reading alone for the reaction she had to her dying little van. Can't wait to be back with the characters in the next book.

[jepeters333 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When her husband sells her increasingly problematic van and replaces it with a new but ordinary vehicle, Precious Ramotswe sets out, searching all about Botswana, to find her beloved van. Meanwhile, the other ladies of the detective agency find themselves in a slew of personal professional quandaries.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency has a case to solve that truly puzzles them. The owner of the local football team is concerned that there is a traitor on the team who is purposely throwing the games; they had been quite successful but now they are losing to inferior teams. Mma Precious Ramotswe and Mma Grace Makutsi may not know anything about football – that is something men like – but they do know about shoes, and this knowledge will serve them well.

There is the usual personal drama as well – the beloved tiny white van is making a very bad noise, and Violet Sephotho is once again messing in Grace Makutsi’s business.

I love these gentle “mysteries” set in Botswana. Smith’s love of the country, its people and culture is evident in the way he talks about the landscape and the customs. The books are simply delightful.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another enjoyable installment in the Mma Ramotswe series. I'm not sure but Joe and I may have listed to this as an audio book and it worked very well. I remember bits and pieces of this one and it's more than 5 years since I read it. The series held up very well over the years.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Precious Ramotswe, proprietor of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, takes on an unusual case for the owner of a football team. Once the best football team in Botswana, the Kalahari Swoopers are on a prolonged losing streak. The owner believes someone on the team is deliberately causing the team to lose. It's Mma Ramotswe's job to find out who. She will need help from her assistant, Grace Makutsi, to interview the many team members in a timely fashion. However, Mma Makutsi is distracted by her nemesis from the Botswana Secretarial College, Violet Sephotho, who has just been hired by Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti, to sell beds in his Double Comfort Furniture Shop. Mma Ramotswe must also deal with the loss of her beloved white van.Nothing much happens in these gentle African mysteries, yet I find these books difficult to put down once I start reading. Precious Ramotswe's musings about her beloved Botswana, her late father Obed Ramotswe, and human nature in general, always remind me of the non-material blessings I enjoy in my own small corner of the world – health, a comfortable home, a supportive family, good friends and neighbors, and the companionship of my sweet dog.

[bibliophileofalls · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the best Alexander McCall Smith books I have read. So comfortable to read. So charming. Makes me want to read another very soon

[liciasings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful, insightful, uplifting - as always :) An easy, feel-good page turner.

[jo3jo_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This installment of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is definitely one of my favorites out of the series to date. Many may categorize these books as mystery novels, but they do not fall into that category for me. These are sweet novels, full of guidance and morality that keep a smile on my face during most of the book.There were not many mysteries for the detectives to solve in this installment, but there is plenty of action in the lives of Mma Makutsi and Mma Ramotswe. Grace is still keeping the secret of the ruined bed from the previous novel, but her newest problem is the appearance of her archenemy from the Secretarial College. When Violet is hired at Phudi's shop to work in the mattress department, Grace knows she has other intentions. It doesn't take the detectives long to figure this one out at all!As Mma Ramotswe works on her latest cases she also must accept that her tiny white van has seen better days. When her husband decides that the white van should be put out to pasture, he surprises her with a new van. Mma Ramotswe has difficulty reconciling with her feelings as her white van has helped her through so many difficult times. She has no choice but to say good-bye to a lifelong friend. But I won't be surprised if the van makes an appearance in a future segment of the series.If you are looking for a mystery that is full of suspense, murder, and action, then this book is not for you. But if you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, smile, and just feel happy while reading, then I highly suggest this one. With themes of honesty, friendship, and family, this novel was an enjoyment to read. I highly recommend this book for personal leisure or as a book club discussion.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What is that saying? The more things change, the more they stay the same. When we catch up to Mma Ramotswe and the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Mma Ramotswe is now still at the agency but she is now married to Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Her assistant, Mma Matekutsi is still at the agency (although there is no mention of her typing school) and she is engaged to a well-to-do furniture salesman. The big drama lies with Mma Matekuts. She has a competitor, another woman trying to steal her fiance away with immoral tactics. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe's home life is doing well with the exception of her beloved tiny white van. As it becomes older it gets harder and harder to fix. She soon begins to hide the troubles from Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni for fear he will tell her to get rid of it. It seems unusual for Mma Ramotswe to love the tiny white van as much as she does but she considers it part of the family and goes to great lengths to keep it around. The one "mystery" of the book involves an always-losing football team. The manager is convinced someone is a traitor and losing games on purpose. Mma Ramotswe has been hired to find the culprit, which of course, she does.

[purlewe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As always Mma takes on the forces in Botswana and comes thru them wiser and in better shape. These books make me wish to visit Botswana one day and love it as much as the author does.

I liked the whole story, but refuse to give away plot points. All of them are jewels.

[sriemann_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interestingly, I do not like the three other series that McCall Smith write. Somehow, this series, its characters, setting, and style - it's just perfect. Reading them relaxes me, and every chapter or so, I'll come upon a passage or sentence that takes my mind off the page and into further contemplation. There're always parts that I _have_ to share with someone because they're funny, poignant, etc. Perhaps the writing style matches the setting and characters, and Botswana's pace and mood create a beautiful book.

[dramman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another charming, entertaining collection of stories featuring Mma Ramotswe and the cast of characters in the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

[creighley_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Following in the usual tradition of Precious Ramotswe, this is another calm, humorous tale of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The problem is that the owner of the local professional soccer team is convinced that someone on his team is deliberately causing his team to lose the games. He hires Precious to find out who that might be. In the meantime, Mma Makutsi's nenesis, Violet Sephotho, has managed to get a job working for Mma Makutsi's finance, Phuti Radiphuti. Violet has her eyes on Phuti, a man of means.

[neale_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good story in this consistent series. Two main characters both face challenges and get help in solving the mystery and the challenges.

[noofy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My favourite bit of this book was the scene where Mma Ramotswe is worried about Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni coming home late from work. Her love for him is something that is never specifically addressed before, being implied rather than spelt out, and the scene where she rushes from the car to greet him was very touching.The book itself as a whole was different from the others in the series. The cases that Mma Ramotswe solves are both slightly anti-climactic in their endings, fizzling out in a rather rushed manner. The focus in the book is more on exploring relationships so the cases are naturally given a back seat; however you are left feeling that the book should be longer in order to fully detail the cases. Again, other characters are given development - Mma Makutsi continues to have some chapters told from her point of view (the weakest parts in my opinion as I struggle to like her character), and it is nice to get some insight into the character of the second apprentice. I get the impression that his story will be addressed again in future.However, this slight shortfall doesn't ruin the book and this is a nice continuation of a very enjoyable series.

[isabelx_21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For her part, Mma Ramotswe did not stand on ceremony; nor did she try to give anybody the impression that the business was larger and grander than it really was. “People will judge us by our results,” she said to Mma Makutsi. “Results are the important thing.”Mma Makutsi contemplated this. “That is a pity, Mma,” she observed. “Because our results are sometimes not very good.”Mma Ramotswe shook her head. “But I think they are, Mma. Sometimes we do not find out exactly what clients want, but we find out what they need to know. There is a difference, you know.”Mma Ramotswe is hired by the owner of a local football team the Kalahari Swoopers to find out why his team are no longer winning, while the devious Violet Sephotho takes a job in the bed department at Phuti Rhadiphuti's furniture shop, leaving Mma Makutsi distraught at the thought that Violet is planning to steal her fianceIf you've been enjoying this series, you need to read this book, even if it's only to discover the name of the younger apprentice at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors.

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The 10th book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series involves Mma Ramotswe's tiny white van making strange noises, Mma Makutsi's engagement threaten by the employment of Violet Sephotho at Phuti Radiphuti's furniture store, and a football team that might have a member fixing the games. The series seems to have devolved into more of a story about the characters' lives than a mystery. There was always a strong character element in these books, but this book had only the one mystery (the football team) and much of the book did not concern itself with this. While I enjoy these delightful characters and finding out more about them (like finally learning that the younger apprentice's name is Fanwell), I would like more of the mystery aspect to remain. I guess McCall Smith wants to keep the books relatively short though. The audiobook version has an excellent narrator and kept me entertained while driving, and I’ll move on to the next in the series.

[sarah1e · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the more family-centered books of the series. Precious' love for her husband seems to almost catch her off guard when he is called out of town. Her relationship with Puso has improved since the Hoopoe incident a few books back. What I found most compelling was her devotion to her father and his traditional values. Her sentimentality is strong as she thinks about the good man he was, and as she goes so far to keep her tiny white van. I got the impression that she was doing it to hang on to a bit of her father. As always, life in Botswana is scandalous and mysterious, and Mma Ramotswe takes cases in stride.