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 enlarge | Author: Alexander Mccall Smith
Publisher: Pantheon
Category: Book
List Price: $22.95
Buy New: $12.00
You Save: $10.95 (48%)
New (55) Collectible (3) from $12.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  69 reviews
Sales Rank: 526
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.2
ISBN: 0375424482
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780375424489
ASIN: 0375424482
Publication Date: April 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW - EXCEPTIONAL VALUE - EXCELLENT BUY
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| Customer Reviews:
 Blessings June 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is latest in a series that starts with "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency." Every book is delightful. You can read the last three paragraphs of this book and find out what the miracles are. There are several. But, instead, start the series at its beginning, and every time you feel depressed, read a book in the series. Besides feeling better, you will have learned a little about the culture and history of Botswana. What a painless way to learn!
 Series is not yet tired... June 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The real mystery in this series is how the author manages to continue the charming adventures of Precious Ramotswe, Grace Makutsi and Mr. JLB Matekoni well past the original seven volumes he had originally intended. Now on Book #9, McCall still manages to breathe new life into his characters, even if they still maintain habitual bush tea drinking or conversations with their shoes!
One of the gifts or major frustrations of this series (depending on your preference) is the slow rate of character development (at least in terms of their interpersonal relationships). While Mma Potokwane can still be relied upon to supply fruitcake and charm Mr. JLB Matekoni into doing odd jobs, other characters begin to grow and mature, even if only by inches. The changes are subtle, but this is what keeps readers coming back for yet another volume.
I have to admit to skipping over some of the repetitions (Smith writes so that you can pick up any volume in the series, but I do recommend reading them in order) but I found the plot coherency better in this book than in the Good Husband of Zebra Drive, for example. There is still a sense that perhaps he sets up too many loose ends and feels a pressure near the end to tie them up, but it doesn't detract from the general enjoyment of the novel.
Another enjoyable visit to Botswana June 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Smith's Ladies' Detective Agency books always feel like a nice visit with a good friend. The characters are interesting and the pace of the book is leisurely.
I'm sure will be as entertaining as the others June 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This one I'm sure will be as entertaining as the others. Have read all the others and will keep reading them if he writes more.
 Series is starting to lose its fizz with this entry June 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As much as I adore this series, Miracle is not one of its best. I feel like Smith is getting somewhat bored with these characters and is having a hard time mining them and the setting for new ideas.
Mostly, Miracle rehashes the same peculiarities of the characters we have all come to know and love, but without that extra surprise or fizz the other novels contain. It reminded me of when Star Trek, at the end of its run, ran out of ideas and simply relied on the same cutesy mannerisms and eccentricities of the characters to fill in creative gaps in the story.
For the No. 1 Detective novels to stay fresh, Andrew McCall Smith must come up with some new characters or plot twists that compel big changes in the existing characters. Otherwise I'm afraid it's going to be doomed to covering the same gound over and over again - Mma Ramotswe's tea ritual, her assistant's shoe fetish, etc.- until it dies of its own inertia.
My other quibble with this novel is that there was not enough closure to the subplot of the unethical doctor who treated the daughter. Why no follow-up on this doctor? Smith carefully painted a portrait of this gent and then just dropped the subject.
I love this series and buy the latest additions to it as soon as they appear, but I'm worried it's slowing to a halt.
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