Africa

Africa is referred to several times throughout the narrative as being troubled in many ways (economically, socially, politically, militarily) but still a beautiful place to live and a trigger, for many of the characters, of a powerful sense of home and identity.

Botswana

The novel is set in this relatively new African republic, its sense of progressiveness and integrity serving as a source of both pride and inspiration for Mma Ramotswe.

Gaborone

Gaborone is Botswana's capital city, a relatively prosperous and progressive community in which the novel's two main business establishments, the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, have been established.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The Agency, established and run by Mma Ramotswe, is the only female-run detective agency in Botswana, and perhaps even in Africa. It specializes in relatively small, but nonetheless personally significant, investigations.

Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors

This garage, owned...