How to Raise an Elephant

image from Amazon

How to Raise an Elephant is the 21st book in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. These are almost soothing in their ability to settle you into the environment with characters you've grown to know and love. They are high on relationships and light on mystery. Because the characters develop over time the books should be read in order. There's a delightful and perfectly cast TV adaptation that for some strange reason lasted only 1 season.

from the back of the book:

Precious Ramotswe loves her dependable old van. Yes, it sometimes takes a bit longer to get going now, but it has always gotten the job done. This time, though, the world -and Charlie- may be asking too much of it. After borrowing the beloved vehicle, he returns it damaged, and, to make matters worse, the interior seems to have acquired an earthy smell that even Precious can't identify.

On addition Mma Ramotswe is confronted by a distant relative, Blessing, who asks for help with an ailing cousin. The help requested is of a distinctively pecuniary nature, which makes both J>L>B> Matekoni and Mma Makutse a little uncomfortable. Still. Mma Ramotswe is confident that through kindness, grace, and logic -and the counsel of her friends and loved ones- the solutions to all these difficulties are there to be discovered.

Publishers Weekly calls it "leisurely" and says, "Series fans will be charmed, as usual..."