The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Books in Order
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series of books by Alexander McCall Smith
Publication order
In the order the books were originally released.
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Buy on AmazonThe No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
1998 · Alexander McCall Smith
This first novel in Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series follows Precious Ramotswe, a clever and engaging woman who…
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2000 · Alexander McCall Smith
Tears of the Giraffe is the second book in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. Set in Botswana, the novel follows…
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Buy on Amazon2001 · Alexander McCall Smith
Published in 1998, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency introduced Precious Ramotswe, the confident and witty owner of Botswana's only detective…
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Buy on AmazonThe Kalahari Typing School for Men
2002 · Alexander McCall Smith
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a bestselling series featuring Mma Precious Ramotswe, a confident and skilled detective in Botswana. In the…
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Buy on Amazon2003 · Alexander McCall Smith
This book is the fifth in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. It takes place in Gaborone, Botswana, and follows Mma Ramotswe and her friends.…
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In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
2004 · Alexander McCall Smith
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies is the sixth book in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. The novel is set in…
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Buy on Amazon2006 · Alexander McCall Smith
In the seventh book of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the office of Precious Ramotswe is disturbed by the unexpected presence of a cobra.…
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The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
2007 · Alexander McCall Smith
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive is the eighth book in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. The novel is set in…
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Buy on Amazon2008 · Alexander McCall Smith
In the latest book of the series, Precious Ramotswe continues her work as a detective, helping people with their problems while enjoying life's…
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Buy on AmazonTea time for the traditionally built
2009 · Alexander McCall Smith
The latest book in the best-selling series follows Precious Ramotswe as she faces personal challenges. Her tiny white van makes a strange noise, and…
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Buy on AmazonThe Double Comfort Safari Club
2010 · Alexander McCall Smith
In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's beloved series, Precious Ramotswe faces challenges involving mistaken identity and unexpected…
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Buy on AmazonThe Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party
2011 · Alexander McCall Smith
Precious and Grace set out to reclaim a van that appeared in a prophetic dream. Along the way, they assist an apprentice of Phuti Radiphuti in…
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Buy on AmazonThe Limpopo Academy of Private Detection
2012 · Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe returns in a 2012 novel by Alexander McCall Smith. She is called to solve a mysterious disciplinary issue at her adopted daughter's…
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Buy on AmazonThe Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon
2013 · Alexander McCall Smith
The latest book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series follows Mma Ramotswe as she investigates problems at the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon.…
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The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café
2014 · Alexander McCall Smith
The Handsome Man's De Luxe Café is the fifteenth mystery novel in the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, published in…
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Buy on AmazonThe Woman Who Walked in Sunshine
2015 · Alexander McCall Smith
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency experiences a rare lull in business, prompting Precious Ramotswe to take a much-needed holiday. While on holiday,…
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2017 · Alexander McCall Smith
Precious and Grace is a 2017 book by Alexander McCall Smith. It is book 17 of the series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
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Buy on AmazonThe House Of Unexpected Sisters
2017 · Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe, the protagonist of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, investigates a case involving a woman wrongfully fired from her job.…
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Buy on Amazon2025 · Alexander McCall Smith
In this newest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe takes on a number of perplexing…
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The Big Cats Dance Party📅 Expected Sep 15, 2026
In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi volunteer for an important…
Read more →✓ = numbering verified against the publisher's official series list.
📅 = publisher-announced release date; subject to change. All upcoming releases →
Recommended reading order
- Buy on Amazon
- Buy on Amazon
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- Buy on Amazon
- Buy on Amazon
- Buy on Amazon
2025 · Alexander McCall Smith
In this newest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe takes on a number of perplexing…
Read more →
Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books in?
Read them in publication order, starting with “The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency”. Both the publication order and the recommended reading order are listed above.
How many books are in the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series?
We list 25 books by Alexander McCall Smith , published between 1998–2025.
When is the next The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book released?
The next book is “The Big Cats Dance Party”, expected Sep 15, 2026. That is the publisher's announced date and can change; this page updates when it does.
Where can I buy the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books?
Each title above links to Amazon. See our affiliate disclosure.
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Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.