From a Far and Lovely Country: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (24) -- Alexander

<b>In this latest installment in Alexander McCall Smith's cherished No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, two confounding cases compete for Mma Ramotswe's attention--and she may need to call in back up. <p/>"An escape from life's woes as well as a suggestion for how to make the whole deal more palatable--fragility, fruit cake, and all." <i>--The Boston Globe</i></b> <p/>Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni are enjoying a nice meal out at a peri-peri restaurant when an American woman named Julia approaches seeking Mma Ramotswe's help. Julia's beloved late grandfather was Botswanan, and he instilled in her an abiding love of his homeland. Now, years after his passing, Julia has come to visit the land he had spoken of so often and to find her relatives. Unfortunately, her grandfather's stories, while charming and entertaining, were somewhat light on detail; all Julia can remember are a few first names and some descriptions of his village. It's not a lot to go on, but if anyone is well poised to help, it's Mma Ramotswe, Botswana's premier detective. <p/>Meanwhile, a second case leads Mma Ramotswe to look for assistance from an unexpected quarter. For the first time, Charlie leads his own investigation at the detective agency, going undercover into a dubious, word-of-mouth get-together known as the Cool Singles Evening Club, where married men are encouraged to pretend to be single and meet women under false pretenses. Who could be behind such a distasteful venture? Getting to th