ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH
The Miracle at Speedy Motors
(Pantheon, $21.95)

The ninth adventure of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency finds Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's leading -- and only -- female private detective, confronted by anonymous letters threatening her and her prickly assistant, Grace Makutsi. Publishers Weekly said this "triumphant" addition to the series "will intrigue old fans" with "significant developments in the lives of the community Smith has lovingly created"; at the same time, this entry should prove "immediately accessible to newcomers ... (and) will prompt them to seek out the earlier books." The author will also sign Love Over Scotland, the third in the 44 Scotland Street series; Kirkus called it "...irresistible".