The book is part of a collection of novels collectively titled The First Ladies Detective Agency, “the most hilarious series of crime novels, full of human warmth,” as the Times called it. The founder and owner of the First Ladies Detective Agency in Botswana is Ma Ramotswe, who, with her colleague Ma Makutsi, solves the problems of her clients over a cup of rooibos tea. These are not major crimes, but the personal hardships of the people who turn to the agency for help. Ma Ramotswe tackles them with sensitivity, insight, intuition, wisdom and human warmth. Ma Ramotswe is of a stronger build and in this book she contemplates losing weight, while Ma Makutsi can finally afford blue shoes – although uncomfortable, they symbolize her happiness, because for the first time in her life she was able to afford something more than the bare necessities of survival. A relaxing but sensitive story with a lot of friendly humor.