What is the name of the detective agency in Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency?

The detective agency in Alexander McCall Smith’s novel is called the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

The agency is founded in Gaborone, Botswana, by Precious Ramotswe, the series’ principal detective. The first novel, “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” was published in 1998. Ramotswe uses observation, conversation, local knowledge, and practical judgment to investigate cases involving missing people, suspected infidelity, fraud, and family disputes.

The title is deliberately direct and reflects Ramotswe’s pride in establishing Botswana’s first women-owned detective agency. The stories emphasize community relationships and ethical choices as much as conventional mystery plotting. Botswana’s landscape, institutions, and social life are integral to the series.

The phrase “No. 1” is part of the official agency name, not a ranking that changes from case to case. The book began a large series of novels and was adapted into a television series that premiered in 2008, with Jill Scott playing Precious Ramotswe.