Alexander McCall Smith. The Great Hippopotamus Hotel. Pantheon 2024. No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

For those who are fans of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency stories, The Great Hippopotamus Hotel will fit in comfortably. In some ways, indeed, the stories of Precious Ramotswe and her Botswanan detective agency are comfort food, like Mma Potokwane’s fruit cakes.

As is typical of these stories, there are actually two plots, one a mystery to solve, the other one simply a problem to deal with.

First, a customer of Speedy Motors has asked Mr. J. L. B. Maketone to import a fancy Italian sports car for him. This is something Mr. M can do well, except that the customer does not want his wife to find out about it. There is a farcical element to this story, with the car taking the place of an illicit girlfriend or boyfriend.

The mystery hinted in the title has taken place at the Great Hippopotamus Hotel. This rural resort has suddenly had a number of strange occurences including scorpions and snakes in different rooms and some guests getting food poisoning. One such event might be simply a accident that could happen anywhere, but with a number coming in succession, it looks like it could be sabotage. Indeed, when Mma Ramotswe goes to the hotel to make inquiries, she comes down with some food poisoning herself.

Since she is laid up for five days, her agency partner Grace Makutsi takes over. Readers understand what that can mean. Grace is perceptive in many ways, but has no sense of what impression she makes on others. Readers are tempted to say, “Grace, shut up!” or “Mma Makutsi, don’t do that!” The author has a great sense of irony; Grace has no idea what irony is. As is also often the case with Grace, her old nemesis Violet Sephoto seems to lurk in the background, another factor that may distort her vision. And I believe few people would anticipate the plot twist that sends the investigation in a wholly different direction.

Still, with the help of some new friends and old friends, the two ladies are able to solve the problem and settle any messes that may have been made along the way. Once again, readers cannot help but smile.