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In partnership with East City Bookshop

Precious Ramotswe takes on an interesting but sensitive case and learns valuable lessons along the way in this new installment of the beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

Hill Center is thrilled to welcome treasured mystery writer, Alexander McCall Smith, author of the exceedingly popular No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, to celebrate the publication of his latest book, THE GREAT HIPPOPOTAMUS HOTEL.

Mma Ramotswe has a deft hand in delicate cases, and never allows an act of injustice to pass unanswered. So, when it comes to her attention that a matter involving dubious motives has arisen, and that it will require the utmost discretion to resolve, she has no choice but to lend her skills in the arts of detection and reconciliation. She is, after all, head of Botswana’s premier detective agency, but that doesn’t mean she can’t use the help of Mma Makutsi and Mma Potokwane. Meanwhile, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has found himself in complicated circumstances of his own, requiring not a little of Mma Ramotswe’s time and expertise.

In the end, as each of these predicaments comes untangled, Mma Ramotswe draws on her goodwill and generosity to bring important truths to light: of friendship, honesty, and love.

ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH is the author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels and of a number of other series and stand-alone books. His works have been translated into more than forty languages and have been best sellers throughout the world. He lives in Scotland.

SUJATA MASSEY was born in England to parents from India and Germany. She’s written 16 novels that are a mélange of mystery and history and focus on Asia cultural history and women’s rights. Sujata’s first mystery series numbers eleven books that are narrated by the character Rei Shimura, a decorative art dealer in contemporary Tokyo. Her second series set in 1920s Bombay is comprised of four novels featuring her protagonist Perveen Mistry, a female solicitor inspired by actual women lawyers in British colonial India. Her books are published in 20 countries overseas and have won the Agatha, Macavity, Mary Higgins Clark and Lefty awards for mystery fiction. Her most recent book is The Mistress of Bhatia House, which won the Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery of 2023 and is a Macavity nominee.

PLEASE NOTE:  Alexander McCall Smith will happily sign all books purchased on-site, or previously at East City Bookshop (please bring a receipt) and one other. Sujata Massey will sign her books as well.