This was a nice, cozy mystery almost literally because of the comfy chair on the cover. You have to read it to find out how Precious Ramotswe helps her friend's husband's business with the help of another friend. Also, Grace Makutsi's friend's son is giving the friend trouble and they all pitch in to help with the help of a drama teacher. ( )

There are signs of trouble in Mma Ramotswe's normally peaceful world. Mr. J.L.B.Matekoni made the disturbing suggestion that, with equality between the sexes now, there's no reason for her detective agency to be called the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Mma Makutsi has ordered new stationery for the agency, with the letterhead redone in a way that could suggest to some that Mma Makutsi has somewhat higher qualifications than Mma Ramotswe. She also appears to be ordering a new, larger desk.

But Mma Makutsi is her friend, and when she learns of the troubles Grace Makuti's husband, Phuti Radiphuti, owner of the Double Comfort Furniture Store, is having business troubles due to a new competitor undercutting him, she can't help but want to help. Aside from the threat to his business, Phuti is disturbed by the low quality and lack of real comfort offered by the new competitor's furniture, especially chairs. And, the undercutting is remarkably efficient. They announce lower prices than Phuti's right before Phuti's new prices are announced.

There's also the small matter of an old friend of Mma Makutsi's, another woman from Bobonong named Patience, who after some major challenges in her life, is now living, along with her 14-year-old son, with a good man who treats her very well. Unfortunately, her son resents him and is extremely rude and disrespectful to him. It's extreme enough that it's putting real strain on Patience's relationship with the man, to the point where he's suggested that this can't go on. He'll have to ask her to leave if things don't improve.

Patience has asked Mma Makutsi for help, and she and Mma Ramotswe come up with a plan, that Phuti agrees to.

Meanwhile, Charlie, the part-time mechanic in Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's garage, and part-time trainee detective, is pushing for more responsibility and recognition of his growing detective skills. He manages to insert himself into a case Mma Ramotswe doesn't think his help is needed in.

We see both the conflict and the solid friendship between Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi, the conflict and the growing understanding between Mma Makutsi and Charlie, Mma Ramotswe's own insecurities as well as her wisdom and flexibility, and, along with the strong relationship between Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, whe see the strong relationship between Mma Makutsi and Phuti Radaphuti. The whole story reflects the values of respect and caring for each other and the community they're a part of.

We have no murders here, no high-speed chases, and the worst people in the story are the undercutting furniture business people, and Violet Sephoto, Mma Makutsi's long-time nemesis now intensely disliked by everyone who knows her--everyone who knows Grace Makutsi, and possibly everyone who knows Violet Sephoto. It's a story, as all the No. 1 Ladies' Detective series books are, of people who care about doing the right thing, and making the world around them a little better.

I really enjoy this series.

I bought this audiobook. ( )

A mild and gentle new installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Fans of Alexander McCall Smith will find the leisurely reading they've come to expect, where most of the story takes place in thoughts, between moments of conversation. There's a charming kind of wit peeping through in various scenes and a general sense that almost everyone means well. Comfort reading, really.

The audiobook was well read, with subtle but distinct differences for the characters' voices. The pace of the reading was fairly slow, so even ramping up the play speed meant that it was still pretty clear and understandable.

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for providing me with this digital audiobook for review purposes! ( )

A Song of Comfortable Chairs - Smith
Audio performance by Lisette Lecat
3 stars

Lisette Lecat is back! No one else can truly voice the characters of this long running series. In the previous book, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni nearly placed Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors in jeopardy with a risky investment. In this book it is Phuti’s business that is threatened; threatened by a competing furniture company with an aggressive, Violet Sepoto, advertising campaign. Mma Ramotswe and Mma Potokwani launch their own (successful) advertisements promoting chairs for traditionally built people. And, Violet is foiled again.

Also, a newly matured Charlie is surprisingly helpful in changing the behavior of a rebellious teenage boy.

Life goes on in Gaborone. It’s so nice to visit. ( )

Sigh ... a new No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency book is among the better things in life.
No outside cases for the ladies this time ... they spend their time solving the dilemmas of family and friends. At risk are Phuti's livelihood at the furniture store, and the hope of happiness for a friend of Mma Makutsi. As usual, Alexander McCall Smith gives the reader indelible scenes, and humorous and touching conversations.
Like this: Mma Potokwane always welcomed visitors, especially if they brought with them, as Mma Ramotswe was planning to do, a take-out lunch of pie and chips, perhaps with added baked beans in tomato sauce. It was not a healthy lunch by any stretch of the imagination, but Mma Ramotswe had always believed that the psychological boost given by delicious but unhealthy food went at least some of the way to compensating for the the negative effect of all the carbohydrates and fats and other undesirable ingredients that made such food so tasty.
And: "Mma," she said. "I see you." It was the oldest and simplest of African greetings. I see you. It implied so much more than it said, though, because it meant that Mma Ramotswe saw not only the person standing before her, but all that lay behind her - who she was, where she came from, how she felt.
And: (Mma Ramotswe) looked at (Phuti Radiphuti) and smiled. He smiled back. Two old friends discussing chairs, and what chairs meant. The chairs were comfortable, but so, too, was simply talking about them. ( )