The Recurring Cast
Character · Gaborone · 27 books

Fanwell

Apprentice mechanic · Alexander McCall Smith

Fanwell is an apprentice mechanic.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (1998)
Latest appearance
The Big Cats Dance Party (2026)
Books
27 (27 minor)
Series
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Author
Alexander McCall Smith
Circle
Gaborone

Where to meet Fanwell

Fanwell first appears in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (1998), in a minor role, book 1 of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

Buy The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Every book with Fanwell

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1998·The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agencyminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  2. 2000·Tears of the Giraffeminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  3. 2001·Morality for Beautiful Girlsminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  4. 2002·The Kalahari Typing School for Menminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  5. 2003·The Full Cupboard of Lifeminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  6. 2004·In the Company of Cheerful Ladiesminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  7. 2006·Blue Shoes and Happinessminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  8. 2007·The Good Husband of Zebra Driveminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  9. 2008·The Miracle at Speedy Motorsminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  10. 2009·Tea Time for the Traditionally Builtminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  11. 2010·The Double Comfort Safari Clubminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  12. 2010·The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Partyminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  13. 2012·The Limpopo Academy of Private Detectionminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  14. 2013·The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salonminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  15. 2014·The Handsome Man’s De Luxe Caféminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  16. 2015·The Woman Who Walked in Sunshineminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  17. 2016·Precious and Graceminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  18. 2017·The House of Unexpected Sistersminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  19. 2018·The Colours of All the Cattleminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  20. 2019·To the Land of Long Lost Friendsminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  21. 2020·How to Raise an Elephantminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  22. 2021·The Joy and Light Bus Companyminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  23. 2022·A Song of Comfortable Chairsminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  24. 2023·From a Far and Lovely Countryminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  25. 2024·The Great Hippopotamus Hotelminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  26. 2025·In the Time of Five Pumpkinsminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  27. 2026·The Big Cats Dance Partyminor role · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
CharlieApprentice mechanic27
Grace MakutsiRamotswe’s assistant, later co-director, proud of her 97% exam score27
J.L.B. MatekoniMechanic, owner of Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Ramotswe’s husband27
Mma PotokwaneMatron of the orphan farm27
Precious RamotsweFounder of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency27
Violet SephothoGrace’s old rival25