The Recurring Cast
Character · Gaborone · 27 books

Precious Ramotswe

Founder of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency · Alexander McCall Smith

Precious Ramotswe is the traditionally built founder of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.

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 as lead)
Series
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Author
Alexander McCall Smith
Circle
Gaborone

Where to meet Precious Ramotswe

Precious Ramotswe first appears in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (1998), as the lead, book 1 of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

Buy The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Every book with Precious Ramotswe

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

  1. 1998LThe No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agencylead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyOpens the agency with her late father’s cattle moneyBuy
  2. 2000LTears of the Giraffelead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  3. 2001LMorality for Beautiful Girlslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  4. 2002LThe Kalahari Typing School for Menlead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  5. 2003LThe Full Cupboard of Lifelead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  6. 2004LIn the Company of Cheerful Ladieslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  7. 2006LBlue Shoes and Happinesslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  8. 2007LThe Good Husband of Zebra Drivelead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  9. 2008LThe Miracle at Speedy Motorslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  10. 2009LTea Time for the Traditionally Builtlead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  11. 2010LThe Double Comfort Safari Clublead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  12. 2010LThe Saturday Big Tent Wedding Partylead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  13. 2012LThe Limpopo Academy of Private Detectionlead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  14. 2013LThe Minor Adjustment Beauty Salonlead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  15. 2014LThe Handsome Man’s De Luxe Cafélead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  16. 2015LThe Woman Who Walked in Sunshinelead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  17. 2016LPrecious and Gracelead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  18. 2017LThe House of Unexpected Sisterslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  19. 2018LThe Colours of All the Cattlelead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  20. 2019LTo the Land of Long Lost Friendslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  21. 2020LHow to Raise an Elephantlead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  22. 2021LThe Joy and Light Bus Companylead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  23. 2022LA Song of Comfortable Chairslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  24. 2023LFrom a Far and Lovely Countrylead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  25. 2024LThe Great Hippopotamus Hotellead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  26. 2025LIn the Time of Five Pumpkinslead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy
  27. 2026LThe Big Cats Dance Partylead · No. 1 Ladies’ Detective AgencyBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
CharlieApprentice mechanic27
FanwellApprentice 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
Violet SephothoGrace’s old rival25