The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: The Complete First Season

Based on the popular mystery novels by Alexander McCall Smith, this made-for-cable HBO/BBC co-produced 2009 first season stars Grammy-winning American jazz singer Jill Scott as the compassionate sleuth Precious Ramotswe. Set in the southern African nation of Botswana, the seven episodes here (including the pilot) follow newly single Precious' efforts to carve out an independent life in the nation's capital, while also putting her unheralded observation skills and keen understanding of human behavior to work in support of justice. Scott makes Precious as warm as she is wise, while Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls) is great fun as her efficient, somewhat stiff, seriously tart-tongued secretary/junior partner. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is an unusual mystery series in that murder is rare, but Precious faces her share of threats, not the least of which is the abusive former husband who returns to threaten her once more. Boasting plenty of cultural color, sharp dialogue that is practically sung in the lilting accents of the region, and a rich local music, this faithful adaptation will interest fans of the books, while the on-location filming in Botswana will also attract non-mystery fans. The final project from the late Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella (The English Patient), the Emmy-nominated The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency bows on DVD with a slew of extras, including “author's diary” video notes for each episode by McCall Smith, and a quartet of featurettes (a “making-of,” and segments on Minghella, Botswana, and the country's music). Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)