The lady detectives of Alexander Mccall Smith and Laurie King. You certainly would not like to miss the stories of the 1^st (actually number one!) detective agency in Botswana, imagined by Mccall Smith, or the adventures of the tenants of number 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh. But interestingly, it was the calm stories featuring Isabel Dalhousie that most captured my attention. Isabel, who is quite wealthy, goes through life editing an academic journal on ethics, solving the odd mystery in Edinburgh, getting a younger partner, and a child, while voicing to us her inner thoughts and doubts in a very philosophical and appealing way. Naturally, credit must be awarded to the author of this almost true fictional setting. Odd enough, but in a good way, at least from my perspective, King also shares with us the adventures of another lady detective, Mary Russell in the London of the 1920s. Interestingly, the young lady, also quite wealthy by heritage, goes through meeting an old, almost retired, Sherlock Holmes, saving his life at one point, partnering with him not only to solve mysteries but also in life. Naturally, more female detectives are out there, doing their job, but Isabel and Mary seem to have a grace of their own.