Kindle Price:	$7.99
Sold by:	Random House LLC Price set by seller.

Promotions apply when you purchase

Add an

audiobook with Audible narration for $2.82

Audiobook Price: $5.91

Save: $3.09 (52%)

Read with our free app

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Follow the author

Alexander McCall Smith

+ Follow

More books from this author

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case (Precious Ramotswe Mysteries for Young Readers Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Alexander McCall Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 460 ratings

Editors' pick Best Books Ages 9-12

See all formats and editions

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY - Young Readers

Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the basis of the HBO TV show, and its proprietor Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, and good humor—not to mention help from her loyal assistant, Grace Makutsi, and the occasional cup of tea.

Have you ever said to yourself, Wouldn’t it be nice to be a detective?

This is the story of an African girl who says just that. Her name is Precious.

When a piece of cake goes missing from her classroom, a traditionally built young boy is tagged as the culprit. Precious, however, is not convinced. She sets out to find the real thief. Along the way she learns that your first guess isn’t always right. She also learns how to be a detective.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Adult fans of Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series will be queuing up to give this prequel of sorts to the children they know. This series starter introduces the author’s heroine, Precious Ramotswe, as a young girl solving her first case. Someone has been stealing treats from her friends at school, and suspicion swirls around a chubby boy named Poloko. Encouraged by her father, who has noted Precious’ powers of deduction, the sleuth decides to follow her instincts and prove Poloko innocent. The story is simply told—Smith has previous experience with children’s books with the Akimbo series—and it will work well for children new to the mystery genre. Adding to the appeal are McIntosh’s wonderful graphic illustrations done in red and black. A map of Botswana and drawings of the flora, fauna, and settings mentioned in the text will give readers a clear picture of Precious’ world. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Parents who devour the No. 1 Ladies Dectective Agency books will likely foist this upon plenty of agreeable young readers. Those were international bestsellers; this could well have the same future. Grades 2-4. --Karen Cruze

Review

“A detective is born! What a delightful, breezy read!"
     —Mary Pope Osborne, bestselling author of The Magic Tree House series

“Told with an innocence that will captivate young readers, The Great Cake Mystery is a kind-hearted, feel-good story for all. Loved it!”
     —Graham Salisbury, author of Under the Blood-Red Sun and the Calvin Coconut series

“Kids will love this kind and clever new detective. They’ll love the mystery, and they might even love the thieves. I look forward to more!”
     —Patricia Reilly Giff, award-winning author of Wild Girl and other books

“Good for kids who like mysteries and stories about other cultures and friendship all packed into one.” —TIME for Kids magazine

“Stunning artwork. . . . A compelling plot and interesting secondary characters, especially classmates who are quick to make unfounded accusations and their teacher, who provides wisdom just when it is needed, will leave readers wanting more. One case where an adaptation from an adult book is as much fun to read as the original.”
     —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“This mini mystery and its jaw-dropping illustrations will please proto-detectives, both large and small. . . . What [McCall Smith]’s done with The Great Cake Mystery is unique. . . . His fans will pluck it up like so many of his other books. . . . A really fun read.”
     —School Library Journal

"Bold and striking, McIntosh’s chunky, two-color woodcutlike pictures present evocative images of the African setting. This is a story, and a heroine, with impressive dimension."
      - Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, the 44 Scotland Street series, and the Corduroy Mansions series. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and lives in Scotland, where in his spare time he is a bassoonist in the RTO (Really Terrible Orchestra).

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

Have you ever said to yourself, Wouldn't it be nice to be a detective? Most of us will never have the chance to make that dream come true. Detectives, you see, are born that way. Right from the beginning they just know that this is what they want to be. And right from the beginning they show that solving mysteries is something they can do rather well.

This is the story about a girl who becomes a detective. Her name is Precious.

Precious smiled a lot. She often smiled even when she was not thinking about anything in particular. Nice people smile a lot, and Precious Ramotswe was one of the nicest girls in Botswana. Everyone said so.

Botswana was the country she lived in. It was down toward the bottom of Africa. She lived in a wide dry land, which had a lot of amazing things to see.

There was the Kalahari Desert, a great stretch of dry grass and thorn trees that went on and on into the distance, farther than any eye can see. Then there was the great river in the north, which flowed the wrong way. It did not flow into the ocean, as rivers usually do, but back into the heart of Africa. When it reached the sands of the Kalahari, it drained away, just like water disappears down the drain of a bath.

But most interesting, of course, were the wild animals. There were many of these in Botswana: lions, elephants, leopards, monkeys—the list goes on. Precious had not seen all of these animals, but she had heard about most of them. Her father, a kind man whose name was Obed, often spoke about them, and she loved the tales he told.

"Tell me about the time you were nearly eaten by a lion," she would ask. And Obed, who had told her that story perhaps a hundred times before, would tell her again. And it was every bit as exciting each time he told it.

"I was a young man then," he began.

"How young?" asked Precious.

"About eighteen, I think," he said. "I went up north to see my uncle, who lived way out in the country, or the bush as we call it in Africa, very far from everywhere."

"Did anybody else live there?" asked Precious. She was always asking questions, which was a sign that she might become a good detective. Do you like to ask questions? Many people who ask lots of questions become detectives, because that is what detectives do. They ask a lot of questions.

"It was a very small village," Obed said. "It was just a few huts, really, and a fenced place where they kept the cattle. They had this fence, you see, which protected the cattle from the lions at night."

This fence had to be quite strong. A few strands of wire cannot keep lions out. That is hopeless when it comes to lions—they would just knock down such a fence with a single blow of their paw. A proper lion fence has to be made of strong poles, from the trunks of trees.

"So there I was," Obed said. "I had gone to spend a few days with my uncle and his family. They were good to me and I liked my cousins. There were six of them—four boys and two girls. We had many adventures together.

"I slept in one of the huts with three of the boys. We did not have beds in those days—we had sleeping mats made out of reeds, which we laid out on the floor of the hut. They were nice to sleep on. They were much cooler than a bed and blankets in the hot weather, and easier to store too."

Precious was quiet now. This was the part of the story that she liked the best.

"And then," her father said, "and then one night I woke up to a strange sound. It was like the sound a large pig will make when it's sniffing about for food, only a little bit quieter."

"Did you know what it was?" she asked, holding her breath as she waited for her father to reply. She knew what the answer would be, of course. She had heard the story so many times. But it was always exciting, always enough to keep you sitting on the very edge of your seat.

He shook his head. "No, I didn't. And that was why I thought I should go outside and find out."

Precious closed her eyes tight. She could hardly bear to hear what was coming.

"It was a lion," her father said. "And he was right outside the hut, standing there, looking at me from underneath his great dark mane."

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004N636H6
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anchor; Reprint edition (April 3, 2012)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 3, 2012
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 11226 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 82 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,297 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #62 in Children's Explore Africa Fiction
- #837 in Children's Africa Books
- #2,113 in Children's eBooks on Girls' & Women's Issues

Customer Reviews:
4.6 460 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Alexander McCall Smith

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Alexander McCall Smith is one of the world’s most prolific and most popular authors. His career has been a varied one: for many years he was a professor of Medical Law and worked in universities in the United Kingdom and abroad. Then, after the publication of his highly successful 'No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency' series, which has sold over twenty million copies, he devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers through the world. These include the Scotland Street novels, first published as a serial novel in The Scotsman, the Isabel Dalhousie novels, the Von Igelfeld series, and the Corduroy Mansions series, novels which started life as a delightful (but challenging to write) cross-media serial, written on the website of the Telegraph Media Group. This series won two major cross-media awards - Association of Online Publishers Digital Publishing Award 2009 for a Cross Media Project and the New Media Age award.

In addition to these series, Alexander writes stand-alone books. 2014 sees publication of three new novels which fall into this area: 'The Forever Girl'; 'Fatty O’Leary’s Dinner Party'; and 'Emma' – a reworking of the classic Jane Austen novel. This year there will also be a stunning book on Edinburgh, 'A Work of Beauty: Alexander McCall Smith’s Edinburgh'. Earlier stand alone novels include 'La’s Orchestra Saves the World' and 'Trains and Lovers: A Hearts Journey'.

Alexander is also the author of collections of short stories, academic works, and over thirty books for children. He has received numerous awards for his writing, including the British Book Awards Author of the Year Award in 2004 and a CBE for service to literature in 2007. He holds honorary doctorates from nine universities in Europe and North America. In March of 2011 he received an award from the President of Botswana for his services through literature to that country.

Alexander McCall Smith lives in Edinburgh. He is married to a doctor and has two daughters.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

460 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Jon Linden

Dishonesty, Friendship, Cruelty, Suspicion and Mystery For All Ages

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

Alexander McCall Smith is most famous for his "No. 1 Ladies Detective Series." However, Smith has been writing books for children for a very long time. Always a terrific children's book writer, Smith decides this time to show the origins of his most popular and famous protagonist. In this wonderful children's book, Alexander McCall Smith goes backward in time to reveal the very inception of Mma Precious Ramotswe's origins as the great detective that she became.

In this book, Mma Ramotswe's very first detective case is described. Apparently, the famous female detective had long been thinking about her future, even before this mystery found its way to her field of vision. In this book Precious (as she is not really a "Mma" yet, but only a child in school, finds herself trying to figure out who is stealing other children's sweet treats. Several incidents of theft have occurred in the schoolhouse. The children are quick to blame a "rather round boy" for the thefts. Yet, Precious Ramotswe is not so quick to place blame. She believes it is important and even necessary for one to have proof of an indiscretion before jumping to a conclusion as to who the thief may be. In accordance with her beliefs, Precious designs a plan to catch the thief. It is a plan of great originality and more than that, it works. The culprit is exposed.

Yet as is usual for Mr. Smith's books of mystery and imagination, he does not neglect his ethical elements which are always a concern for this brilliant author's books. As an expert in ethics, Smith concentrates on the ethical or unethical behavior of some children. After all, children who act unethically will probably grow up to be unethical adults. Therefore, why not look to the very roots of ethical and appropriate social behavior at tender ages to try and figure out why some people turn out to be unethical adults. This book is truly no exception and Mr. Smith not only takes great care and pains to illustrate this in his story, but in an unusual "Note" to his readers at the end of the book, he makes this aspect of his plot perfectly clear; just in case a reader may have missed in while reading this wonderful children's story. He explains that "... of course the issues that arise in that context are the same as those that arise in an adult mystery: honesty and dishonesty, friendship, suspicion and so on."

While all of Smith's books pay attention to ethical behavior, it is continually surprising that so many readers and reviewers seem to overlook this aspect of this brilliant author's novels. But in the context of this children's story, Smith makes it near impossible to miss these elements. And for those who actually still miss it, he writes his note to the reader at the end of the book so it is just not possible for them to have overlooked the aspects of ethical behavior in life at all ages and in all places.

The book is very highly recommended to readers of every age, from 4 years old to 104 years old. In addition, the book has tremendous appeal because of the extensive success of his "No. 1 Ladies Detective Series" which was even made into a television series on cable TV. For those readers who enjoy mystery stories and for those readers who have enjoyed Alexander McCall Smith's adult novels and mysteries, this book puts everything in perspective. For lest we forget, in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah states: "... and a little child shall lead them." Do not miss the opportunity to read this book to yourselves as well as to your children and grandchildren. It is a wonderful story with terrific ethical lessons to teach.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Remi A. Enobakhare

A Whole New Set of Mma Ramotse-- the Prequel! 😄

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

Even for pre-adolescents, McCall Smith never disappoints. I love his writing style, for younger readers, which still preserves the excellent form able to be executed only by AMcS: descriptive, intriguing, and gently amusing.

I was surprised that the whole thing was over in about the time it took to read only a chapter of one of his regular books. I had hoped to get a more lasting experience for $6. I suppose that for a beautiful, giftable, hardback book with lovely African etching prints such a book would be well worth the price; mine, however, was simply a Kindle download. When I buy more of these, they will all be the hardback versions, if possible.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Karen Campbell

Precious always precious! And interested in justice!

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

Lovely story! Great for teaching children they shouldn't tease others in a hurtful manner. This is our Precious as a child--already caring about others and already realizing she was a detective. If you have read the books about Precious Ramotswe, you will enjoy this short tale. Read it to your children and grandchildren.

Helpful

gloria c

Enjoyed this very much

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

Enjoyed this very much. The reader was wonderful and the philosophy great. However, I keep on feeling that McCall Smith's endings are rushed; that is, enough (he says, to himself) and finishes up a wee bit fast.

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Every bit as charming as Smith's adult books

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2012

Verified Purchase

Having read and loved all of Smith's books for adults, I decided to purchase the Kindle version to read with my 7 year old daughter. We were not disappointed. The books is short, but very well written and a nice introduction to a setting unfamiliar to her. Young Precious is perfectly depicted, and the mystery itself has a fun and creative solution. Highly recommended, as are all of this wonderful's author's writings. (If you have not seen his website, do look! You can sign up for an email list to receive periodic updates about his fascinating and extraordinarily busy life! It is hard to believe one person can accomplish as much as Smith does!). The cute illustrations showed up nicely on the Kindle, though I haven't seen the paper version so have no basis of comparison.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

tom Erb

Love all of these Precious Ramotswe's stories for young readers

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2017

Verified Purchase

Love all of these Precious Ramotswe's stories for young readers! I have all of the adult Precious stories and savor them. These stories will encourage children to be curious about the world around them and also show that KINDNESS is always the best path to follow!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Carol Ann

Even grandmothers like it!

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2012

Verified Purchase

Alexander McCall Smith's series "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" books are among my very favorite books. Now he's done it for young readers. Okay, so I'm not young. I don't care. I hurried to purchase this book because I am such a fan, and now I will start my grandkids on the series (only after I read it first!). Underneath the simple and entertaining plots in all McCall's books of this genre are some of life's great pieces of wisdom. And that's what calls me to a book or a series -- let there be wisdom underneath entertainment, a few good laughs and a few good cries, and I am happy. I am definitely happy now.

25 people found this helpful

Helpful

Carol Howe

A First Case for Precious

Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

Here's a gentle tale told for children - but which age of little girls? It's a mystery whose clue is given in its illustrations. Precious is the star in this moral story set in a Botswanan school. I got the feeling that the author would love to go back to the time and the place of his younger days.

"Don't draw wrong conclusions based on too few clues", I hear him say. The end is a tiny surprise, but most of the problem-solving is pretty well spelled out.

The author must have had a special child in mind when he told the story. But who is its reader?

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

shikha

Good

Reviewed in India on February 11, 2019

Verified Purchase

Nice book... value for money... Amazon service is excellent

One person found this helpful

Chloe R

This is a lovely book which is very suitable for ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is a lovely book which is very suitable for seven and upwards. A gentle and well written story teaching the value of friendship and not jumping to conclusions.

4 people found this helpful

Julie M.

Great story for kids by the author of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great little book for my 10 year old son. He loved it.

One person found this helpful

Chandrani

Great book!

Reviewed in India on May 28, 2014

Verified Purchase

My 7 yr old son loved reading it. It's am easy read with lots of good illustrations which makes the reading more enjoyable.

Sigrun Lodewigs

MacCall für Kinder

Reviewed in Germany on May 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

Wenn man die Bücher aus der Serie "The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" kennt, ist man als Erwachsener von dem Buch etwas enttäuscht, da die Handlung sehr einfach gestrickt ist. Aber wir haben es unserer Tochter auf Deutsch vorgelesen und ihr hat es sehr gut gefallen.

Buy for others

Buying and sending eBooks to others

Follow the author

Image Unavailable

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case (Precious Ramotswe Mysteries for Young Readers Book 1) Kindle Edition

Customers who bought this item also bought

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Review

About the Author

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Product details

Videos

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith

Customer reviews

Reviews with images

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries