The No 1 Botswana movie shoot

Though her cases tend to dwell on sins like philandering and low-level insurance scams, her greatest mystery these days is whether her story can translate to film.

Precious Ramotswe has no blue steel pistol, just two desks, two chairs, a telephone and an old typewriter. Her tiny white van is incapable of high-speed chases and fiery stunts. Then there is Mma Ramotswe herself. Film sleuths usually exude chiseled sexiness and a noir persona. But as McCall Smith puts it, Precious Ramotswe is "the fat lady detective": rounded, not chiseled; softhearted, not dark.