"An escape from life's woes as well as a suggestion for how to make the whole deal more palatable--fragility, fruit cake, and all." --The Boston Globe

Grace Makutsi's husband, Phuti Radiphuti, is in a bind. An international firm is attempting to undercut his prices in the office furniture market. Phuti has always been concerned with quality and comfort, but this firm seems interested only in profits. To make matters worse, they have a slick new advertising campaign that seems hard to beat.

Meanwhile, Grace is approached by an old friend who has a troubled son. She and Phuti agree to take Patience and Modise in and lend a hand, but things don't work out quite as intended, and the situation proves difficult for them to handle. It will require not only all of their persistence and dedication but also help from an unexpected quarter to find a solution that will make everyone happy.

Faced with more than her fair share of delicate dilemmas, Mma Makutsi deals with it all with her usual graciousness. This--along with the kindness, generosity, and good sense for which the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is known--assures us that, in the end, each of these matters will be set right.