Characters in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Precious Ramotswe

Botswana's first female private detective, who opens her agency in Gaborone after her father's death.

Also in The great cake mystery, Tears of the Giraffe, Morality for beautiful girls, The Kalahari Typing School for Men, The full cupboard of life, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Blue shoes and happiness, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, The miracle at Speedy Motors, Tea time for the traditionally built

Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni

A kind garage owner and old friend whose workshop is near the new agency.

Also in Tears of the Giraffe, The Kalahari Typing School for Men, The full cupboard of life, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, The miracle at Speedy Motors, Tea time for the traditionally built

Grace Makutsi

The secretary Precious hires from the Botswana Secretarial College, later her assistant detective.

Also in The Kalahari Typing School for Men, The full cupboard of life, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, Blue shoes and happiness, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, The miracle at Speedy Motors, Tea time for the traditionally built, The Double Comfort Safari Club, The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party, The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

Obed Ramotswe

Precious's father, a cattleman whose teachings and memory shape her outlook.