Set in the Venezuelan llano, the book tells the story of an ongoing struggle between two powerful landowners. One is Doña Bárbara, a ruthless and cunning woman who has used her cunning and seductive prowess to amass a large amount of land. The other is Santos Luzardo, an educated city-dweller who returns to the plains to reclaim his family's property. The novel explores themes of civilization versus barbarism, the struggle for land, and the magical realism of the South American landscape.

The book follows the story of Precious Ramotswe, a woman in Botswana who opens the country's first and only female-run detective agency. She uses wisdom, intuition, and her understanding of human nature to solve various cases, from missing husbands to wayward daughters and con men. The story is not just about solving mysteries, but also provides a deep insight into the culture, landscape and people of Botswana.