What’s a minibus driving along Highway 1 in Vietnam (see Rough Guide’s Make the Most of Your Time on Earth) doing on the cover of the new paper edition of Alexander McCall Smith’s The Double Comfort Safari Club, 11th book in the series manifestly and gloriously set in Botswana? We haven’t a clue (our detective’s dearly departed van was white)!

The Double Comfort Safari Club is terrific (Mma Ramotswe and Co. at The No. One Ladies Detective Agency travel to the Okavango) — and for those of you keeping track, or already caught up with the deliciously fun series, The Saturday Big Ten Wedding Party is just out. And guess who’s getting married? With his usual blend of wit and wisdom, McCall Smith takes us from Gabarone out to the bush and into the halls of Botswana’s parliament, his detective all the while coping with her petulant assistant, Grace Makuutsi, and her still enraptured beau Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Incidentally, both Precious Ramtotswe and Grace have visions of their dearly departed old van, which is, of course, white!

The dapper McCall Smith is on tour, calling in Boston on March 30, participating in an WNYC event at the Cooper Union on March 31 and on the road from Seattle to Chicago, Houston, Fayettville, Clearwater, Raleigh and other states from April 1-11. Naturally, you can find out more on Facebook. Where does he find the energy?