A warm and charming mystery novel by Alexander McCall Smith, first published in 2001. It is the third book in the beloved The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, set in Botswana and featuring the wise and compassionate detective Mma Precious Ramotswe.

Unlike traditional crime novels, the story focuses less on violent crime and more on human nature, kindness, and everyday moral dilemmas. As Mma Ramotswe's detective agency faces financial pressures, she moves the business into her fiancé Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's garage while her trusted assistant, Mma Grace Makutsi, takes on greater responsibility managing both the garage and her own investigations.

The novel intertwines several intriguing cases. Mma Ramotswe investigates the suspected poisoning of a government official's brother on a remote cattle farm, while Mma Makutsi is hired to determine which contestant in the Miss Beauty and Integrity Contest truly possesses both beauty and good character. Meanwhile, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni struggles with depression, and the couple becomes involved in the lives of two orphaned children, adding emotional depth to the story. Rather than relying on shocking twists, the mysteries are solved through empathy, observation, and an understanding of people's motivations.

Rich in Botswanan culture and gentle humor, Morality for Beautiful Girls celebrates compassion, honesty, family, and community. McCall Smith's understated prose and memorable characters make it as much a novel about everyday life and human decency as it is a detective story.