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Detective Kubu #3
Death Of The Mantis
In the southern Kalahari area of Botswana—an arid landscape of legends that speak of lost cities, hidden wealth, and ancient gods—a fractious ranger named Monzo is found dying from a severe head wound in a dry ravine. Three Bushmen surround the doomed man, but are they his killers or there to help? Detective David “Kubu” Bengu is on the case, an investigation that his old school friend Khumanego claims is motivated by racist antagonism on the part of the local police. But when a second bizarre murder, and then a third, seem to point also to the nomadic tribe, the intrepid Kubu must journey into the depths of the Kalahari to uncover the truth. What he discovers there will test all his powers of detection . . . and his ability to remain alive.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
42 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Michael Stanley
55 books175 followersMichael Stanley is the writing partnership of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. Michael lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Stanley in Minneapolis.
We have travelled extensively in southern Africa and have a special love of Botswana, where our detective novels are set.
Detective Kubu investigates complex murders in his native land, justifying his nickname by his size and tenacity (Kubu is Setswana for hippopotamus).
Kubu's faces powerful people and an escalating chain of murders in his first adventure - A Carrion Death.
Next a confluence of events leads to murders whose roots lie hidden in the past, in The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu (A Deadly Trade outside north America).
The third Detective Kubu mystery, Death of the Mantis, has the plight of the Khoi-San (Bushmen) of the Kalahari as its backstory. Death of the Mantis was a finalist for an Edgar and won the Barry Award.
Deadly Harvest, the fourth Detective Kubu mystery, has as its backstory the use of human body parts for magic potions (called muti). Based on a true story, Detective Kubu and the first female detective in Botswana's CID, the young Samantha Khama, try to resurrect a number of cold cases in which young girls have gone missing. Deadly Harvest was a finalist for an International Thriller Writers award.
A Death in the Family (Kubu #5) has as its backstory the ramifications of corruption as the Chinese try to take over some of Botswana's rich mineral deposits. However the story starts with Kubu's elderly father being murdered. Despite his pleas, Kubu is kept off the case because of his personal involvement. However he keeps trying to solve it on his own.
In Dying to Live (Kubu #6) a Bushman is found dead, with internal organs far younger than his chronological age and a bullet embedded in his abdominal muscles with no entry wound. Dying to Live is a story of greed and the lengths people will go to attain immortality and make their fortunes.
Facets of Death is a prequel set in the late 1990s when Kubu first joins the Botswana CID as a raw detective. While he’s trying to build a role for himself in the CID, a massive diamond heist takes place on the road from Jwaneng — home of the world’s richest diamond mine. The robbers systematically eliminate all the witnesses, and then they are killed by the South African police, leaving the detectives with nothing to go on.
Kubu and Mabaku are sure they can solve the case if only their contacts can stay alive long enough. However, when one of the mine’s senior managers becomes the next victim, they are forced to set a trap for the crime’s mastermind. If it fails, their careers are over – in Kubu’s case before it’s even begun.
The latest mystery, A Deadly Covenant, takes place shortly after Kubu joins the Botswana Police Service and just after the diamond heist of Facets of Death.
While building a pipeline near the Okavango Delta, a contractor unearths the skeleton of a long-dead Bushman. Kubu and Scottish pathologist, Ian MacGregor, are sent to investigate, and MacGregor discovers eight more skeletons.
Then an elder of the nearby village is murdered at his home. The local police believe it was a robbery, but Kubu thinks otherwise. So does a strange woman who claims it was an angry river spirit. The situation gets more confusing when the strange woman is found dead, apparently killed by a crocodile.
Assistant Superintendent Mabaku joins them as accusations of corruption are levelled and international outrage builds over the massacre of the Bushman families. But how do the recent murders link to the dead Bushmen, if at all? As Kubu and his colleagues investigate, they uncover a deadly covenant and begin to fear that their own lives may be in danger.
The young Kubu’s second big case mixes local mythology and tradition with smart police work to make for a satisfyingly immersive mystery that begs resolution until the last, unpredictable moment.
Shoot the Bastards (Dead of Ni
We have travelled extensively in southern Africa and have a special love of Botswana, where our detective novels are set.
Detective Kubu investigates complex murders in his native land, justifying his nickname by his size and tenacity (Kubu is Setswana for hippopotamus).
Kubu's faces powerful people and an escalating chain of murders in his first adventure - A Carrion Death.
Next a confluence of events leads to murders whose roots lie hidden in the past, in The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu (A Deadly Trade outside north America).
The third Detective Kubu mystery, Death of the Mantis, has the plight of the Khoi-San (Bushmen) of the Kalahari as its backstory. Death of the Mantis was a finalist for an Edgar and won the Barry Award.
Deadly Harvest, the fourth Detective Kubu mystery, has as its backstory the use of human body parts for magic potions (called muti). Based on a true story, Detective Kubu and the first female detective in Botswana's CID, the young Samantha Khama, try to resurrect a number of cold cases in which young girls have gone missing. Deadly Harvest was a finalist for an International Thriller Writers award.
A Death in the Family (Kubu #5) has as its backstory the ramifications of corruption as the Chinese try to take over some of Botswana's rich mineral deposits. However the story starts with Kubu's elderly father being murdered. Despite his pleas, Kubu is kept off the case because of his personal involvement. However he keeps trying to solve it on his own.
In Dying to Live (Kubu #6) a Bushman is found dead, with internal organs far younger than his chronological age and a bullet embedded in his abdominal muscles with no entry wound. Dying to Live is a story of greed and the lengths people will go to attain immortality and make their fortunes.
Facets of Death is a prequel set in the late 1990s when Kubu first joins the Botswana CID as a raw detective. While he’s trying to build a role for himself in the CID, a massive diamond heist takes place on the road from Jwaneng — home of the world’s richest diamond mine. The robbers systematically eliminate all the witnesses, and then they are killed by the South African police, leaving the detectives with nothing to go on.
Kubu and Mabaku are sure they can solve the case if only their contacts can stay alive long enough. However, when one of the mine’s senior managers becomes the next victim, they are forced to set a trap for the crime’s mastermind. If it fails, their careers are over – in Kubu’s case before it’s even begun.
The latest mystery, A Deadly Covenant, takes place shortly after Kubu joins the Botswana Police Service and just after the diamond heist of Facets of Death.
While building a pipeline near the Okavango Delta, a contractor unearths the skeleton of a long-dead Bushman. Kubu and Scottish pathologist, Ian MacGregor, are sent to investigate, and MacGregor discovers eight more skeletons.
Then an elder of the nearby village is murdered at his home. The local police believe it was a robbery, but Kubu thinks otherwise. So does a strange woman who claims it was an angry river spirit. The situation gets more confusing when the strange woman is found dead, apparently killed by a crocodile.
Assistant Superintendent Mabaku joins them as accusations of corruption are levelled and international outrage builds over the massacre of the Bushman families. But how do the recent murders link to the dead Bushmen, if at all? As Kubu and his colleagues investigate, they uncover a deadly covenant and begin to fear that their own lives may be in danger.
The young Kubu’s second big case mixes local mythology and tradition with smart police work to make for a satisfyingly immersive mystery that begs resolution until the last, unpredictable moment.
Shoot the Bastards (Dead of Ni
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
July 29, 2018
"Death of the Mantis" by Michael Stanley is the third in the Detective Kubu series and my first foray into South African based crime fiction. Having never read a South African story before I was a little worried whether I'd understand the locations and character names but I needn't have worried as an informative glossary explaining words and how to pronounce them was in the book. This was a great help and truly aided the enjoyment of my reading.
The descriptive and atmospheric landscape really pulls you in until you could almost be standing in the red dusty sand yourself. The oppressive heat and constant thirst totally captured the South African ambience and I felt very sorry for the detectives trying to solve murders in such stifling conditions. I had much sympathy for the indigenous Bushmen (the first people of the Kalahari) wanting to live peacefully, sustaining the land and only feeding off it as necessary, always keeping in mind people behind them who maybe hungry and thirsty too. When three of their 'brothers' are suspected of murdering a Kalahari game ranger, the dedication to believing their innocence never wavered and it's not until Detective Kubu, with his stoic moral justice steps in and starts to unravel the truth after a further body is found.
With an original premise and truly interesting characters I loved this book. Assistant Superintendent David Benju - affectionately known as 'Kubu' (which translates to hippopotamus) - is wholly original and a character I fully intend following throughout the rest of the series, reading the next in the series - Deadly Harvest - though this time published by Orenda books.
Michael Stanley is actually writing duo Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip and having two writers really worked in this instance, their writing was so seamless it was impossible to tell the two of them apart.
So much more than your average police procedural book with a fabulous Botswana backdrop and interesting and diverse characters, I'd happily recommend this book and wholeheartedly look forward to the rest of the books in the series.
5 stars
The descriptive and atmospheric landscape really pulls you in until you could almost be standing in the red dusty sand yourself. The oppressive heat and constant thirst totally captured the South African ambience and I felt very sorry for the detectives trying to solve murders in such stifling conditions. I had much sympathy for the indigenous Bushmen (the first people of the Kalahari) wanting to live peacefully, sustaining the land and only feeding off it as necessary, always keeping in mind people behind them who maybe hungry and thirsty too. When three of their 'brothers' are suspected of murdering a Kalahari game ranger, the dedication to believing their innocence never wavered and it's not until Detective Kubu, with his stoic moral justice steps in and starts to unravel the truth after a further body is found.
With an original premise and truly interesting characters I loved this book. Assistant Superintendent David Benju - affectionately known as 'Kubu' (which translates to hippopotamus) - is wholly original and a character I fully intend following throughout the rest of the series, reading the next in the series - Deadly Harvest - though this time published by Orenda books.
Michael Stanley is actually writing duo Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip and having two writers really worked in this instance, their writing was so seamless it was impossible to tell the two of them apart.
So much more than your average police procedural book with a fabulous Botswana backdrop and interesting and diverse characters, I'd happily recommend this book and wholeheartedly look forward to the rest of the books in the series.
5 stars
September 27, 2022
Middle of the road. Writing´s good,characters interesting,but it never takes flight,plus,it´s too bloated and a bit repetitive.
A series to fall back on when there´s nothing thrilling to read,it´s dependable at least. :)
A series to fall back on when there´s nothing thrilling to read,it´s dependable at least. :)
September 8, 2011
I always have a book with me and, often, when I am asked about the book and I mention the title, the author, and the genre, the response is, “I don’t read mysteries. I don’t like Agatha Christie.” Fact is, I don’t like Agatha Christie. If that style was all there is in mystery, I wouldn’t be reading mysteries either but the popularity of the genre shows that most readers do know how far mysteries have come, incorporating societal problems into stories, making them more believable and more thought-provoking.
Michael Stanley’s DEATH OF THE MANTIS is a case in point. The body of a game ranger is found in the Kalahari desert in Botswana. When the police arrive, they find three Bushmen with the dying man, trying to give him water. Monzo has suffered a severe injury to his head and he dies before reaching the hospital. The men who discover the body are arrested for the murder. There is no evidence that the Bushmen were involved but in Botswana it is case closed, no need to look for other suspects.
Assistant Superintendent David Bengu, known as Kubu to everyone, receives a call from a childhood friend, Khumanego, a Bushmen. He and David had attended school together, drawn to each other because neither fit in. But they have lost touch over the years and each knows little about the adult life of the other. As boys, Khumanego had taken Kubu to the desert and showed him how to survive. Now Kubu tries to survive among animals of the two-legged variety and serpents more dangerous than those who hide under rocks. Khumanego is an advocate and spokesman for his people, helping the Bushmen whose life style is minunderstood and whose group is denegrated.
Khumanego tells Kubu, “The Bushmen see things very differently from other peoples….Your people see themselves as separate from everything…We see ourselves as part of everything. We are part of the sky and of the earth. And the sky is part of the earth, and the earth part of the sky. Just as day is part of the night. And night part of day. And you and me are part of each other. When you dream, you change my world, just as my dreams change yours.” Khumanego no longer remembers or appreciates any of the things he learned as a student. The two old friends no longer have common ground on which they can build the trust they had enjoyed as boys but Kubu honors the bond they had and the Bushmen are released. Before long, there are two more murders and the Bushmen have disappeared. Again, no need to look further; the Bushmen must have been the killers as first thought.
Kubu is drawn into another case, that of a missing man who had been looking for an old map. Since this is Africa, there is inevitably a search for precious stones that brings in the worst people to Botswana and brings out the worst in good people.
The books by Michael Stanley bring Botswana to life. The section of DEATH OF THE MANTIS that describes Kubu’s experience in the desert is outstanding. The sun in a desert is no longer the giver of life but an enemy ready to steal life when humans fail to acknowledge that somethings are bigger than what is conceived of in the minds of men.
Kubu makes the stories work. He is intelligent but he doesn’t let it get in the way of doing what needs to be done even if his actions fly in the face of common sense. He is devoted to his family, his wife, his new baby, his parents, and his in-laws. He knows that the family is the cornerstone of society and he does his best to make his part of the stone tight, without chinks that would undermine its integrity. He works to maintain that same integrity in his country.
The lives of the Bushmen in Botswana are becoming increasingly complicated by the desire of the government to move them to settlements which, for want of a better word, could be called reservations. Their numbers are decreasing and their philosophy that there can be no such thing as individual ownership is also similar to that of Native Americans. As a minority is a society that believes and encourages the opposite, the culture may continue to be compromised. They believe that the mantis created the world and all its people and the first of the people created were the San, a better name for the group than “bushmen.” With this belief and their connection to their ancestors through stories handed from one generation to the next, these are a people with dignity and a surety of their place in the world. The authors do not treat the Bushmen as caricatures but as people whose values are outside the norm but who may be better because of that.
The authors loosely based the murder of the game ranger on a case that occurred in Botswana and led to an examination of the death penalty. Ditshwanelo is an advocacy group working to protect human rights in Botswana. The group became involved in a case in which two men were sentenced to death for murdering a man from whom they had stolen an ox. Motswetla and Maauwe were found guilty of the murder despite having virtually no legal representation. Both men were illiterate and incapable of understanding the charges brought against them. The dates of their executions were stayed as a result of innumerable delays requested by their new lawyers. After more than ten years in prison, they were released when a judge ruled that they had been deprived of their right to a fair trial within a reasonable time.
The examination of the death penalty did not bring about its end.
All of the books in the Detective Kubu series are excellent and worth reading. What can be better than a good book that sends me off to Google to learn more. If only school had been so painless.
September 9, 2011
Alright, so I'm going to be honest and admit that I signed up for this tour, because I wanted to read a book that I thought would be similar to one of my all time favorite series, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. Let me just say, I didn't get what I wished for. Instead of being carried away by the engaging voice of a lovable character like Mma. Ramotswe, I was introduced to Kubu. He's the detective trying to solve the murder of Monzo, a ranger whose body was found surrounded by three Bushmen. Kubu is a likable enough character, but he doesn't have the appeal to draw me in to the story. I found myself rushing through the book to finish it - I wanted to be done.
The writing is solid, but not as captivating as I would have hoped for in a mystery. As for the mystery itself, the big reveal was not a big surprise for me - I had already figured it out. The characters were the most interesting part of the book, but they alone couldn't turn the book into a great read for me. And the setting of Botswana was nice - its always been one of my favorite characters in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. All in all, this is not a series I will be continuing with. However, just because I didn't appreciate Death of the Mantis doesn't mean you won't. I've read some wonderful reviews of this book and the series itself, so I'm sure many people would enjoy reading all about Kubu as he solves mysteries in beautiful Botswana. I say check out the series if you are a fan of detective stories or books set in Botswana.
August 31, 2024
Finished reading: August 30th 2024
"We've got to keep calm, even if we're terrified. Panicking will only create more problems."
REVIEW
June 15, 2020
reminded my somewhat of the writing style of Alexander McCall Smith, not just that they are both set in Africa. Even though this is the third book in the series, It didn't stop me from fully following the plot and enjoying the story.
August 7, 2011
David “Kubu” Bengu is assistant superintendent in the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department. David received the nickname of Kubu a long time ago and it stuck. Kubu means Jolly Hippo and David is large, does enjoy his food, and has a happy disposition but he is also a very intelligent person with the uncanny ability to sort out clues and come to the proper conclusion when faced with a crime.
Southern Africa is the setting for the Kubu books and offers many interesting facts about Africa and its people. When Monzo, a game ranger at Mabuasehube, fails to appear at work, it isn’t a big surprise. Monzo is one that tends to take off on his own without informing his superiors of his actions. Peter Vusi, head of the ranger station, feels that he would be well rid of Monzo but sent men to look for him. Monzo was found at the bottom of a donga (a dry river course with steep sides). Three Bushman were gathered around him and one was trying to pour water in Monzo’s mouth. Monzo was in critical condition and rushed to a hospital. Vusi had the unhappy task of notifying Maria, the woman Monzo lived with.
This incident was out of Kubu’s jurisdiction but when he received a phone call from Khumanego, he was taken by surprise. Khumanego was a friend from primary school and the two had lost touch. They were a strange pair in school. Kubu was a share-farmer’s son and Khumanego was a Bushman. Khumanego’s parents were part of a small nomadic group that roamed southern Botswana and he was sent to Christian relatives for schooling in the hopes of preparing him for a different future. Khumanego trained Kubu in some of the ways of the Bushman and this instilled a respect for the Bushman in Kubu’s eyes.
Now it seemed that Khumanego was unhappy with the fate of the Bushman and now Bushman were being accused of crimes that they did not commit including the death of two students from Bushman poisoning and the accident that happened to Monzo. Against his superiors better judgment he allowed Kubu to get involved and attempt to assist Khumanego in his quest to prove the Bushmen innocent of the crimes.
Kubu and his wife Joy are the parents of a new baby and Joy is not at all pleased with the idea of Kubu being away from home for any period of time. Joy has her hands full with the baby and although Kubu makes attempts at helping he isn’t doing a whole lot of good since he sleeps through the baby crying at night.
As Kubu begins his investigation, he finds that there seems to be much more going on than just the death of the students and Manzo’s accident. It appears that some kind of treasure hunt is being conducted using some old maps that supposedly lead to treasure that has been long lost. Kubu finds that his trust in his friend might be misplaced and soon Kubu is in danger of losing his own life.
Death of the Mantis is a wonderful story of two boyhood chums now on different paths of life. Kubu is seeking the truth and hoping to stop further deaths. His childhood friend seems to have his own agenda and not one that Kubu approves of.
This series began with “A Carrion Death” followed by “The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu” and “Death of the Mantis”. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but the reading the entire series is a great experience and the settings in Africa are fascinating.
Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip are the two authors that have created this marvelous series writing under the name Michael Stanley.
Southern Africa is the setting for the Kubu books and offers many interesting facts about Africa and its people. When Monzo, a game ranger at Mabuasehube, fails to appear at work, it isn’t a big surprise. Monzo is one that tends to take off on his own without informing his superiors of his actions. Peter Vusi, head of the ranger station, feels that he would be well rid of Monzo but sent men to look for him. Monzo was found at the bottom of a donga (a dry river course with steep sides). Three Bushman were gathered around him and one was trying to pour water in Monzo’s mouth. Monzo was in critical condition and rushed to a hospital. Vusi had the unhappy task of notifying Maria, the woman Monzo lived with.
This incident was out of Kubu’s jurisdiction but when he received a phone call from Khumanego, he was taken by surprise. Khumanego was a friend from primary school and the two had lost touch. They were a strange pair in school. Kubu was a share-farmer’s son and Khumanego was a Bushman. Khumanego’s parents were part of a small nomadic group that roamed southern Botswana and he was sent to Christian relatives for schooling in the hopes of preparing him for a different future. Khumanego trained Kubu in some of the ways of the Bushman and this instilled a respect for the Bushman in Kubu’s eyes.
Now it seemed that Khumanego was unhappy with the fate of the Bushman and now Bushman were being accused of crimes that they did not commit including the death of two students from Bushman poisoning and the accident that happened to Monzo. Against his superiors better judgment he allowed Kubu to get involved and attempt to assist Khumanego in his quest to prove the Bushmen innocent of the crimes.
Kubu and his wife Joy are the parents of a new baby and Joy is not at all pleased with the idea of Kubu being away from home for any period of time. Joy has her hands full with the baby and although Kubu makes attempts at helping he isn’t doing a whole lot of good since he sleeps through the baby crying at night.
As Kubu begins his investigation, he finds that there seems to be much more going on than just the death of the students and Manzo’s accident. It appears that some kind of treasure hunt is being conducted using some old maps that supposedly lead to treasure that has been long lost. Kubu finds that his trust in his friend might be misplaced and soon Kubu is in danger of losing his own life.
Death of the Mantis is a wonderful story of two boyhood chums now on different paths of life. Kubu is seeking the truth and hoping to stop further deaths. His childhood friend seems to have his own agenda and not one that Kubu approves of.
This series began with “A Carrion Death” followed by “The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu” and “Death of the Mantis”. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but the reading the entire series is a great experience and the settings in Africa are fascinating.
Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip are the two authors that have created this marvelous series writing under the name Michael Stanley.
March 23, 2012
The Place is very sacred and very secret.’
The story opens with a prologue set in the 1950s involving Gibiwasi (a young bushman) and his father, and their visit to an important sacred spot in the Kalahari Desert known as ‘The Place’. Gibiwasi’s father enjoins him not to tell anyone about The Place, except his own eldest son when the time comes.
In the present, Monzo, a ranger from the Transfrontier Park is found dead by two of his colleagues. There are three Bushmen with him and while they say that they had only just arrived and were trying to revive him, Detective Lerako does not believe them and they are arrested for murder. Detective David Bengu (‘Kubu’ – meaning hippopotamus in Setswana), who works in Gabarone (the capital of Botswana) is contacted by his old school friend Khumanego. Khumanego, a bushman, is now an advocate for Bushmen and their traditions, and claims that the Bushmen are innocent and are being persecuted for cultural reasons. There really is no reason for Kubu to be involved in this case and his boss Mabaku says no, until a reporter gets wind of it and threatens to write a story about the bad treatment of the Bushmen. So, for political reasons, Kubu becomes involved and then the case becomes more complicated because of a second murder: a white man in an isolated part of the Kalahari. And then, there is a third murder … Can Kubu find the killer, and why have these men been murdered? And how will Kubu’s wife Joy and their new daughter Tumi, handle his absence?
This novel is an interesting mix of Kubu’s work as a detective and tales of his domestic life, of his battle with weight and of his wife’s adjustment to life with a young baby. There’s insight, too, into the life of the Kalahari Bushmen and the challenges posed by the Kalahari Desert.
This is my first Detective Kubu novel (although it is the third in this series). I like David Bengu and his family, and I look forward to reading the first two novels published in this series by ‘Michael Stanley’ (Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip).
‘Perhaps this was the only way. Preserve the past, do your best for the present, ignore the future.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The story opens with a prologue set in the 1950s involving Gibiwasi (a young bushman) and his father, and their visit to an important sacred spot in the Kalahari Desert known as ‘The Place’. Gibiwasi’s father enjoins him not to tell anyone about The Place, except his own eldest son when the time comes.
In the present, Monzo, a ranger from the Transfrontier Park is found dead by two of his colleagues. There are three Bushmen with him and while they say that they had only just arrived and were trying to revive him, Detective Lerako does not believe them and they are arrested for murder. Detective David Bengu (‘Kubu’ – meaning hippopotamus in Setswana), who works in Gabarone (the capital of Botswana) is contacted by his old school friend Khumanego. Khumanego, a bushman, is now an advocate for Bushmen and their traditions, and claims that the Bushmen are innocent and are being persecuted for cultural reasons. There really is no reason for Kubu to be involved in this case and his boss Mabaku says no, until a reporter gets wind of it and threatens to write a story about the bad treatment of the Bushmen. So, for political reasons, Kubu becomes involved and then the case becomes more complicated because of a second murder: a white man in an isolated part of the Kalahari. And then, there is a third murder … Can Kubu find the killer, and why have these men been murdered? And how will Kubu’s wife Joy and their new daughter Tumi, handle his absence?
This novel is an interesting mix of Kubu’s work as a detective and tales of his domestic life, of his battle with weight and of his wife’s adjustment to life with a young baby. There’s insight, too, into the life of the Kalahari Bushmen and the challenges posed by the Kalahari Desert.
This is my first Detective Kubu novel (although it is the third in this series). I like David Bengu and his family, and I look forward to reading the first two novels published in this series by ‘Michael Stanley’ (Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip).
‘Perhaps this was the only way. Preserve the past, do your best for the present, ignore the future.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Read
May 2, 2013Death of the Mantis, by Michael Stanley, a-minus, Talking Book borrowed from the National Library Services for the Blind
This is the third in the Detective Kubu series from Botswana. In this book, Detective Kubu is sent to investigate the murder of a man. He and the police have difficulty finding any leads, but they do find out who the man was. He had been hired by a diamond company to track down where materials were being taken from the company and who was stealing them. The company suspected that a recently discharged employee was to blame, and Detective Kubu set out to bring him in, but then that man was murdered as well. Detective Kubu finds himself in the desert of Botswana, and it is up to him to use the survival skills he learned as a boy in the desert to survive, and to find the killer. He is married to Joy now and they have a baby. Joy is very scared for him to continue being a detective and worries that he will be killed. He is in danger of being killed and betrayed by someone he trusts. A very good book and gives Detective Kubu more depth than we’ve seen in previous books. Very good. I hope Michael Stanley can get an audio publisher to take over these books again. This one, done by a Library for the Blind, had some pronunciation mistakes that were not in the first two books produced by Tantor Media. They’re just about to bring out a fourth book now, and I hope it will be available in audio.
This is the third in the Detective Kubu series from Botswana. In this book, Detective Kubu is sent to investigate the murder of a man. He and the police have difficulty finding any leads, but they do find out who the man was. He had been hired by a diamond company to track down where materials were being taken from the company and who was stealing them. The company suspected that a recently discharged employee was to blame, and Detective Kubu set out to bring him in, but then that man was murdered as well. Detective Kubu finds himself in the desert of Botswana, and it is up to him to use the survival skills he learned as a boy in the desert to survive, and to find the killer. He is married to Joy now and they have a baby. Joy is very scared for him to continue being a detective and worries that he will be killed. He is in danger of being killed and betrayed by someone he trusts. A very good book and gives Detective Kubu more depth than we’ve seen in previous books. Very good. I hope Michael Stanley can get an audio publisher to take over these books again. This one, done by a Library for the Blind, had some pronunciation mistakes that were not in the first two books produced by Tantor Media. They’re just about to bring out a fourth book now, and I hope it will be available in audio.
September 26, 2012
This is the best of the Stanley mysteries I have read: they just keep getting better.
Set in a Botswana that we have become familiar with through the Alexander McCall-Smith series THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY, this mystery has the same gentle feel of McCall-Smith’s. The big, lumbering detective Kubu is not a hardnose, but he gets the job done with compassion and consideration, though he nearly bites the biscuit himself in this installation.
The Kalahari landscape is desert and brutally hot--the territory belongs to the Bushmen traditionally. The Bushmen are as exploited and pushed-around as they are admired and feared. They have a central place in this mystery for their tracking skills, survival skills, and talent with poison arrows.
A man is found murdered in the desert. Some shoe-prints are found neaerby. No one can think of a motive except the camp of Bushmen nearby. Bushmen don't like trepassers on their traditional land. (In this they sound remarkably like the Australian Aborigine of old. We know how that turned out.)
Kudos, the Michael Stanley detective team and HarperCollins for getting the formula right for books that will attract a readership and keep the forces of evil at bay!
Set in a Botswana that we have become familiar with through the Alexander McCall-Smith series THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY, this mystery has the same gentle feel of McCall-Smith’s. The big, lumbering detective Kubu is not a hardnose, but he gets the job done with compassion and consideration, though he nearly bites the biscuit himself in this installation.
The Kalahari landscape is desert and brutally hot--the territory belongs to the Bushmen traditionally. The Bushmen are as exploited and pushed-around as they are admired and feared. They have a central place in this mystery for their tracking skills, survival skills, and talent with poison arrows.
A man is found murdered in the desert. Some shoe-prints are found neaerby. No one can think of a motive except the camp of Bushmen nearby. Bushmen don't like trepassers on their traditional land. (In this they sound remarkably like the Australian Aborigine of old. We know how that turned out.)
Kudos, the Michael Stanley detective team and HarperCollins for getting the formula right for books that will attract a readership and keep the forces of evil at bay!
July 31, 2012
I enjoyed reading about a place I have never read about before. The setting is both beautiful and terrifying. Detective Kubu is a 300 pound African who is a little lazy but very sharp. At first it was hard to imagine such a large man in such hot weather, I kept picturing him thinner. But once I got used to it, he is perfect. It sets him apart like Poirot with his idiosyncracies. I only gave the book three stars when I reviewed it for the summer reading program at the library, but now when I think about how much I enjoyed the story and the newness of it all for me, I would give it four.
Michael Stanley is actually two men writing together. I don't know how they manage that. I would like to know more about how that process works.
Michael Stanley is actually two men writing together. I don't know how they manage that. I would like to know more about how that process works.
February 9, 2018
I skipped from the first book to this one, as my library did not have the second available. As I'd hoped, the writing matured a great deal from the first one, and the few faults I found with A Carrion Death were not evident here. I really like this series, Kubu is very likable and as in the "other" Botswana detective series (about which a funny joke is made in this novel) the country of Botswana and the nature of Africa is a mystical and engaging character all on its own. I'm glad to see that the authors have grown in their writing capabilities and look forward to reading more about Kubu and his work.
July 17, 2012
The third book in a series about a Botswanan detective named David Bengu, nicknamed Kubu (Hippo) because of his large body and easy going nature. He is called by an old high school chum to help defend three Bushmen arrested for the murder of a game park warden, and once again becomes embroiled in a series of seemingly unrelated deaths, which are anything but. Left to die in the desert, Kubu survives and helps put together the various clues to find the killer and help bring him to justice for his crimes in over-aggressively defending a tribesmen way of life.
June 20, 2012
I gave this one four stars. It was a good mystery with a clever plot and I really enjoyed the setting. I just didn't find myself as emotionally engaged as I like to be. Kubu was a good sleuth but he's no Jim Chee and he's no Mma Ramatswe.
December 12, 2012
Loved it! This is the third in the Detective Kubu series, and the best so far. Of course, it's built on the first two books and that gives it an unfair advantage. Great characters, terrific mystery, tons of textures and great suspense. Go check out the series!
August 2, 2015
Average mystery, great setting--the Kalahari was described so well, I felt like I'd actually been there.
October 28, 2018
A whodunit set locally in Southern Africa.
Detective Inspector David "Kubu" Bengu of the Botswana CID is asked to help with the investigation into the murder of a game ranger in the remote south-western part of the country. When a Namibian geologist discovers the corpse of another Namibian visitor Detective Kubu suspects that the murders are linked, and goes to Windhoek to follow up. There are tales of an old treasure map, purported to show the inland source of the alluvial diamonds on Namibia's coast. After checking other earlier mysterious deaths that had originally been thought to be accidental it seems that the Botswana police are looking for a serial killer who must be caught before he kills again.
I found it an enthralling story, perhaps because of the "local" angle. Most of the crime novels we get to read here are set far away on other continents. This one is relatively close, being set in neighbouring countries which we have visited.
Kang in Botswana, through which Insopector Kubu travels on his way to Windhoek, is 773 km from our house. For a whodunit fan in London reading about the exploits of Swedish detective Kurt Wallander by Henning Mankell, Ystad, where Inspector Wallander is based is 1343 km from London. I did read a South African whodunit a few years ago, What Hidden Lies. But that was set in Cape Town, more than twice as far away as Kang in Botswana, and also further away than Ystad is from London.
The detective stories from Botswana that are likely to be most familiar to readers outside that country are the series that begin with The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Be warned that this is nothing like that. These are not private investigators looking for lost pets and errant husbands. These are cops trying to catch a serial killer. I suppose one thing they do have in common, however, are that the scenes are well set, and the characters are well described.
As with some of the Inspector Wallander books, one of the factors in the killings is a cultural clash, in this case between Batswana cops and Bushmen. The first body is discovered by Bushmen, and they immediately become suspects. The only question I have about the authenticity of the setting is why so many of the character seem to have Zulu names. It's not impossible, of course, but it does seem a bit disproportionate.
Anyway, I recommend it to whodunit fans in southern Africa, and perhaps those further afield might enjoy it too.
Detective Inspector David "Kubu" Bengu of the Botswana CID is asked to help with the investigation into the murder of a game ranger in the remote south-western part of the country. When a Namibian geologist discovers the corpse of another Namibian visitor Detective Kubu suspects that the murders are linked, and goes to Windhoek to follow up. There are tales of an old treasure map, purported to show the inland source of the alluvial diamonds on Namibia's coast. After checking other earlier mysterious deaths that had originally been thought to be accidental it seems that the Botswana police are looking for a serial killer who must be caught before he kills again.
I found it an enthralling story, perhaps because of the "local" angle. Most of the crime novels we get to read here are set far away on other continents. This one is relatively close, being set in neighbouring countries which we have visited.
Kang in Botswana, through which Insopector Kubu travels on his way to Windhoek, is 773 km from our house. For a whodunit fan in London reading about the exploits of Swedish detective Kurt Wallander by Henning Mankell, Ystad, where Inspector Wallander is based is 1343 km from London. I did read a South African whodunit a few years ago, What Hidden Lies. But that was set in Cape Town, more than twice as far away as Kang in Botswana, and also further away than Ystad is from London.
The detective stories from Botswana that are likely to be most familiar to readers outside that country are the series that begin with The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Be warned that this is nothing like that. These are not private investigators looking for lost pets and errant husbands. These are cops trying to catch a serial killer. I suppose one thing they do have in common, however, are that the scenes are well set, and the characters are well described.
As with some of the Inspector Wallander books, one of the factors in the killings is a cultural clash, in this case between Batswana cops and Bushmen. The first body is discovered by Bushmen, and they immediately become suspects. The only question I have about the authenticity of the setting is why so many of the character seem to have Zulu names. It's not impossible, of course, but it does seem a bit disproportionate.
Anyway, I recommend it to whodunit fans in southern Africa, and perhaps those further afield might enjoy it too.
February 11, 2019
This is such a great series. In this third installment, Detective Kubu is investigating the mysterious deaths of a Nairobian man and a Ranger both found in the harsh desert. At first, Bushmen are suspected of the crimes. When an old childhood friend of Kubu pleads with him to investigate the case, Kubu meets resistance from his boss but eventually makes convinces him to let Kubu check it out. Kubu's friend does not want discrimination against the Bushmen to interfere with discovering the true killer.
It's impossible not to love Kubu. He's a 300 pound detective with a nickname that means hippo. He's a family man and a great detective. He's willing to step up for the things that he believes in, but sometimes his determination causes problems and gets in the way of his detective work. He's also not always the best at following directions (given by his boss or his wife).
This book, in addition to the murder mystery, delves into Kubu's personal life. He and his wife Joy have just had a baby and the pressures at home are mounting. For the first time, there is indication that there may be some trouble looming in their marriage. When an American reporter develops a crush on Kubu, things just get worse.
Finally, this book gives some perspective into a culture unfamiliar to me. The parts pertaining to Bushmen legends, traditions, and culture are rather fascinating and an added bonus to the story itself.
I love this series and would definitely recommend it to others. It's off the beaten path, but sure to entertain!
It's impossible not to love Kubu. He's a 300 pound detective with a nickname that means hippo. He's a family man and a great detective. He's willing to step up for the things that he believes in, but sometimes his determination causes problems and gets in the way of his detective work. He's also not always the best at following directions (given by his boss or his wife).
This book, in addition to the murder mystery, delves into Kubu's personal life. He and his wife Joy have just had a baby and the pressures at home are mounting. For the first time, there is indication that there may be some trouble looming in their marriage. When an American reporter develops a crush on Kubu, things just get worse.
Finally, this book gives some perspective into a culture unfamiliar to me. The parts pertaining to Bushmen legends, traditions, and culture are rather fascinating and an added bonus to the story itself.
I love this series and would definitely recommend it to others. It's off the beaten path, but sure to entertain!
August 20, 2018
I enjoyed meeting up with Detective Kubu again, and spending time with him in Botswana. Though this is a police procedural, it shares a setting and much of the same tone with Alexander McCall Smith's Mma Ramotswe series. In this book, a childhood friend of Kubu's, a Bushman, asks him to help clear some fellow Bushmen of a murder charge. It was a fascinating look at the lives of these people, who live very close to the land and have very unique ideas.
October 25, 2011
DEATH OF THE MANTIS is the third book in the Detective David 'Kubu' Bengu series from writing duo Stanley Trollip and Michael Sears, under the pen name of Michael Stanley. (For those that haven't read this series 'Kubu' means hippopotamus which is a commentary on Bengu's size.) I remember, before this book was completed, the authors explaining the life and plight of the Bushman, a race of people who come from the Kalahari Desert, who traditionally live a nomadic, simple existence with their own sacred places, rituals and beliefs - not unlike our own Aboriginal races lifestyle and plight. This aspect was part of the reason I've been greatly looking forward to this book, and I was not at all disappointed. The glimpse into Bushman culture was fascinating, and the other aspects of this series - the humour, the personalities, the mystery were solid.
Bengu and Khumanego were unlikely friends at school just taking their comparative physical attributes into account, but their friendship was based on their joint status as outsiders. Khumanego calls on Bengu after many years of no contact to seek his help when two Bushman hunters are arrested for the murder of a park ranger - an anathema to basic Bushman belief on the sanctity of all life. Meanwhile tribal elder Gobiwasi is revisiting the memories and places of his youth - preparing for his own death in the time-honoured tradition of Bushman culture.
At home things have changed for Bengu and his much loved wife Joy - who are now parents to daughter, Tumi. Tumi's arrival has undoubtedly caused disruption in Kubu's happy home life, and somewhat unexpectedly, Kubu seems to be a little distant, disinterested even in the turmoil his beloved Joy is feeling. This is, perhaps, the only area of these books that may cause a little disquiet in some fans of the series - it does seem that Kubu is being just a tad old-fashioned about this child raising business - absenting himself to follow the case, perhaps not as sensitive to Joy's difficulties as you'd have expected. Other than this slightly odd personal characteristic, Kubu is still Kubu. Implacable, inclined towards the cerebral end of detecting, Kubu is patient, careful and painstaking. But in DEATH OF THE MANTIS he also does something unexpected, something dangerously close to a major mistake,
As befits a continent the size of Africa, the range of crime fiction coming out there is widening, it seems, every day. DEATH OF THE MANTIS is a police procedural, with a distinct African feeling to the action, and whilst there are plenty of deaths and mayhem they aren't extremely violent, nor could you ever say they are on the cosier side. Perhaps the better definition is personality driven, police procedurals, with a real feeling of life in Botswana and highlighting of real, and important issues. Hence I found the window into the life of the Bushmen most rewarding. The similarities between much of their culture and our own local Aboriginal cultures was enlightening, and it was saddening to see the same sorts of insensibility and disregard in the other cultures of both countries.
Delivered with a touch of gentle wit and a personality that seems to fit perfectly in a hippopotamus of a man, Bengu feels intrinsically part of the landscape. The crimes that the authors work into their books come from that landscape, as do the investigations and the solutions. Botswana is as much a part of these stories, as is Bengu's family, his friends, colleagues and in the case of DEATH OF THE MANTIS the Bushmen, the victim's, and the motivation for these crimes which all seem to just be perfectly of the place that they come from. It will be interesting to see how fans of the series react to this book, but it would be even better to see new readers immerse themselves in Bengu's Botswana.
(All the books come with a glossary and a pronunciation guide for readers who like to know the details of what they are reading about).
Bengu and Khumanego were unlikely friends at school just taking their comparative physical attributes into account, but their friendship was based on their joint status as outsiders. Khumanego calls on Bengu after many years of no contact to seek his help when two Bushman hunters are arrested for the murder of a park ranger - an anathema to basic Bushman belief on the sanctity of all life. Meanwhile tribal elder Gobiwasi is revisiting the memories and places of his youth - preparing for his own death in the time-honoured tradition of Bushman culture.
At home things have changed for Bengu and his much loved wife Joy - who are now parents to daughter, Tumi. Tumi's arrival has undoubtedly caused disruption in Kubu's happy home life, and somewhat unexpectedly, Kubu seems to be a little distant, disinterested even in the turmoil his beloved Joy is feeling. This is, perhaps, the only area of these books that may cause a little disquiet in some fans of the series - it does seem that Kubu is being just a tad old-fashioned about this child raising business - absenting himself to follow the case, perhaps not as sensitive to Joy's difficulties as you'd have expected. Other than this slightly odd personal characteristic, Kubu is still Kubu. Implacable, inclined towards the cerebral end of detecting, Kubu is patient, careful and painstaking. But in DEATH OF THE MANTIS he also does something unexpected, something dangerously close to a major mistake,
As befits a continent the size of Africa, the range of crime fiction coming out there is widening, it seems, every day. DEATH OF THE MANTIS is a police procedural, with a distinct African feeling to the action, and whilst there are plenty of deaths and mayhem they aren't extremely violent, nor could you ever say they are on the cosier side. Perhaps the better definition is personality driven, police procedurals, with a real feeling of life in Botswana and highlighting of real, and important issues. Hence I found the window into the life of the Bushmen most rewarding. The similarities between much of their culture and our own local Aboriginal cultures was enlightening, and it was saddening to see the same sorts of insensibility and disregard in the other cultures of both countries.
Delivered with a touch of gentle wit and a personality that seems to fit perfectly in a hippopotamus of a man, Bengu feels intrinsically part of the landscape. The crimes that the authors work into their books come from that landscape, as do the investigations and the solutions. Botswana is as much a part of these stories, as is Bengu's family, his friends, colleagues and in the case of DEATH OF THE MANTIS the Bushmen, the victim's, and the motivation for these crimes which all seem to just be perfectly of the place that they come from. It will be interesting to see how fans of the series react to this book, but it would be even better to see new readers immerse themselves in Bengu's Botswana.
(All the books come with a glossary and a pronunciation guide for readers who like to know the details of what they are reading about).
December 12, 2014
Once again, while searching for another entry into my self created challenge of reading new authors in 2014, I came across the writer duo of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip, who collectively writes crime fiction under the name of Michael Stanley, featuring the Botswana Policeman, Detective David Bengu nicknamed Kubu (Hippopotamus in the Setswana language) for his size.
Set in the southern African nation of Botswana (home of another very famous series created by Alexander McCall Smith) THE DEATH OF A MANTIS begins when a game ranger is found dead in the Kalahari Desert. The three Bushmen who found the dying man, is quickly arrested on suspicion of murder. Detective Kubu, based in Gaborone is asked by a schoolmate of his, Khumanego, a lawyer and a Bushman himself, to look into the matter and stopping the authorities from persecuting the Bushmen unnecessarily. Kubu, going aginst his boss, accepts to help and pushes headlong into the investigation as bodies start piling up one after another.
Detective Kubu, is a fat policeman (like Andy Dalziel), married (unlike Dalziel) with a baby girl. He likes to eat and doesn���t enjoy the salad diet his wife has forced on him. In toto, he comes out as a not-so-remarkable, but a standard fictional protagonist. He loves his family, and his dilemma over choosing between his work and family makes him more of a human. The other characters are shown, including the main culprit, in a one dimensional view.
But the book falls flat in the plot department. What made it sadder was that the plot had the potential to turn out into a page turner, and the authors, upto 65%, were taking the book into that direction. But suddenly the plot changed from being a whodunnit into a howcatchem. No prior warnings, clues or signals were given. The plot was flowing smoothly in one page, and suddenly in the next page the culprit revealed himself. There was not a single page where I felt that the detective had any inclination as to who the main culprit was. For me it���s okay if the reader is baffled, but if it turns out that even the main protagonist was out of his depths and had the culprit not revealed himself would have failed to point him out, puts a lot of question on the ability of both the author and the detective. And even the ending was just the same. Suddenly the detective stumbled upon the culprit. He had no idea, no clue whatsoever as to the whereabouts of the killer. Once again had the culprit chosen to run away, he would have never been caught. Not atleast by Detective Kubu or his creators.
But despite these major shortcomings the book was surprisingly unputdownable. Yes I felt a betrayed by the turn of events, but I never thought of putting the book down. The pace, the suspense, the thrill was ever present, in perfect proportions to make it a perfect work of crime fiction. If only a little art of detection was present, the book would have got a 5 star rating. But, since in a detective novel, the main stay is the detection part I chose to withdraw 2 stars and give it a 3 star rating.
Will you read this book? Yes, you should. Though not written by famous African writers trying to change the African world from their houses in, this book, written by two men one living in Africa and the other in USA, while giving you a fast crime novel will also show you the plight of the Bushmen, their culture, the nature of conflict in Botswana between the ethnic people and the modernization all wrapped in a pulpy cover of Crime fiction.
Set in the southern African nation of Botswana (home of another very famous series created by Alexander McCall Smith) THE DEATH OF A MANTIS begins when a game ranger is found dead in the Kalahari Desert. The three Bushmen who found the dying man, is quickly arrested on suspicion of murder. Detective Kubu, based in Gaborone is asked by a schoolmate of his, Khumanego, a lawyer and a Bushman himself, to look into the matter and stopping the authorities from persecuting the Bushmen unnecessarily. Kubu, going aginst his boss, accepts to help and pushes headlong into the investigation as bodies start piling up one after another.
Detective Kubu, is a fat policeman (like Andy Dalziel), married (unlike Dalziel) with a baby girl. He likes to eat and doesn���t enjoy the salad diet his wife has forced on him. In toto, he comes out as a not-so-remarkable, but a standard fictional protagonist. He loves his family, and his dilemma over choosing between his work and family makes him more of a human. The other characters are shown, including the main culprit, in a one dimensional view.
But the book falls flat in the plot department. What made it sadder was that the plot had the potential to turn out into a page turner, and the authors, upto 65%, were taking the book into that direction. But suddenly the plot changed from being a whodunnit into a howcatchem. No prior warnings, clues or signals were given. The plot was flowing smoothly in one page, and suddenly in the next page the culprit revealed himself. There was not a single page where I felt that the detective had any inclination as to who the main culprit was. For me it���s okay if the reader is baffled, but if it turns out that even the main protagonist was out of his depths and had the culprit not revealed himself would have failed to point him out, puts a lot of question on the ability of both the author and the detective. And even the ending was just the same. Suddenly the detective stumbled upon the culprit. He had no idea, no clue whatsoever as to the whereabouts of the killer. Once again had the culprit chosen to run away, he would have never been caught. Not atleast by Detective Kubu or his creators.
But despite these major shortcomings the book was surprisingly unputdownable. Yes I felt a betrayed by the turn of events, but I never thought of putting the book down. The pace, the suspense, the thrill was ever present, in perfect proportions to make it a perfect work of crime fiction. If only a little art of detection was present, the book would have got a 5 star rating. But, since in a detective novel, the main stay is the detection part I chose to withdraw 2 stars and give it a 3 star rating.
Will you read this book? Yes, you should. Though not written by famous African writers trying to change the African world from their houses in, this book, written by two men one living in Africa and the other in USA, while giving you a fast crime novel will also show you the plight of the Bushmen, their culture, the nature of conflict in Botswana between the ethnic people and the modernization all wrapped in a pulpy cover of Crime fiction.
April 23, 2012
This third book in the Detective Kubu series finds our favorite portly member of Botswanna CID called in to help investigate a murder committed on the edge of the Kalahari. When the Bushmen who find the body become suspects in the murder, Kubu's old school friend calls him in to help make sure the aboriginal men get fair treatment at the hands of the often-racist government. A few thoughts:
Once again, the authors (Michael Stanley is pseudonym for two men) do a great job immersing the reader in the world of Botswanna. In this episode, we learn about the myths, beliefs, and philosophy of the Bushmen, as well as a few facts about life in the desert. The novelists do a good job presenting the conflicts between the Bushmen and the Botswannan government, a classic conflict that echoes the British-Australian/Australian Aborigine or Native American/European-American conflicts.
Kubu's home life continues to be an excellent part of the story. I still think they overdo it with the intense description of the food he eats, but such is the nature of Kubu as a character. But his relationship to his wife (named Joy) and his new daughter make for both more stress (as any baby introduced to the family will) and pressure him to step up and think about the relationship between his job and his family. This section of the book rung especially true for me as I was just leaving on a trip myself and feeling a little guilty about my wife having to handle the kids on her own.
We also see, in Kubu's and Joy's parents, the interweaving of old and new life in Botswanna. In particular, the pressure on Kubu's step-sister to marry becomes a plot point, and the negotiation for a bride price, set in number of cows, makes for an amusing and interesting diversion.
The side characters in the novel are really compelling. One of the suspects is a white man from Namibia who finds himself under attack while roaming the desert on vacation. His character is revealed slowly, and the authors do a great job pulling those pieces together. The same goes for Cindy, a freelance reporter who gets involved in the case in order to prod the Botswanna police to watch the watchmen.
The mystery itself is well-wrought as well. My book club generally agreed that it felt organic and unforced, yet still sufficiently complicated to be interesting. A moderate cast of characters means the reader has plenty to speculate about, yet the novel also develops the story in a way that doesn't feel like a single piece of evidence could have pointed the finger at one or another of the suspects.
A good read, overall. Solid characters, an organic mystery, and plenty of local color.
Once again, the authors (Michael Stanley is pseudonym for two men) do a great job immersing the reader in the world of Botswanna. In this episode, we learn about the myths, beliefs, and philosophy of the Bushmen, as well as a few facts about life in the desert. The novelists do a good job presenting the conflicts between the Bushmen and the Botswannan government, a classic conflict that echoes the British-Australian/Australian Aborigine or Native American/European-American conflicts.
Kubu's home life continues to be an excellent part of the story. I still think they overdo it with the intense description of the food he eats, but such is the nature of Kubu as a character. But his relationship to his wife (named Joy) and his new daughter make for both more stress (as any baby introduced to the family will) and pressure him to step up and think about the relationship between his job and his family. This section of the book rung especially true for me as I was just leaving on a trip myself and feeling a little guilty about my wife having to handle the kids on her own.
We also see, in Kubu's and Joy's parents, the interweaving of old and new life in Botswanna. In particular, the pressure on Kubu's step-sister to marry becomes a plot point, and the negotiation for a bride price, set in number of cows, makes for an amusing and interesting diversion.
The side characters in the novel are really compelling. One of the suspects is a white man from Namibia who finds himself under attack while roaming the desert on vacation. His character is revealed slowly, and the authors do a great job pulling those pieces together. The same goes for Cindy, a freelance reporter who gets involved in the case in order to prod the Botswanna police to watch the watchmen.
The mystery itself is well-wrought as well. My book club generally agreed that it felt organic and unforced, yet still sufficiently complicated to be interesting. A moderate cast of characters means the reader has plenty to speculate about, yet the novel also develops the story in a way that doesn't feel like a single piece of evidence could have pointed the finger at one or another of the suspects.
A good read, overall. Solid characters, an organic mystery, and plenty of local color.
August 27, 2011
First Line: The desert glowed in the dawn light.
In this wonderful third entry in the Detective Kubu mystery series set in Botswana, Detective David Bengu (call him Kubu, please) finds himself torn between the orders of his superior officer and the request of a beloved childhood friend.
As little boys, Kubu and his Bushman schoolmate Khumanego are the ones who are "different"-- the outsiders. As a result, they became close friends. Once they left school, however, they lost track of each other, so when Kubu first sees his old friend, he is overjoyed. Khumanego has become an advocate for his people, and he believes that the incarceration of three of his fellow tribesmen shows racial motivation on the part of the local police. When a second, and then a third, murder occurs in the same area-- both pointing to the nomadic Bushman tribe-- Kubu's superior changes his tune and lets the detective go to investigate. When Kubu arrives and begins to piece clues and facts together, he finds himself on what may well turn out to be a one-way trip into the unforgiving Kalahari Desert.
The writing team of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip have outdone themselves. I was held captive by this book! The descriptions of the Kalahari Desert reminded me of journeys my husband and I have taken out into the desert here: the vastness, the immensity of the sky, the seeming emptiness, the heat, the sun...the sense of being the only people on the face of the earth. Temper that with Kubu and his wife Joy adjusting to life as the parents of a demanding little baby, and you have a book that covers a lot of territory and a lot of emotions-- and covers them all very well indeed.
I welcomed learning some of the legends and customs of the Bushmen, but for me what was foremost was the story itself. Sears and Trollip have written a compelling mystery with a tightly woven plot and excellent misdirection. Just as I became convinced I knew whom the killer was, I'd be proven wrong and given another false set of coordinates for my GPS-- and away I would go. I finally realized the killer's identity and still hoped I was wrong. When Kubu's investigation led into the depths of the desert, I became anxious for his safety. As I said, I was completely caught up in this book!
Do you need to read the other two books in the series before reading this one? No, you don't. Personally I think you're a bit touched if you want to miss a single chapter in the life of one of my favorite detectives!
In this wonderful third entry in the Detective Kubu mystery series set in Botswana, Detective David Bengu (call him Kubu, please) finds himself torn between the orders of his superior officer and the request of a beloved childhood friend.
As little boys, Kubu and his Bushman schoolmate Khumanego are the ones who are "different"-- the outsiders. As a result, they became close friends. Once they left school, however, they lost track of each other, so when Kubu first sees his old friend, he is overjoyed. Khumanego has become an advocate for his people, and he believes that the incarceration of three of his fellow tribesmen shows racial motivation on the part of the local police. When a second, and then a third, murder occurs in the same area-- both pointing to the nomadic Bushman tribe-- Kubu's superior changes his tune and lets the detective go to investigate. When Kubu arrives and begins to piece clues and facts together, he finds himself on what may well turn out to be a one-way trip into the unforgiving Kalahari Desert.
The writing team of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip have outdone themselves. I was held captive by this book! The descriptions of the Kalahari Desert reminded me of journeys my husband and I have taken out into the desert here: the vastness, the immensity of the sky, the seeming emptiness, the heat, the sun...the sense of being the only people on the face of the earth. Temper that with Kubu and his wife Joy adjusting to life as the parents of a demanding little baby, and you have a book that covers a lot of territory and a lot of emotions-- and covers them all very well indeed.
I welcomed learning some of the legends and customs of the Bushmen, but for me what was foremost was the story itself. Sears and Trollip have written a compelling mystery with a tightly woven plot and excellent misdirection. Just as I became convinced I knew whom the killer was, I'd be proven wrong and given another false set of coordinates for my GPS-- and away I would go. I finally realized the killer's identity and still hoped I was wrong. When Kubu's investigation led into the depths of the desert, I became anxious for his safety. As I said, I was completely caught up in this book!
Do you need to read the other two books in the series before reading this one? No, you don't. Personally I think you're a bit touched if you want to miss a single chapter in the life of one of my favorite detectives!
August 27, 2015
I'm still not sure how I'm getting myself into these situations, actually I do know the reason. It's simple actually. I don't due my research before I agree to review a book, at least I don't do it well enough. How else do you explain my penchant for reviewing books that are actually somewhere in the middle of series. It is simply that I'm a mystery junkie who takes any opportunity he can to read a good one? Do I enjoy reading said book and liking it so much that I feel compelled to go back and read the rest of the series? I think I would have to answer yes to both questions. I'm just happy to say that this book fell right in with the pattern.
From cover to cover, this was a well crafted mystery novel that kept me engaged the entire time. No matter how well a mystery is mapped out, how carefully it's constructed, if it doesn't have an enjoyable detective there is no reason to read it. If the detective is cookie cutter boring, who cares about the what they are doing. A detective needs to be different enough to stand out in a sea of mystery novels, but not so off putting you want the bad guy to win.
Detective David "Kubu" Bengu is a detective that I really think Hercule Poirot would have enjoyed working with, though he would never admit it. Kubu, so nicknamed as a child for his size (think hippopotamus,) is one of the most enjoyable "new" detectives that I've come across in a long time. He seems to have such a wonderfully developed sense of self, without being egotistical (Hercule Poirot) about it. He knows his limitations, but he trusts his own judgements and follows through with them. He is dedicated to his family and his job, and though there are tensions between the two, he seems to have found that perfect balance. It's rare for me to really love a detective that wasn't dreamed up by one of yesteryear's mystery mavens. So when it happens, I want to dive into every book they are in. I'll now be going back and reading the books I've missed, and I'll be looking forward to the new ones as they come out.
From cover to cover, this was a well crafted mystery novel that kept me engaged the entire time. No matter how well a mystery is mapped out, how carefully it's constructed, if it doesn't have an enjoyable detective there is no reason to read it. If the detective is cookie cutter boring, who cares about the what they are doing. A detective needs to be different enough to stand out in a sea of mystery novels, but not so off putting you want the bad guy to win.
Detective David "Kubu" Bengu is a detective that I really think Hercule Poirot would have enjoyed working with, though he would never admit it. Kubu, so nicknamed as a child for his size (think hippopotamus,) is one of the most enjoyable "new" detectives that I've come across in a long time. He seems to have such a wonderfully developed sense of self, without being egotistical (Hercule Poirot) about it. He knows his limitations, but he trusts his own judgements and follows through with them. He is dedicated to his family and his job, and though there are tensions between the two, he seems to have found that perfect balance. It's rare for me to really love a detective that wasn't dreamed up by one of yesteryear's mystery mavens. So when it happens, I want to dive into every book they are in. I'll now be going back and reading the books I've missed, and I'll be looking forward to the new ones as they come out.
December 31, 2011
In this third mystery set in Botswana, Assistant Supt. David "Kubu" Bengu is settling into life as a new father when an old friend of his, a Bushman that he knew in childhood, calls him about a murder case in the Kalahari which has resulted in the arrest of three Bushmen for the crime. Bushmen are by nature non-violent and although Kubu is loathe to get involved, he feels that he owes his friend at least a look-see, so he leaves his struggling wife Joy and baby daughter for a trip to the desert country. He begins to see immediately that his friend is right--the detective in charge of the case has made up his mind that the Bushmen are responsible, and thus remains closed against other possible suspects. Kubu points out several inconsistencies and a lack of hard evidence results in the Bushmen being released--followed, of course, by more deaths.
I love the characters in this series--it's more realistic and true-to-life than the super-cozy Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series, set in the same general locale. The immersion into the culture is very interesting, and the perspective changes generally enhance the storyline too. But this book was not quite up to par with the others, I didn't think. The bad guy was very obvious early on, and there was a lot of extraneous and repetitious prose; I really felt that a hundred pages could have been lopped off without losing the story at all.
I love the characters in this series--it's more realistic and true-to-life than the super-cozy Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series, set in the same general locale. The immersion into the culture is very interesting, and the perspective changes generally enhance the storyline too. But this book was not quite up to par with the others, I didn't think. The bad guy was very obvious early on, and there was a lot of extraneous and repetitious prose; I really felt that a hundred pages could have been lopped off without losing the story at all.
March 1, 2015
The third offering in the Detective Kubu mystery series has an air of unsettlement throughout -- partly due to the murders Kubu is investigating, partly because of changes that Kubu is experiencing at home. An old friend from school, Khumanego, implores Kubu to get involved in the case, accusing the local police of being racists unjustly targeting the Bushmen who found the first body. Additional murders arise and clues continue to point to involvement by the Bushmen; however, Kubu cannot believe that these peaceful men could be capable of such heinous acts. Kubu must travel away from home to investigate, straining his relationship with Joy. Adding to the stress is the fact that Kubu's boss Mabaku was dead set against getting involved in the case but a reporter's article forces his hand and he agrees to Kubu's request to get involved. A trip to the Kalahari ultimately reveals the truth and the killer's identity...but is it too late for the detective? As was the case in the first two books in the series, the authors have woven in real elements about life in Africa (this one deals with the Bushmen, life in the Kalahari desert, and takes a side trek into neighboring Namibia) and I feel like I learn a little (I'm even remembering the meanings for some of the foreign words without having to flip to the glossary in the back now! :)) while being challenged by the mystery. I look forward to reading the fourth book in the series soon!
May 17, 2013
Although it's not the first Lt. Kubu mystery, it's the first I've read, because it was on sale one day at the Kindle store. I'll certainly be reading more. Set in Botswana, a largely Black African-run country which also has white residents and Bushmen, this book explores the tensions between the Bushmen and the majority of somewhat Westernized blacks in the country.
Lt. Kubu (a nickname meaning "hippo" in the Setswana language) is a new father in this story, torn between the demands of his job and his wife's need to have him help more with the overwhelming needs of their daughter. When an old friend from schooldays, a Bushman who works as an advocate for his people, comes to him for help, Kubu sticks his neck out and comes in conflict with other policemen who (with some reason) suspect Bushmen in the death of a park ranger. The story becomes far more complicated as more murders occur, and eventually Kubu finds himself in great danger both physically and emotionally.
I've never read Alexander McCall Smith's tales of the No. One Ladies' Detective Agency, but I've been told that the Kubu series (by two South Africans, one who lives in Johannesburg and one in Minneapolis) is much more true to the reality of Botswana. There is humor in the book, but there is also respect. Though the two countries and the eras are very different, Death of the Mantis reminded me more of James McClure's excellent series set in apartheid-era South Africa. I'd recommend this one very highly.
Lt. Kubu (a nickname meaning "hippo" in the Setswana language) is a new father in this story, torn between the demands of his job and his wife's need to have him help more with the overwhelming needs of their daughter. When an old friend from schooldays, a Bushman who works as an advocate for his people, comes to him for help, Kubu sticks his neck out and comes in conflict with other policemen who (with some reason) suspect Bushmen in the death of a park ranger. The story becomes far more complicated as more murders occur, and eventually Kubu finds himself in great danger both physically and emotionally.
I've never read Alexander McCall Smith's tales of the No. One Ladies' Detective Agency, but I've been told that the Kubu series (by two South Africans, one who lives in Johannesburg and one in Minneapolis) is much more true to the reality of Botswana. There is humor in the book, but there is also respect. Though the two countries and the eras are very different, Death of the Mantis reminded me more of James McClure's excellent series set in apartheid-era South Africa. I'd recommend this one very highly.
February 25, 2012
The title is derived from the symbol, a praying mantis, of the People, the “Bushmen” of Botswana, the setting for this, the third Detective Kubu mystery. Kubu, the nickname for David Bengu, assistant superintendent of the CID, means hippo, which describes his girth. Now a father, Kubu faces the challenges of protecting his family from the dangers of his profession and the love of his job.
And no greater tests confront him than those in this novel. Initially, Kubu faces a relatively simple case: A park ranger is found dead, with three Bushmen near the body. One detective decides the three are guilty of the murder, but Kubu is beseeched by a boyhood Bushman friend to look into the case. The lack of evidence forces Kubu to free them. Subsequently, additional murders in the vicinity raise further questions and lead Kubu deeper into the investigation.
The authors [Michael Stanley is the nom de plume of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip] provide significant insights into the lives and culture of the Bushmen, sort of nomads living a primitive existence in the Botswanaian desert. Of course, these observations play a crucial part in solving the murders. It is an absorbing work, intriguing from the first page. Carefully constructed, without a superfluous word, the novel carries the reader swiftly from beginning to a logical, but unexpected, conclusion. Highly recommended.
And no greater tests confront him than those in this novel. Initially, Kubu faces a relatively simple case: A park ranger is found dead, with three Bushmen near the body. One detective decides the three are guilty of the murder, but Kubu is beseeched by a boyhood Bushman friend to look into the case. The lack of evidence forces Kubu to free them. Subsequently, additional murders in the vicinity raise further questions and lead Kubu deeper into the investigation.
The authors [Michael Stanley is the nom de plume of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip] provide significant insights into the lives and culture of the Bushmen, sort of nomads living a primitive existence in the Botswanaian desert. Of course, these observations play a crucial part in solving the murders. It is an absorbing work, intriguing from the first page. Carefully constructed, without a superfluous word, the novel carries the reader swiftly from beginning to a logical, but unexpected, conclusion. Highly recommended.
November 23, 2011
Murders and betrayal in the Kalahari Desert play out for Kubu in this rather thrilling mystery that invokes Tony Hillerman and his themes of indigenous dignity and the sacredness of land. We have gem seeking white men, condescending blacks, and beleaguered bushmen all combining in a volatile brew of deception and suspense. While hunting a murderer the police stumble across another body. Bias against the bushmen has them as the ususal suspects. Kubu gets involved due to politics and is off to Namibia and thinks he has the case solved. Were it so easy? Best so far in the series. This is the Number One Ladies Detective Agency meets Tony Hillerman. I particularly enjoy reading about Kubu and the relationship he has with his boss, Mabaku. There's no question about who's in charge. Mabaku can be the hard ass and also the benevolent uncle as a boss and occasionally Kubu learns a thing or two from him. Kubu also isn't the jaded, loner type common in police procedurals. He like Inspector Montalbano has a love of food and wine but unlike Montalbano he's also a happily married man with a newborn baby girl. Looking forward to the next one.
April 6, 2013
I read the first book in this series about a year ago (audiobook, actually). I liked it, but I wasn't anxious to read the other books. This book was 99 cent Kindle special, so I decided to go for it. I definitely liked this book more. This book has stronger characters and plot development. In particular, the lead detective Kubu (hippopotamus in Setswana) is a compelling, and well-developed character here. After finishing this book, I found myself thinking for a moment that I could see him as a real person. The story is interesting: murders in the Kalahari for which Bushmen are suspected... Kubu's childhood classmate and friend, Khumanego (a Bushman) advocating for the innocence of his people. In many ways, the book is similar to that other famous Botswana detective series. The author even alludes to it at one point, stating that Kubu might go off and found the No. One Man's Detective Agency. This series is a little darker, though. Not quite so many light-hearted moments, but a sharper focus on one mystery per book.
I didn't love the resolution of the book, but still a very enjoyable read.
I didn't love the resolution of the book, but still a very enjoyable read.
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