Mystery Abounds in an African Adventure

I recently stumbled across a really wonderful mystery set in Africa and truly enjoyed reading it. Titled A Carrion Death and written by Michael Stanley, the book is set in Botswana, and introduces Assistant Superintendent, David Bengu, affectionately nicknamed Detective Kubu (Botswana for “hippopotamus”) due to his convivial passions and determination to solve crimes. In this book, Kubu is pursing the murderer of an anonymous victim, a pursuit that takes him across several towns and villages in Botswana. My favorite part of this book is not the mystery (although it is good), but the people Kubu meets, and his interactions with them and their cultures amidst the setting of Botswana. I first became interested in Botswana as a result of Alexander McCall-Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective series featuring Mma Ramatswe and have become an avid reader of stories set in Africa since then. I enjoy reading stories with great descriptions of settings and I believe when you read A Carrion Death you will feel the hot, dusty, air and magic of Africa!