Detective 'Kubu' Bengu and Samantha Khama investigate the disappearance of young girls across Botswana. Rumors swirl that the girls were harvested for muti, a witch doctor's potion made more powerful with human remains. For Detective Khama this case is personal as well as a chance to prove her worth. Samantha is the first and only female detective in Botswana. If she fails to solve this case, it will be more than her reputation on the line. Kubu nurtures Samantha's instincts, but must also play by the unspoken rules of brotherhood while trying to stop a serial killer or killers from plucking more victims from the streets.

DEADLY HARVEST by Michael Stanley is a fantastic mystery that delves into the deepest fears and superstitions of man. This is the fourth Detective Kubu Mystery and the first introducing Samantha Khama. Kubu is a detective who enjoys his food, loves his family, and methodically plugs away at the mystery before him. Samantha is impatient, eager, and has a chip on her shoulder. Their dynamic is interesting and will be fun to watch as it grows. The plot twists and turns, tugging the reader down an unknown path, but it's the characters that hooked me. Kubu is a detective but he's a husband and father first. The very fact that he's overweight and isn't obsessively driven to find justice is refreshing. Don't get me wrong, I love those characters, too, and that's not to say that Kubu isn't good at his job, but DEADLY HARVEST gives us a detective that is relatable, likable, and intelligent. His compassion and understanding is what makes him an excellent detective. He doesn't use violence to get information. He's not sinfully handsome so people spill secrets all over him. He's a regular guy who works at his job like any other regular person. Except he's infinitely more interesting to read about than the man or woman in the cubicle next door.

I always love reading mysteries set in other nations because I love seeing not only how their justice system works but how a culture thinks and sees itself. Throughout the entire novel there are references to AIDS and the terrible price it takes. It touches every character, impacts every life. It's an unbreakable thread that binds the joys and struggles of a nation together. The fears and prejudice are there as well as the tireless efforts of those willing to help. Michael Stanley portrays this struggle without crossing the line into preaching to the reader. Because of this, the impact is much stronger and more deeply felt.

With complex characters and an unexpected ending, DEADLY HARVEST digs into the darkest corners of mankind, exposing the fears and desires that will drive people to commit desperate acts. I can't wait to read more in the Detective Kubu Mystery series by Michael Stanley. It is a perfect mystery for any day of the week.