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.
Deadly Harvest in Michael Stanley’s beloved Detective Kubu series tracks a series of murders and a mysterious witch doctor whose nefarious potions might hold the key to a web of missing persons. Girls are disappearing in Botswana. The rumor is they're being harvested for muti, a witch doctor's potion traditionally derived from plants and animals—and which, some believe, can be made more potent by adding human remains. Detective David "Kubu" Bengu joins the investigation with the police force's newest detective—and only woman—Samantha Khama, for whom the case is personal. Soon one girl's father, convinced that his daughter's death is linked to the recent popularity of a political candidate, takes the law into his own hands. After the father flees, what Kubu and Samantha find in the politician's home confirms their worst fears: muti containing human DNA is real. Now Kubu and Samantha are thrust into a harrowing race to stop a serial killer or killers—and those who would pay for their special, lethal muti.
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