Synopses & Reviews
“The best book yet in one of the best series going: a serious novel with a mystery at its core that takes us places weve never been.”
—Timothy Hallinan, author of
The Queen of Patpong Mystery readers who have not yet made the acquaintance of larger than life African investigator Detective David “Kubu” Bengu are doing themselves a great disservice. Death of the Mantis is the third Kubu novel from author Michael Stanley—following the critically acclaimed A Carrion Death and The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu—and it plunges the robust manhunter into the chaotic center of a murder case involving nomadic Bushmen that is stoking the fires of prejudice and tribal hatred. Set in Botswana—the fascinating equatorial country also explored by Alexander McCall Smith in his #1 Ladies Detective Agency novels—Death of the Mantis is a book alive with the sights and sounds of an exotic and breathtaking land. The exploits of Stanleys singularly captivating policeman protagonist will delight you and keep you guessing.
Review
“Assistant Superintendent Kubu is back! A page-turner from start to finish. Michael Stanleys enthralling series is a must-read for anyone who enjoys clever plotting, terrific writing, and a fascinating glimpse of todays Africa. KubuDEATH OF THE MANTISMichael Stanley: the perfect mystery trifecta for any crime fan.” Charles Todd, New York times bestselling author of A Matter of Justice
Review
“DEATH OF THE MANTIS is the best book yet in one of the best series going: a serious novel with a mystery at its core that takes us places weve never been, thrills and informs us, and leaves us changed by the experience. I loved this book.” Timothy Hallinan, author of The Queen of Patpong and A Nail Through the Heart
Review
“DEATH OF THE MANTIS is the best book Ive read in a very long time. A fantastic read. Brilliant!” Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author of Bury Your Dead
Review
“Impossible to put down, this immensely readable third entry. . . delivers the goods. Kubus painstaking detecting skills make him a sort of Hercule Poirot of the desert. . . . This series can be recommended to a wide gamut of readers.” Library Journal (starred review)
Review
“Kubus third recorded case is again alive with local color and detail and, refreshingly, offers his fullest mystery plot yet.” Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
"The best book yet in one of the best series going: a serious novel with a mystery at its core that takes us places we've never been." --Timothy Hallinan, author of The Queen of Patpong
Death of the Mantis is the third Kubu novel from author Michael Stanley--following the critically acclaimed A Carrion Death and The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu--and it plunges the robust manhunter into the chaotic center of a murder case involving a ranger found dead in a ravine, surrounded by three nomads, that is stoking the fires of prejudice and hatred. When the local police arrest them, Kubu's friend Khumanego insists that the arrest was motivated by racist antagonism, and Kubu must decide how to solve the emotionally charged case.
Set in Botswana--the fascinating equatorial country also explored by Alexander McCall Smith in his #1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels--Death of the Mantis is a book alive with the sights and sounds of a breathtaking land. The exploits of Stanley's singularly captivating policeman protagonist will delight you and keep you guessing.
Synopsis
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.
About the Author
Michael Stanley is the writing team of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. Sears was born in Johannesburg, grew up in Cape Town and Nairobi, and teaches at the University of the Witwatersrand. Trollip was also born in Johannesburg and has been on the faculty of the universities of Illinois, Minnesota, and North Dakota, and at Capella University. He divides his time between Knysna, South Africa, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.