Deadly Harvest

As this series goes on, the stories darken. This one, the fourth in the series, concerns the ways that people seeking power turn to traditional witch doctors to give them a boost with a bundle of stuff called a muti. A few of them have gone beyond using herbs and occasionally parts of animals (a lion's heart, for example) and use human ingredients. In this case, a politician is murdered and a muti bundle is found at his home. A new woman detective, Samantha Khama, has joined the force, bringing with her a determination to find out what has happened to missing girls whose disappearances she feels have not been sufficiently investigated. Kubu guides her in the art of investigation while helping her avoid the backlash her brash and show more impassioned opinions might cause. Kubu, as usual, is a smart investigator in the body of a big and amiable man nicknamed "hippo." Samantha plays a major role in the case, but isn't yet a terribly well-developed character. It looks as if she will become a regular member of the cast, so hopefully we'll learn more about her in future. As usual, the Botswana setting is a main attraction of the story. The book is dedicated to Alice Mogwe and Unity Dow "who fight the battles we just write about" - and the afterword recommends Dow's novel The Screaming of the Innocents which is also about muti murders. show less

First Line: As she walked home, Lesego's head was full of Christmas.

Assistant Superintendent David Bengu of the Gaborone Criminal Investigation Department (known by everyone as "Kubu") has barely had time to make the acquaintance of the CID's first woman detective, Samantha Khama, when his superior tells him he needs to devote his time to a death threat on a popular political candidate. Samantha seems to be a bright, very intense young woman who's determined to focus on crimes against women. Since Kubu now has very little time to mentor her, he agrees when she asks to be put in charge of a cold case concerning missing women and children. In quick succession two young girls go missing after being seen getting into cars, and the show more political candidate is murdered. Kubu and Samantha have their hands full-- and what neither of them realizes is that their cases will entwine. There is a powerful, and very deadly, witch doctor at the heart of both their investigations.

Every voracious crime fiction reader loves to be in at the start of an excellent series and watch it improve and flourish with each subsequent book. That's exactly what's happened with the Detective Kubu series penned by the talented writing team of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip.

Their series is set in the fascinating country of Botswana, familiar yet so very different from the Botswana of Alexander McCall Smith's Precious Ramotswe. As Kubu interacts with other characters, we learn of the traditions, customs, foods, and land in which the books are set.

During the investigations of Deadly Harvest, we become more familiar with the political climate as well as muti, a type of traditional medicine widespread in southern Africa. Unfortunately some witch doctors resort to the use of human body parts in the making of their medicines and potions, and stopping this horrendous practice is a driving force in the book. It's the skillful weaving together of the cold case and the murder of the political candidate that builds suspense to such a point that I still find it hard to believe that Deadly Harvest is almost 500 pages long.

As with any good series, Sears and Trollip know that the books are only as good as the recurring characters-- and what a marvelous cast they've created! We see Kubu with criminals and other police officers, and we get to see what a happy, solid relationship he has with his wife, his daughter, and his parents. As his parents age, problems begin to arise, and I feel certain that we'll be able to read more about this in future books. Kubu's superior officer is a good man, which makes a nice change from all the other fictional police detectives who seem to have to deal with pencil-pushing idiots who only protect and serve their own careers. I was a bit doubtful about the addition of Samantha Khama to this wonderful cast. At first she's so intense and fanatical that I wanted to tell her to loosen up, but I knew she'd either treat me to some sort of diatribe, or glare at me and stomp off in the opposite direction. But the longer she investigated, and the more she worked with her fellow officers, my attitude changed. I'm really looking forward to reading more about her.

Actually I'm looking forward to much more than reading more about Samantha Khama. I'm hooked on Botswana, a large, wily detective known as Kubu ("hippo"), his family and friends, and the mesmerizing stories written by two men known as Michael Stanley. May there be many more investigations to come! show less

Some of the very best crime fiction explores issues that are relevant to the society in which it is set. Michael Stanley's Kubu series, set in Botswana seems to have really hit its straps in that department in the last couple of books, with DEADLY HARVEST reaching a particular high. The fourth book in the Detective Kubu series, here the author(s) are exploring the disappearance of a number of young girls. The suspicion is that these girls are the victims of a powerful, unknown witchdoctor, looking for victims to incorporate in his muti, or traditional African healing, potions.

This is, needless to say a rather confrontational storyline. Built as it is into questions of the powerful and powerless in society, and the ravages of AIDS and show more HIV within families throughout Botswana.

The confrontational is handled well though. The style of these stories is slightly mannered (for want of a better description), there's a tone in the writing that fits with the style and personality of Detective Kubu. Measured, careful, considered and slightly formal, Kubu is an interesting man with a balanced life. The storytelling itself is also nicely balanced with time in the personal and family life, which doesn't pull focus from the main investigation line. In DEADLY HARVEST the authors have also introduced a new, female investigator in Detective Samantha Khama. A serious foil to Kubu's measured nature, Khama is more driven, impulsive, emotional if you like. Mind you, that doesn't come across as a male versus female thing, rather the senior more experienced policeman and the young gun with things to prove, and a few things to learn.

I must admit I love this series, and DEADLY HARVEST as much as I loved the last book. It's current day, it's got that educational look into real life in a developing nation. It is measured and polite, and somehow feels very very African. If you've not read any of the Kubu series then there's no time like the present. Each book would work on its own if you need to dive in, but as is always the case with these series, if you can start at the beginning of Kubu's journey and work through it with him, then so much the better.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/deadly-harvest-michael-stanley show less

If your reading experience of Botswana is Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY with the unforgettable Precious Ramotswe, then you'll find the Kubu series very different in flavour, not quite so cozy. Although unmistakably we are in the same place, with a similar mixture of new Western and traditional African cultures. Michael Stanley's style is deceptively simplistic, but underlying all is two pairs of keen eyes (see my note below about the author) and an awareness of the political and cultural challenges being faced by modern Botswana.

In a note the authors comment

Although this is a work of fiction, it is, as were our three previous books, set on a background of reality.

And then they go on to talk about the belief in show more muti which underpins the murders and crimes in DEADLY HARVEST. Organs are being harvested from live human victims, not for the trade in illegal transplants which other books like Peter James' DEAD TOMORROW have highlighted, but for the belief in their magical powers.

The well established central character in this series Detective David "Kubu" Bengu is joined in DEADLY HARVEST by a female officer Samantha Khama. Kubu is not used to working with a woman and for a while he tries to put her on the back seat, but then he comes to realise that they make a very good team.

Kubu's boss Mabaku values the intuitive dimension that Kubu brings to policing. Most of the time Kubu's hunches are right and only rarely does the more cautious and politically minded Mabaku refuse to follow Kubu's plan of action.

I appreciated the cast of characters listed at the front of the novel and the glossary in the final pages.

So, my verdict - an excellent read. If you are new to Michael Stanley, start at the beginning, A CARRION DEATH, and follow Kubu's career. show less

Deadly Harvest – A Hot Thriller

The writing duo who make up Michael Stanley have written a hot thriller based out under the hot sky of Botswana where the Police have to combat corruption and the belief in witch doctors. This Sunshine Noir has all the darkness of Nordic Noir but at a more relaxed approach, with some excellent characters.

When a young girl goes missing, and then not long after another girl disappears in to thin air, the police seem slow to react and show very little interest. It is not until Samantha Khama, a new recruit in the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department, that she takes a look at what seems like a set of cold cases.

Her boss Assistant Superintendent David ‘Kubu’ Bengu is charged with leading an show more investigation in to the death of a politician and the threats of ‘muti’ and other witchcraft do things start getting rather complicated. He is also trying to advise and guide his new recruit in the art of investigation when he realises that their cases might be related.

The relationship that builds up between Samantha and Kubu, is that of old hand, wary of some of the practices of old and Samantha a young buck and keen to get on with things. The investigation process they work the case methodically and with a little bit of ingenuity making sure they do things correctly and only cut corners when they need too.

What we get through out is that Kubu and Samantha are aware at every turn they are accused of being in the pocket of the government and when they realise they are dealing with witchcraft and corruption they know they need to be careful. They know to find the answers they need to read the clues throughout the book with care, and not be afraid to see the misdirection as part of a plan which they need to overcome.

Will they discover who is corrupt? Will they be able to overcome the superstition that witch doctors are held in? As they recognise all criminals make mistakes, clever criminals clever mistakes, stupid criminals make stupid mistakes they know they have to recognise them and use them to their advantage.

This is a richly atmospheric thriller, under the African sun, that deals with the darkest of crimes, that of murder, including children for ‘magic’ and challenges the conventions. The book is beautifully written and the descriptions so illuminating you can feel yourself at the centre of the scenes.

The thriller is set against the clash of cultures, modern verses ancient, an intelligent read that is both dark and compelling, and the twists you do not see coming. A truly awesome thriller! show less

This is the latest (fourth) in the Inspector "Kubu" series. Kubu is the Setswana name for a hippopotamus, which the inspector resembles. Like a hippo, he is tenacious in his efforts to bring criminals to justice. He is also a wonderful, caring, endearing family man and we see this side of him quite a bit in this novel.

These books are wonderful police procedurals and generally present another side of the wonderful country Botswana from that found in McCall Smith's series. This one deals with a very wicked witch doctor. (This is NOT a "cozy"!)

Also a new character is introduced, a female police detective. I hope she wasn't introduced because women always want to see a strong female role... humph. I don't like Samantha and hope not to see show more her in future books, perhaps she could get transferred to another department or part of the country.

The identity of the witch doctor eluded me until about 100 pages from the end, so it was a good read and I eagerly await the next. show less

Detective Kubu is good for the soul.

Each time I read one of these detective novels I learn more and more about Botswana. Yes, detective novels expose corruption, but it also shows the good.

A new character has been added in the form of a female detective. I hope she continues forward in future novles.