Deadly Harvest - (Detective Kubu) by Michael Stanley (Paperback)

About the Book

The fourth mystery in the beloved and critically acclaimed Detective Kubu series tracks a series of murders and the mysterious witch doctor whose nefarious potions might hold the key to a web of missing persons. A young girl goes missing after getting into a car with a mysterious man. Soon after, a second girl disappears, and her devastated father, Witness, sets out to seek revenge.

Book Synopsis

"Detective David 'Kubu' Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. The exotic smells and sounds of Botswana fill the pages as well as the changes and struggles of a country brimming with modern technology yet fiercely clinging to old traditions. Compelling and deceptively written, it's the perfect summer read." -- New York Journal of Books

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.

When young girls start to go missing, Samantha, a new detective on the Botswana police force suspects that muti, a traditional African medicine, is the reason. Though muti is a term for traditional African medicine derived from plants and sometimes animals, there is recent evidence that suggests human parts are being incorporated into potions to conjure up a more potent formula. She and Detective David "Kubu" Bengu race to stop a serial killer, while the father of one of the victims threatens to take matters into his own hands.

Weaving together a thrilling mystery with a fascinating look at modern-day Africa, Deadly Harvest is filled with elements suspense and plot twists that will keep you captivated until the very end.

From the Back Cover

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.

Review Quotes

"Delightful. . . . Plot twists are fair and well-paced, the Botswana setting has room to breathe and take shape as its own entity, and Stanley's writing style is equal parts sprightly and grave." - Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Impossible to put down, this immensely readable third entry. . . delivers the goods. Kubu's 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)
"Kubu is also hugely appealing--big and solid and smart enough to grasp all angles of this mystery. Readers may be lured to Africa by the landscape, but it takes a great character like Kubu to win our loyalty." - New York Times Book Review
"Believable and utterly menacing.... Tight plotting is seasoned with African culture." - Steve Steinbock, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
"One of the finest crime thrillers of 2013." - SHOTS Crime & Thriller Ezine
"Assistant Superintendent Kubu is back....Michael Stanley's enthralling series is a must-read for anyone who enjoys clever plotting, terrific writing, and a fascinating glimpse of today's Africa." - Charles Todd, New York times bestselling author of A Matter of Justice
"[Kubu is] the African Columbo." - Entertainment Weekly
"Deadly Harvest is number four in this fascinating crime series. Detective David 'Kubu' Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling. The exotic smells and sounds of Botswana fill the pages as well as the changes and struggles of a country brimming with modern technology yet fiercely clinging to old traditions. Compelling and deceptively written, it's the perfect summer read." - New York Journal of Books
"Deadly Harvest is number four in this fascinating crime series. Detective David 'Kubu' Bengu is a wonderful creation, complex and beguiling...Compelling and deceptively written, it's the perfect summer read." - New York Journal of Books
"These darker, grittier entries featuring the portly and perceptive Detective Kubu blend intricate plotting and a compelling cast." - Booklist
"Grisly murders and heart-wrenching societal issues mark... fascinating police procedural [Deadly Harvest].... Sears and Trollip write so seamlessly.... An intricate crime puzzle." - St. Paul Pioneer Press