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purging's review
4.0
Detective Kubu was so frustrated when he found out that his father was dead being stabbed multiple times. What kind of people decided it was okay to kill an old fragile man with Alzheimer? There must be a motive.
A worthy detective book you should read. The story is a mix between murders and drama, which gives the reader some thrilling experience.
A worthy detective book you should read. The story is a mix between murders and drama, which gives the reader some thrilling experience.
nikkitynack's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
usbsticky's review
4.0
Spoilers in the whole review.
This is one of my favorite series and follows Assistant Superintendent Kubu of the Botswana CID. In this book his own father is murdered. I like this series because I like the characters and the setting. The main characters are all pleasant to read about and include Kubu's police associates and his family. The setting is in the country of Botswana in southern Africa. The police protocol part is usually ok. It's not an edge of the seat type thriller, just your run of the mill type police work where tenacity and determination brings results.
In this book there appear to be three separate crimes. Kubu's father is killed after meeting with a mysterious person from his ancestral village. The killer cannot be identified and the first clue that leads to the unraveling of the mystery comes from a bartender who recalls the make of the car a stranger was driving. Kubu is repeatedly told to stay off the case because of his connection to the victim.
In the second crime an official from the department of mine appears to have committed suicide by running a hose from the tailpipe of his car into the cabin. However this is easily disproved when the body is autopsied.
Meanwhile a mining company wants to expand and provide jobs to a small town. This means some of the townfolk will be displaced. The older members of the tribe, including the elders and chief are against expansion because they remember what happened the last time a mine expanded (the mine didn't live up to its promises in providing commensurate housing for the displaced). But the younger members want the expansion because they want jobs. At the second townhall meeting, paid agitators rile up the young people and they invade the stage killing some elders and the chief and some are shot in return.
Real spoiler (don't read this unless you really want to know):
We find that all 3 events are related. Both the American and Chinese mining companies want to control the expansion because it contains rare earth metals. The mining official is killed by the Chinese because he has been bribed by the Americans to advance their cause. Kubu's father is killed because he has a land grant where the mine is to expand and doesn't want to release it. The elders are killed because they are against expansion and the agitators are hired by the Chinese agents. The crimes are all solved by determination and good police work in following up clues and leveraging their findings against the criminals.
This is one of my favorite series and follows Assistant Superintendent Kubu of the Botswana CID. In this book his own father is murdered. I like this series because I like the characters and the setting. The main characters are all pleasant to read about and include Kubu's police associates and his family. The setting is in the country of Botswana in southern Africa. The police protocol part is usually ok. It's not an edge of the seat type thriller, just your run of the mill type police work where tenacity and determination brings results.
In this book there appear to be three separate crimes. Kubu's father is killed after meeting with a mysterious person from his ancestral village. The killer cannot be identified and the first clue that leads to the unraveling of the mystery comes from a bartender who recalls the make of the car a stranger was driving. Kubu is repeatedly told to stay off the case because of his connection to the victim.
In the second crime an official from the department of mine appears to have committed suicide by running a hose from the tailpipe of his car into the cabin. However this is easily disproved when the body is autopsied.
Meanwhile a mining company wants to expand and provide jobs to a small town. This means some of the townfolk will be displaced. The older members of the tribe, including the elders and chief are against expansion because they remember what happened the last time a mine expanded (the mine didn't live up to its promises in providing commensurate housing for the displaced). But the younger members want the expansion because they want jobs. At the second townhall meeting, paid agitators rile up the young people and they invade the stage killing some elders and the chief and some are shot in return.
Real spoiler (don't read this unless you really want to know):
We find that all 3 events are related. Both the American and Chinese mining companies want to control the expansion because it contains rare earth metals. The mining official is killed by the Chinese because he has been bribed by the Americans to advance their cause. Kubu's father is killed because he has a land grant where the mine is to expand and doesn't want to release it. The elders are killed because they are against expansion and the agitators are hired by the Chinese agents. The crimes are all solved by determination and good police work in following up clues and leveraging their findings against the criminals.
thebooktrail88's review
4.0
Booktrail locations: Death in the Family
This is only the second book I’ve read in the series but I feel as if I’ve known Kubu for ages. I felt a gamut of emotions with this book from sadness to fear as it was an eye opener in many ways to Botswana culture, looking at how death and its aftermath and how the local community come together but are still separated between male and female duties and expectations
I really felt for poor Kubu!
I also really enjoyed learning about the mining storyline – we all have some idea of how local people in countries such as Botswama suffer from the foreign companies and corrupt politicians when it comes to local resources. Definately a country in transition as well as a detective in inner turmoil.
There’s a lot going on in this novel – it’s not just the mines where there’s digging and buried things being discovered.
The story surrounding Kubu really pulled at my heartstrings and I thought it made for interesting read having two investigations with Kubu at the heart of both, albeit in different ways.
This is only the second book I’ve read in the series but I feel as if I’ve known Kubu for ages. I felt a gamut of emotions with this book from sadness to fear as it was an eye opener in many ways to Botswana culture, looking at how death and its aftermath and how the local community come together but are still separated between male and female duties and expectations
I really felt for poor Kubu!
I also really enjoyed learning about the mining storyline – we all have some idea of how local people in countries such as Botswama suffer from the foreign companies and corrupt politicians when it comes to local resources. Definately a country in transition as well as a detective in inner turmoil.
There’s a lot going on in this novel – it’s not just the mines where there’s digging and buried things being discovered.
The story surrounding Kubu really pulled at my heartstrings and I thought it made for interesting read having two investigations with Kubu at the heart of both, albeit in different ways.
karenchase's review
4.0
It's been a while since I read one of these, but I'd forgotten the stark contrast between this depiction of Botswana, as a nation as flawed as most others, and that if Alexander McCall Smith, whose Botswana is idyllic, full of polite, respectful people who might succumb to greed, bad judgment, or witchcraft from time to time, but not much worse than that. In the Botswana of detective Kubu Bengu, all manner of nasty things are afoot, including political corruption, mineral exploitation, foreign influence and manipulation, not to mention multiple murders, some of them very close to home. This is not a terribly bleak depiction of this sunny land, but a reminder that even a country full of good people can fall prey to bad influences.
steph1rothwell's review
4.0
I had only read one other book in the Detective Kubu series, Deadly Harvest and loved getting to know Kubu, his family and colleagues and enjoyed reading a book set somewhere different, Botswana. Both books could easily be read as stand-alone novels.
Kubu is shocked and heartbroken when he receives a telephone call telling him his father has been murdered. Being family he is forbidden to have any involvement in the case and despite his best efforts none of his friends in the police will tell him anything. He understands the logic behind this but finds it very difficult to accept.
To keep him at a distance he is told to investigate a series of deaths that occurred in a local town after a meeting to decide whether a development into a mine should be allowed to go ahead providing much needed employment. Information comes to light that suggest the cases are linked.
One of the reasons I enjoy this series is the way everything is described. The funeral was one of the most fascinating parts in the book. I felt like I was one of the many mourners, hearing and seeing the mourning and celebrating a life. I could just picture the amount of refreshments needed for a few thousand people. I also liked Kubu’s first experience of cold weather when he is sent to New York, and how different it was to Botswana.
The difference of opinion between the generations also felt believable. How the older, somewhat superstitious view from the elders was winning over the younger generation who were trying to survive without employment and an uncertain future.
A totally different type of crime novel compared to my usual choice of British, American or Nordic but it’s great. Still violent death, still modern day policing but in a different setting where beauty, poverty, culture, superstition and fear all make it seem slightly different.
With thanks to Karen Sullivan for the copy received.
Kubu is shocked and heartbroken when he receives a telephone call telling him his father has been murdered. Being family he is forbidden to have any involvement in the case and despite his best efforts none of his friends in the police will tell him anything. He understands the logic behind this but finds it very difficult to accept.
To keep him at a distance he is told to investigate a series of deaths that occurred in a local town after a meeting to decide whether a development into a mine should be allowed to go ahead providing much needed employment. Information comes to light that suggest the cases are linked.
One of the reasons I enjoy this series is the way everything is described. The funeral was one of the most fascinating parts in the book. I felt like I was one of the many mourners, hearing and seeing the mourning and celebrating a life. I could just picture the amount of refreshments needed for a few thousand people. I also liked Kubu’s first experience of cold weather when he is sent to New York, and how different it was to Botswana.
The difference of opinion between the generations also felt believable. How the older, somewhat superstitious view from the elders was winning over the younger generation who were trying to survive without employment and an uncertain future.
A totally different type of crime novel compared to my usual choice of British, American or Nordic but it’s great. Still violent death, still modern day policing but in a different setting where beauty, poverty, culture, superstition and fear all make it seem slightly different.
With thanks to Karen Sullivan for the copy received.
sarahs_bookish_life's review
4.0
Even thought this is the fifth book in the series, I do think the books work quite well as stand alone novels.
I absolutely love Kubu. He come's across as being quite a big gentle giant and the relationship between him and his wife Joy is something I will never tire of reading. There is a lot of of love between the two of them and I love how he usually is always in Joy's bad books but that's because she really cares about Kubu and wants nothing to happen to him.
The death of Kubu's father totally knocks Kubu as well as leaving him and his family totally devastated, especially as he has been murdered.
Kubu is very much a force to be reckoned with in this story, gone is the laid back man as he is hell bent on finding his fathers murderer. Obviously as he is quite close to the case he is sent off to investigate the death of a government official. This sees Kubu travelling to America.
What I love about some of the characters in this series is that the authors make them so endearing. Reading of Kubu in America was like watching a child waking up on Christmas morning. Even though he is there on a case the authors allow us to see through the eyes of someone from quite a rural country coming to America for the first time. I have to say it made me laugh as well as my heart going out to this proud man.
A Death In The Family is yet another highly enjoyable read with a really intriguing story line that keeps the readers interest throughout. This really would make a great television series and I love being transported Botswana where it's all set.
My thanks to Karen at Orenda for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely love Kubu. He come's across as being quite a big gentle giant and the relationship between him and his wife Joy is something I will never tire of reading. There is a lot of of love between the two of them and I love how he usually is always in Joy's bad books but that's because she really cares about Kubu and wants nothing to happen to him.
The death of Kubu's father totally knocks Kubu as well as leaving him and his family totally devastated, especially as he has been murdered.
Kubu is very much a force to be reckoned with in this story, gone is the laid back man as he is hell bent on finding his fathers murderer. Obviously as he is quite close to the case he is sent off to investigate the death of a government official. This sees Kubu travelling to America.
What I love about some of the characters in this series is that the authors make them so endearing. Reading of Kubu in America was like watching a child waking up on Christmas morning. Even though he is there on a case the authors allow us to see through the eyes of someone from quite a rural country coming to America for the first time. I have to say it made me laugh as well as my heart going out to this proud man.
A Death In The Family is yet another highly enjoyable read with a really intriguing story line that keeps the readers interest throughout. This really would make a great television series and I love being transported Botswana where it's all set.
My thanks to Karen at Orenda for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
amothersmusings1's review
5.0
"A Death in the Family" is the fifth in the Detective Kubu series set in Botswana, South Africa and my third foray into these exciting and hugely entertaining stories. As international thrillers go you'd be hard pushed in my opinion, to find a better series to indulge in. The author Michael Stanley (South African born writing duo Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip) have created a top notch and totally compelling Botswana police series, that is both atmospheric, gripping and utterly loveable.
Assistant Superintendent David Bengu, affectionately known as Kubu - which translates to hippo for his size and tenacity - loves his good food and fine wine. He is devoted to his family, wife Joy, children Tumi and Nono and his wonderful loving parents. However, when his elderly, early on-set Alzheimer's father is brutally murdered, he finds himself sidelined from his most important case so far. Grief stricken and frustrated at not being able to participate in investigating his father's death he does his usual trademark policing, following his hunches and getting into trouble with the Director of the Botswana CID, Jacob Mabaku, a regular and likeable character to the Kubu series. When Kubu is sent to America to attend a seminar, his experiences with the airport security is an absolute hoot and I loved reading his thoughts at being in a different country, so alien to what he is used to, thoroughly brilliant. As always the author incorporates important issues effecting the country, including political corruption and in this case, mineral and rare earth exploitation, whilst keeping the traditional cultures to Botswana in the story too. All the characters in this series are so endearing and you can't help but be drawn into their lives and feel totally connected to them immediately. I was saddened though, that a prominent and likeable character in Wilmon Bengu was killed off but reading how Kubu and the whole community dealt with the trauma and his search for his killer made for an excellent thriller and probably my favourite in the series yet.
I have the sixth and next book "Dying to Live" and can't wait to read that one too, I highly recommend this series of fabulously written and intelligent thrillers (though any can be read as a standalone) - they are an absolute joy to read and you will instantly fall in love with the very unique and original Detective David 'Kubu' Bengu!
A massive 5 stars!!
Paperback version reviewed.
Assistant Superintendent David Bengu, affectionately known as Kubu - which translates to hippo for his size and tenacity - loves his good food and fine wine. He is devoted to his family, wife Joy, children Tumi and Nono and his wonderful loving parents. However, when his elderly, early on-set Alzheimer's father is brutally murdered, he finds himself sidelined from his most important case so far. Grief stricken and frustrated at not being able to participate in investigating his father's death he does his usual trademark policing, following his hunches and getting into trouble with the Director of the Botswana CID, Jacob Mabaku, a regular and likeable character to the Kubu series. When Kubu is sent to America to attend a seminar, his experiences with the airport security is an absolute hoot and I loved reading his thoughts at being in a different country, so alien to what he is used to, thoroughly brilliant. As always the author incorporates important issues effecting the country, including political corruption and in this case, mineral and rare earth exploitation, whilst keeping the traditional cultures to Botswana in the story too. All the characters in this series are so endearing and you can't help but be drawn into their lives and feel totally connected to them immediately. I was saddened though, that a prominent and likeable character in Wilmon Bengu was killed off but reading how Kubu and the whole community dealt with the trauma and his search for his killer made for an excellent thriller and probably my favourite in the series yet.
I have the sixth and next book "Dying to Live" and can't wait to read that one too, I highly recommend this series of fabulously written and intelligent thrillers (though any can be read as a standalone) - they are an absolute joy to read and you will instantly fall in love with the very unique and original Detective David 'Kubu' Bengu!
A massive 5 stars!!
Paperback version reviewed.
cynpra1520's review
3.0
I hoped to enjoy this because of the setting of Botswana. While it was quite an involved mystery and the characters were interesting, I had expected a different approach to crime solving more in touch with the community and more charismatic detective. I probably will try another of these books at some time but better ones are calling me now.