Detective Kubu Investigates 2

The second collection of Michael Stanley short stories following on from the highly successful DETECTIVE KUBU INVESTIGATES and featuring more twisty cases from Botswana and elsewhere. There's also an exclusive excerpt from the new Kubu novel FACETS OF DEATH to be released next January. Best-selling British mystery author Peter James wrote of Michael Stanley's work, "I was gripped and entranced from the first page. A wonderful, original voice—McCall Smith with a dark edge and even darker underbelly."

Detective David "Kubu" Bengu of the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department is a large man with big appetites—his nickname Kubu means hippo in the Setswana language. He is happily married and lives in the capital, Gaborone. And he's smart! Entertainment Weekly called him "The African Columbo."

Twenty-first century Botswana is a country with real issues and real murders. Two of the stories in this collection involve Kubu himself—one where he's wrestling with a violent murder linked to rhino poaching in the north of the country, and one where he's wrestling with cooking dinner for Christmas. (It's one of his favorite dishes, and the recipe is included if you'd like to try it.) Another story revolves around Bushman people exiled to New Xade in the Kalahari. Something evil has crept into their village. Is it human, or something even worse?

Michael Stanley is the pen name of two South Africans—Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip—who write fiction together. Their novels featuring Detective Kubu are A CARRION DEATH, THE SECOND DEATH OF GOODLUCK TINUBU (A DEADY TRADE outside North America), DEATH OF THE MANTIS, DEADLY HARVEST, A DEATH IN THE FAMILY and DYING TO LIVE. The new Detective Kubu mystery, FACETS OF DEATH, will be out in January 2020.

Several of the books have been shortlisted for a variety of awards, and DEATH OF THE MANTIS won the BARRY AWARD for best paperback original in 2012 and was shortlisted for the EDGAR AWARD.