A Carrion Death: Introducing Detective Kubu

“[An] impressive debut. . . . The intricate plotting, a grisly sense of realism and numerous topical motifs . . . make this a compulsively readable novel.” — Publishers Weekly

A Carrion Death offers a gritty, authentic look at modern-day Africa teeming with poachers, deadly diamond dealers and the aftermath of apartheid.

They found the first body—what the hyena didn’t ravage, that is—near a waterhole considered magical by the local people. A string of clues suggests that the victim was murdered and his identity hidden, a mysterious crime tailor-made for Assistant Superintendent David Bengu, nicknamed Kubu (hippopotamus in Setswana) for his ability to trample whatever lies in the path of his objective. Detective Kubu, a clever and resourceful lawman, is determined to rid Botswana of crime and corruption, even if his discoveries following a blood-soaked trail marked by lies and superstition leads him to the most powerful figures in the country: people who would make powerful, dangerous enemies.

A Carrion Death juxtaposes familiar themes of wilderness, superstition, tribal culture and colonialism with the new understandings of Africa's big business and modernity. It is an unforgettable debut.

Smashed skull, snapped ribs, and a cloying smell of carrion. Leave the body for the hyenas to devour—no body, no case.

But when Kalahari game rangers stumble on a human corpse midmeal, it turns out the murder wasn't perfect after all. Enough evidence is left to suggest foul play. Detective David "Kubu" Bengu of the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department is assigned to the case.

The detective's personality and physique match his moniker. The nickname "Kubu" is Setswana for "hippopotamus"—a seemingly docile creature, but one of the deadliest on the continent. Beneath Kubu's pleasant surface lies the same unwavering resolve that makes the hippopotamus so deceptively dangerous. Both will trample everything in their path to reach an objective.

From the sun-baked riverbeds of the Kalahari to the highest offices of an international conglomerate, Kubu follows a blood-soaked trail in search of answers.

Beneath a mountain of lies and superstitions, he uncovers a chain of crimes leading to the most powerful figures in the country—influential enemies who will kill anyone in their way.

A memorable detective makes his debut in this gritty, mesmerizing thriller. Set amid the beauty and darkness of contemporary Africa, A Carrion Death is the first entry in an evocative new series cutting to the heart of today's Botswana—a modern democracy threatened by unstable neighbors, poachers, and diamond smugglers. Those trying to expose the corrupt ringleaders will find themselves fighting for their lives. . . .

“[A] fast-moving story . . . Rich with the atmosphere of modern Botswana, and peopled with interesting and well-drawn characters, this is an exciting debut.” - Booklist

“A stately debut whose pseudonymous authors, Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip, are both experts on the region. Their generously detailed portrait of Botswana and of larger-than-life Inspector Kubu augur well for the proposed series.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A first novel saturated with local color. . . . 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

“More smart than bloody. . . . A marvelous debut.” - Boston Globe

“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

“A CARRION DEATH is that perfect combination of ‘I don’t want it to end’ and ‘I can’t put it down.’ Great African crime fiction.” - Deon Meyer, author of Dead at Daybreak

“Set in Botswana, South Africa’s neighbor to the north, the book is drawing rave reviews for its careful depiction of 21st-century Africa and for writing so seamless its hard to believe it was written by two people.” - St. Paul Pioneer Press

“Gritty. . . . An unusual debut. . . . A clever, intricate plot. . . . I highly recommend A CARRION DEATH to you and look forward to more of this intriguing and colorful new series.” - Bookloons.com

“[Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip], writing under the pen name Michael Stanley, spin a fascinating yarn about a string of murders that turn out to be connected to people in high places. The novel also reflects the Africa of the 21st century, with not only its unstable politics but also the conflicts between tradition and modernity.” - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“[An] impressive debut. . . . The intricate plotting, a grisly sense of realism and numerous topical motifs . . . make this a compulsively readable novel. . . . This fast-paced forensic thriller will resonate . . . with fans of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Kubu is a well-drawn character, clever and impish, but with a core of honesty and a determination that has earned him his nickname. . . . Both authors know the country well.” - BookPage (Mystery of the Month Pick)