Deadly Harvest: A Detective Kubu Mystery

The real-life phenomenon of African witch doctors committing murder to get ingredients for their spells drives the richly atmospheric fourth Detective Kubu mystery (after 2011’s Death of the Mantis) from Edgar-finalist Stanley (the South African writing team of Stanley Trollip and Michael Sears). The Botswana Criminal Investigation Department assigns its first female detective, Samantha Khama, to a cold case—the four-month-old disappearance of a 10-year-old orphan, Lesego Betse. Samantha believes that the girl is the victim of a witch doctor who uses human remains to prepare the medicine known as muti. After another girl goes missing, Samantha gains the active assistance of David “Kubu” Bengu, the department’s assistant superintendent. Their investigation takes place during a time of political instability in the country when the prospect that an opposition party could finally be gaining traction spawns violence. The gritty depiction of corruption and obsession serves as a striking counterpoint to Alexander McCall Smith’s blood-free No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, also set in Botswana. Agent: Marly Rusoff, Marly Rusoff Literary Agency. (May)