A Death in the Family: A Detective Kubu Mystery

The fatal stabbing of David “Kubu” Bengu’s father, Wilmon Bengu, propels Stanley’s engrossing fifth mystery featuring the Botswana police detective (after 2013’s Deadly Harvest). Since Wilmon suffered from dementia and had a limited social life, the murder may have been an indirect attack on Kubu from one of the many enemies he’s made during his years on the force. Banned from participating in the investigation, Kubu is ordered to look into the apparent suicide of Goodman Kunene, the assistant director of the Department of Mines. Kunene’s death may be connected with a Chinese business venture that has caused a rift in the local community between elders who want to maintain the status quo and the younger generation, eager for the job opportunities the new project promises. As always, Stanley (the writing team of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip) brings to life a Botswana different from the one familiar to Alexander McCall Smith readers. Agent: Jacques de Spoelberch, J. de S. Associates. (Oct.)