
A Carrion Death
Introducing Detective Kubu
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Narrated by:
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Simon Prebble
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By:
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Michael Stanley
About this listen
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.
©2008 Michael Sears and Stanley Raynes Trollip (P)2008 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"A first novel saturated with local color....[Audiences] may be lured to Africa by the landscape, but it takes a great character like Kubu to win our loyalty." (The New York Times Book Review)
#2 "traditionally-built" detective
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A good detective
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Entertaining listen, but disappointing finish
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Ok, but not No 1 Ladies Detective Agency
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Can't wait for the next one
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What made the experience of listening to A Carrion Death the most enjoyable?
Exciting mysteryWho was your favorite character and why?
Detective Kubu, He has a funny bone to tickle you, amongst the murdersHave you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
He is a genius. The different dialects are spot on. Makes this a thrilling and suspensful.Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The entire book was very good.Any additional comments?
Looking forward in buying the next Book, and happy too hear more about Detective KubuA Carrion Death and Detective Kubu
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It's also good to see that race relations in Southern Africa are so improved at least as far as the police are concerned.
The use of Shakespeare phrases was a nice touch.
The description of orgasms could have been left out since it added nothing to the story.
Maybe the obligatory sex was added to remind us this is a "modern" book.
Hot and Arid
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A Wonderful Surprise
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For such a long book, the characters are surprisingly underdeveloped and cliched--the overbearing police supervisor, the nerdy academic, the greedy CEO, the eccentric pathologist etc. I really didn't feel anything for the characters as they get killed off.
As others have pointed out, the explicit sex scenes are a bit cringey and completely unnecessary.
I loved the narration--I'm a fan of Simon Prebble and he was one of the reasons I bought the book. This is my first fiction listen from him and his female voices are not perfect, but his various accents are spot on.
The book could have been much more, but I won't be following any more of Kubu's adventures.
Disappointing
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Not my cup of tea
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