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"Recent university graduate David 'Kubu' Bengu joins the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department directly rather than via the normal route of a constable on the beat. This does not sit well with existing detectives. Shortly after he joins the CID, the richest diamond mine in the world is robbed of 100,000 carats of diamonds in transit. The robbery is well-executed and brutal. Police immediately suspect an inside job, but there is no evidence of who it could be. When the robbers are killed execution-style in South Africa and the diamonds are still missing, the game changes, and suspicion focuses on a witch doctor and his son. Does "Kubu" have the skill and the integrity to engineer an international trap and catch those responsible, or will the biggest risk of his life end in disaster?"--… (més)
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A prequel to an established series of mysteries, set in Botswana, and featuring David ‘Kubu’ Bengu, fresh out of university, and a brand-new CID police detective. The first case he is assigned is about suitcases, which have disappeared on flights from Gaborone to London and Paris. The tags were scanned as bags were loaded, but they are missing at the end of the flights. Then, the richest diamond mine in the world is robbed of 100,000 carats of uncut diamonds in transit, after the normal transport plane mysteriously blows up. The robbery is well-planned and brutal, with the security guards killed. Police immediately suspect an inside job, especially since there were decoys, but there is no evidence of who it could be. As with the previous books, it is filled with insight into local culture, mythicsm, and, the facets of Kubu's keen, insightful mind. A good, new place to start the series. ( )
  skipstern | Jul 11, 2021 |
Michael Stanley, the pen name for a seamless collaboration between South African writers Michael Sears and Stanley Trollop, gives us the backstory for their series hero, David Bengu, more commonly known by the nickname Kubu – Setswana for “hippopotamus,” thanks to his generous size. Fresh out of university, he is appointed to a detective position with Botswana’s Criminal Investigation Division, where he strives to prove himself in spite of lack of experience and a seriously empty bank account. He does earn the respect of his colleagues as those who are familiar with this winning series would expect, through a combination of a generous personality and a sharp mind.

Though his first case is a puzzling but not terribly pressing case of luggage gone missing between Botswanan baggage handlers and its final destinations, he is soon assigned to investigate a mysterious fire that has closed the air strip near the country’s profitable diamond mine – inconvenient, as a shipment of gems will now have to travel by armored vehicle to the capital for processing. Soon it becomes more than an inconvenience, as hijackers interrupt the convoy, the diamonds vanish, a mysterious witch doctor appears to be involved, and Kubu finds himself working on a murder investigation.

The mystery surrounding the heist is a good one, a true puzzle that gives Kubu a workout in his first major case. The setting is, as usual, fascinating, brought to life through landscapes and language. The authors have helpfully included a map and a glossary, though readers won’t find the Setswana and Afrikaans words sprinkled through the dialogue hard to grasp thanks to context. And while the authors don’t exoticize the setting or characters, the book conveys a vivid sense of place for the armchair traveler. For fans of the series, it’s a treat to learn how Kubu got his start as a detective (and met his wife, Joy). For newcomers, it’s a good place to get acquainted with Kubu. Altogether, it’s a fine contribution to a solid series.
  bfister | May 21, 2020 |
Longtime fans of Michael Stanley's wonderful Detective Kubu series should love this prequel. Readers who've never met the wily detective before can easily start with Facets of Death, find themselves hooked, and move on to the rest of the series.

We meet Kubu on his very first day on the job, and we also get to see him meet the woman who will become his wife. We see how Kubu deals with jealousy in the workforce, and-- heavens above-- does this young man soak up knowledge like the proverbial sponge! He makes mistakes, learns from them, and begins to learn to trust his instincts. Facets of Death is great for learning Kubu's backstory.

But, as in all of Michael Stanley's books, that's not all we learn. There are two excellent mysteries to solve (the diamond robbery and the missing luggage at the airport), and we learn how the police forces in Botswana and South Africa cooperate with each other. If that's not enough, there's information about the diamond business to absorb as well.

Some readers love Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I read three or four of them and found them a bit too precious (pun intended). I was thrilled when I discovered Detective Kubu. Michael Stanley provides the same insights into the people and culture of Botswana, the same knowledge of the country, but with mysteries that have more bite. I'd no more miss a Detective Kubu mystery than I would forget to brush my teeth in the morning. If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting David "Kubu" Bengu, get your hands on a copy of Facets of Death. You can thank me later. ( )
  cathyskye | Jan 4, 2020 |
In this prequel to Kubu Bengu series, a heist at the world's largest diamond mine sends the straight-out-of-the-university Bengu and CID colleagues into investigation mode, especially when the robbers are killed but the diamonds remain missing. Suspicion falls to a local witch doctor, but the young officer comes up with a plan to solve the case. Will he succeed or fail? The novel felt disjointed to me because the chapters were so short. Ultimately the mystery itself was gratifying, but the novel's flow stymied by the writing. I received an advance review electronic copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )
  thornton37814 | Jan 1, 2020 |
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"Recent university graduate David 'Kubu' Bengu joins the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department directly rather than via the normal route of a constable on the beat. This does not sit well with existing detectives. Shortly after he joins the CID, the richest diamond mine in the world is robbed of 100,000 carats of diamonds in transit. The robbery is well-executed and brutal. Police immediately suspect an inside job, but there is no evidence of who it could be. When the robbers are killed execution-style in South Africa and the diamonds are still missing, the game changes, and suspicion focuses on a witch doctor and his son. Does "Kubu" have the skill and the integrity to engineer an international trap and catch those responsible, or will the biggest risk of his life end in disaster?"--

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