Extract from A Deadly Covenant by Michael Stanley

Sadly for me my reading mojo is still very much AWOL so I wasn't in a position to review A Deadly Covenant, the latest in the Detective Kubu series from Michael Stanley. However, I still wanted to offer my support to the authors as I've previously read and enjoyed a few of the previous books in the series, and now that I think of it I still have one to read in my TBR pile, so I have a short extract for you to enjoy but first a little about the book.

When a human skeleton is discovered at the site of a controversial new dam in remote northern Botswana, rookie Detective Kubu is drawn into a terrifying local feud, and discovers a deadly covenant that could change everything…

While building a pipeline near the Okavango Delta, a contractor unearths the remains of a long-dead Bushman. Rookie Detective David ‘Kubu’ Bengu of Botswana CID and Scottish pathologist, Ian MacGregor, are sent to investigate, and MacGregor discovers the skeletons of eight more men.

Shortly after the gruesome discoveries, the elder of a nearby village is murdered in his home. The local police are convinced it was a robbery, but Kubu isn’t so sure … and neither is the strange woman who claims that an angry river spirit caused the elder’s death.

As accusations of corruption are levelled and international outrage builds over the massacre of the Bushman families, Kubu and his colleagues uncover a deadly covenant, and begin to fear that their own lives may be in mortal danger…  

When Kubu returned to his office, he realised he had two problems. It was already just after nine, and there was no way he could walk back to his room, pack and return by ten. And even if he could, he’d be wet through. It was hot outside. 

However, it was the second problem that he really didn’t want to deal with. For the past few months, he’d become very fond of a woman from Records – a Joy Serome. In fact, ‘very fond’ wasn’t quite accurate. He had a crush on her that made him feel like a schoolboy whenever he saw her. 

He and Joy enjoyed lunch together on those Saturdays they were both free. And the next lunch was in two days, so he was going to have to postpone it. 

He picked up the phone and spoke to Ian MacGregor, who promised to come a little early so he could take Kubu to his room. 

That took care of the first problem. 

Kubu knew he should walk over to Records and tell Joy that he couldn’t make Saturday’s date, but he couldn’t pluck up the courage to tell her face to face. He’d mumble and bumble, and generally make a fool of himself. 

He took a couple of deep breaths and dialled her number. 

‘Records. This is Joy.’
‘Dumela, Joy. This is Kubu.’
‘Oh, Kubu. How nice to hear your voice.’
Kubu wondered if she meant it.
‘How are you?’ she continued.
‘I’m … um … fine. And you?’
‘I’m fine too. Is something wrong? You sound a little strange.’
‘Well … um … I’m sorry but I have to cancel lunch on Saturday. I have to go to Shakawe in an hour. I’ll be away for five days.’
‘No problem. I can’t talk now. Call me when you get back. Have a good trip.’
Kubu heard the phone being put down.

Kubu’s stomach ached. Did she think he was no longer interested? Was she blowing him off ? Maybe she’d found someone else. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t talk. 

He wanted to run over to Records and give her a big hug, but knew he’d only make a fool of himself.

Michael Stanley is the writing team of South African authors Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. On a flying trip to Botswana, they watched a pack of  hyenas hunt, kill and devour a wildebeest, eating both flesh and bones. That gave them the premise for their first mystery, A Carrion Death, which  introduced Detective ‘Kubu’ Bengu of the Botswana CID. It was a finalist for  five awards, including the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger. 

The  third in the series, Death of the Mantis, won the Barry Award for Best Paperback Original mystery and was a finalist for an Edgar award. Deadly Harvest was a finalist for an International Thriller Writers’ award. A Death in the Family and Dying to Live are the latest in the Detective Kubu series, published by Orenda Books. A prequel to the Detective Kubu series, Facets of Death, was published in 2021 and A Deadly Covenant follows Kubu’s second case.