• A Carrion Death

  • Introducing Detective Kubu
  • By: Michael Stanley
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (264 ratings)

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A Carrion Death  By  cover art

A Carrion Death

By: Michael Stanley
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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Publisher's summary

Smashed skull, snapped ribs, and a cloying smell of carrion. Leave the body for the hyenas to devour - no body, no case.

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 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Intricate plotting, a grisly sense of realism, and numerous topical motifs...make this a compulsively readable novel." (Publishers Weekly)
"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)

What listeners say about A Carrion Death

Average customer ratings
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Story
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Hot and Arid

The story moved along, was believable and the local color was nice.
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.



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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

disappointing in so many ways

Maybe it's because I've never read anything else by this author that I was so unhappy with this. I chose the book by the description, listened to a sample and read reviews. I was expecting an interesting mystery set in Africa with a lot of local flavor. I was intrigued with the idea of a new detective. The begininng was fine and I was getting into the storyline when the whole thing morphed into a bad romantic novel. The sex scenes (which didn't need to be there at all) were really badly written. It was as if the author lost the thread of the African mystery and decided to throw a little sex in to pick things up. The only thing I actually did like about this book was the narration. That, however, was not enough to save it. This is the first Audible seclection I have chosen not to finish in several years of membership.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a treat gets rarer and rarer

Kubu is a richly enjoyable character, surrounded by a fine ensemble. The writing is quite funny. Even the dog is funny. This might really be only a 4-star -- there are far too many characters, perhaps because way too much time is spent on bit players; some of the schtick gets repetitious, such as the drinking; the mystery gets game-y in that the reader isn't privy to many of the facts that Kubu discovers; and the POV bounces all over the place. But, with the fresh story, fascinating locale, and likable characters, I've gone for a 5.

AUDIO: The reader is adequate but has a limited vocal range, so it's often difficult to figure out who's speaking.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Can't wait for the next one

Botswana calls again! Detective Kubu outshines even Mma Ramotswe of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency. The story is captivating and very well told and description of the country makes visiting a must.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Carrion Death

A thoroughly good read. It's hard to believe that this is a first novel; the writing and plot were stylish. I'm hoping that it isn't too long until a second book is in print.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Carrion Death and Detective Kubu

What made the experience of listening to A Carrion Death the most enjoyable?

Exciting mystery

Who was your favorite character and why?

Detective Kubu, He has a funny bone to tickle you, amongst the murders

Have 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 Kubu

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Simply Fabulous

I was initially drawn to this book because of the setting in Botswana. I found the start to a wonderful detective series. I can't wait to hear more about detective David "Kubu" Bengu.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency. It's also a good mystery in its own right.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

a carrion death

Very different and a real peak into another world. The ending was too fast and the well delineated characters had issues that remained unsolved. Good listen, a complex group of characters that you'll like

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful Surprise

I purchased Carrion Death during a Audible sale and it has been sitting in my "to listen" folder for many months. I recently went looking through the folder to find titles I had not listened to and found Carrion Death. It is a delightful, intriguing, and fascinating mystery. The character of Detective Kubu is a delight as an intelligent investigator who loves food, wine and opera. The narration is excellent and the portrait of southern region of Africa is fascinating and beautifully painted by Mr. Stanley. I look forward my next listen and it will not months before my next encounter with Det. Kubu.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Remarkable Book

This book is truly remarkable. It has the most incredibly complex and interesting plot that I have ever come across while reading detective mysteries. It is extremely well written, and extremely well read. It is actually fine literature, and a superb book to listen to.

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2 people found this helpful