Death on the Shelf discussion

First impressions: We find the victim and we're introduced to a few main characters. Specifically, the Detective, Kubu, his boss, Mabaku, the police pathologist, MacGregor, and the scientist Bongani.

Kubu is larger than life (literally!) and clearly likes his comforts. I have a suspicion though that , like his namesake (Kubu is the local word for "hippopotamus"), first impressions can be deceptive. I get a hint of danger from him, and I suspect he can quick and ruthless when he's aroused. He's not someone I would want opposing me.

Mabaku reminds me a lot of the cattle egrets I used to see in rural central Florida a lot. He seems to be kind of vain and pompous, with a sense of self-importance. I also get the feeling that he's been promoted above his level of competence. More a bureaucrat than an active policeman.

Bongani I haven't really gotten much on yet. I have a feeling he'll be important to the story, but I'm not sure how yet. He's clearly intelligent, but part one ends with him being in a dangerous, even threatening situation, so I'm just not sure how things will play out for him. MacGregor is someone I don't feel is going to play a huge role in this book. It's possible he will, but I'm just thinking he probably won't.

So those are my first thoughts. What do you all think?

Your comments on Mabaku are interesting. I've read (listened to) about half the book. He continues to exhibit many of the qualities you mention, but he's growing on me as the plot thickens. He's being tested: Will he pass the test? I'm anxious to find out.

This book spends a lot of time on character development, and I think that's paying off. There are many things I don't like about the book, but I'm wrapped up in the main characters, and that is holding my interest.

The quotations from Shakespeare plays that begin the various parts of the book seem a little out of place to me. I realize the plot is somewhat Shakespearean; still, it jars me every time I encounter one of them as my brain shifts from modern-day Botswana to Elizabethan England and back again.

Hello! I met most of you in October and November and then couldn't come for a couple months due to scheduling conflicts but I'm glad to be back in some capacity.

I'm enjoying the scenery building going on in this book, lots of sights with flora and fauna we aren't used to which is always nice to learn more about. I've read a mystery series set in South Africa and enjoy learning about the different mix of cultures resulting from colonization. I also like that the author is at least touching on the racial tensions of the area.

I always enjoy a detective with eccentricities and Kubu doesn't disappoint even if he is a bit more socially adept than a Sherlock. How he views his girth will be telling, right now I'm getting the impression that he views it as simply him enjoying life and nothing to do with lack of drive. I also am interested in learning more about his marriage since all we currently know about his wife is that she puts him on diets and makes him sandwiches, a happy marriage is not that common for police officers.

The Shakespearean quotes aren't that out of place for me just because it seems like something Kubu would add while he was writing up the case, like his singing he would probably keep it to himself though. :)

Linda Wolfe offers these comments and questions ( Spoiler alert):
Overall I enjoyed A Carrion Death. The African setting was a change from the modern locales we usually find in mysteries. I was surprised at how contemporary the law enforcement capabilities were, although they did dump some of the scientific task on to the South Africans. The presence of BMWs as well as upscale restaurants was an eye-opener for me as I had expected a more primitive atmosphere. As for the characters, Kubu's quirks and well-developed investigative insights made him likeable. I sense Bongani, although socially inept, was a straight arrow. Kubu's boss, Mabaku , had a tough job trying to walk a tightrope between politics and investigation. It was apparent that Diana was a psych case, probably in large part due to her lousy parenting. Preferably the ending would have tied things together more neatly. Redbeard was still in the wind and we don't know if Cecil's secrets were ever revealed and how long he would remain on the BCMC board. Is the author teeing us up for a sequel?

Questions:
1. Was Diana behind Jason's murder or was Redbeard tying up loose ends?
2. Why did Kubu's boss suggest that Bongani had not fully cooperated with the investigation?
3. What is ginger beer?
4. Why was the witch doctor thrown into the story?
5. What nationality is the author? And had he actually lived in Botswana?

Well, it's past 6:30 on the third Tuesday of the month and time to comment on the book. I thought perhaps there would be a live discussion, but maybe not. Anyone else out there?

I guess not. Well, here are my comments on A Carrion Death:

I liked the book. I liked the main characters, or at least the good guys. I wouldn’t hesitate to give a second book by the same author a chance. A Carrion Death wasn’t perfect but it was a good start, with plenty of interesting avenues opened for exploration in future episodes.
I came away with a good understanding of Kubu’s methodology and his appetites, a quirky, thoughtful detective. I liked his boss, who surprised me with his willingness to put politics aside for good police work, to set aside his preconceptions about his friend, the scheming head of BCMC, in favor of the facts of the case. He and Kubu were a healthy contrast in styles and personalities; though different, they found a way to work together.
I was less thrilled – one might even say put off – by some of the literary devices used. Particularly perturbing was the sequence in which the author withheld the identity of the prisoner who was accidently killed. I understand that he was trying to build some mystery and suspense, but it ended up not being that much of a secret anyway. Another bit that troubled me was during Kubu’s phone call to Angus/Jason/Diana, in which whoever was speaking slipped up about the gender of their old teacher. Kubu didn’t seem to pay it much mind at the time. That was the BIG clue to the whole charade.
The timeline was fuzzy, the book was meandering and the loose ends at the conclusion a bit troubling, but the characters were interesting people whom I came to care about, and the pivot point – that there were two puzzles to solve, not just one – was intriguing.