'Death of the Mantis, by Michael Stanley is the best book I've read in a very long time' Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Gamache novel

The third novel in the fantastic Detective 'Kubu' Bengu crime series, set in the southern Kalahari area of Botswana - a place full of buried lost cities, incredible hidden wealth, ancient gods and, for thousands of years, home to the nomadic Bushmen.

When a fractious ranger named Monzo is found dead, fallen into a donga - a dry ravine - surrounded by three Bushmen, the local police arrest the nomads. Detective 'Kubu' Bengu is on the case, which reunites him with his old school friend Khumanego, a Bushman and now an advocate for his people.

Khumanego believes the arrests are motivated by racist antagonism from the police, as the Bushmen are claiming that they were at the murder scene because they were trying to help.

Soon after Monzo's death, Detective 'Kubu' learns of another case involving two botany students on their way back from a specimen-collecting trip but who were later found dead, seemingly poisoned, at a campground. Could the deaths be connected?

'Kubu is the African Columbo' Entertainment Weekly

'Death of the Mantis takes us places we've never been, thrills and informs us, and leaves us changed by the experience. I loved this book' Timothy Hallinan, author of The Queen of Patpong and A Nail Through the Heart

Readers around the world LOVE Death of the Mantis:

'Original premise and truly interesting characters, I loved this book *****' Amazon reviewer

'All of the books in the Detective Kubu series are excellent and worth reading *****' Amazon Reviewer

'As expected, an excellent read which I thoroughly recommend *****' Amazon reviewer